# Historic Roadways Protection Act

This bill protects old roads and trails that have historical significance from being closed or abandoned. Specifically, it prevents the federal government from decommissioning historic roads and pathways on public lands without going through a careful review process first. The goal is to preserve routes that have cultural, historical, or recreational value—think of old pioneer trails, routes used during the Gold Rush, or roads that connect to Native American heritage sites.

The bill affects anyone who uses public lands for recreation, history buffs, outdoor enthusiasts, and communities that depend on access to these historic routes. If you enjoy hiking on old trails, visiting historical sites accessible by these roads, or have family connections to historic pathways, this bill protects those routes from being permanently closed. It also matters to local governments and tribes who may have cultural or economic interests in maintaining these historic corridors.

The practical impact is that federal agencies managing public lands—like the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management—would need to follow specific procedures before removing historic roads from their systems. Instead of quietly decommissioning a route, they'd have to document its historical importance, notify the public, and consider alternatives. This creates a higher bar for closure, meaning more of these historic routes will likely remain accessible for future generations to use and enjoy.

Historic Roadways Protection Act

Lee, Mike

Historic Roadways Protection ActThis bill prohibits the Bureau for Land Management (BLM) from closing historical roads on public lands in certain areas of Utah until the Federal District Court for Utah makes a decision on each of the&nbsp;R.S. 2477 cases, which are cases brought by Utah and counties to keep historical roads on BLM land in Utah open for public use.By way of background, a provision of the Mining Law of 1866, commonly known as&nbsp;R.S. 2477, granted rights-of-way to states and counties across public lands for the construction of roads for public use in order to promote settlement of the American West. In 1976, Congress repealed R.S. 2477 when it enacted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), but FLPMA preserved rights-of-way that had been established under R.S. 2477. After the BLM released travel management plans that closed some historical roads, Utah and 22 counties filed lawsuits about their rights-of-way across public lands for historical roads.Until the BLM certifies that those cases have been decided, the bill prohibits the BLM from obligating or expending federal funds to (1) finalize or implement a new travel management plan for certain travel management areas in Utah; or (2) implement, with respect to land within the boundary of Utah, the Indian Creek (Canyon Rims) Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, or the Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan.