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Project Summary

In Florida, the Fort Pickens Road within Gulf Islands National Seashore is regularly destroyed by storms, and repairs are expensive and time consuming. The park continues to reevaluate the local conditions and implement cost-effective, sustainable modes of visitor access to Fort Pickens beaches and the historic fort. 

Background

The Fort Pickens Road extends for 11 km (7 mi) along a very narrow, low-lying portion of the park on Santa Rosa Island, a Florida barrier island. It dead-ends at the historic Fort Pickens, and provides access to popular beaches and other park facilities that receive more than 700,000 annual visitors. 

Implementation

The park’s new general management plan, finalized in July 2014, establishes that Fort Pickens Road will be rebuilt only if feasible, as determined on a case-by-case basis. In late 2015, following an environmental assessment that was also finalized in July 2014, 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of the road will be repaved, and an additional 2.5 km (1.55 mi) of the road will be realigned and moved to a higher-elevation inland route, out of sea turtle nesting habitat to an area where it is less likely to be impacted by routine overwash. This 2.5-km (1.55-mi) section is within 15 m (50 ft) of the Gulf and is buried by sand and water during routine weather events between 6 and 12 times each year. The project is expected to cost $1,275,000 for the asphalt overlay and $2,425,000 for the realignment, and will be paid by the Federal Highways Administration. A proposed but currently unfunded addition of an entrance lane would cost an additional $1,000,000. 

Outcomes and Conclusions

The park is working with local government (the City of Pensacola and Escambia County) to establish an alternative transportation system. The park’s alternative transportation study was released in February 2009, and the final Pensacola Bay Ferry service feasibility study was completed in July 2014 and is awaiting Director Approval. The proposed passenger ferry service would connect Fort Pickens with Pensacola Beach and downtown Pensacola, providing an alternative means of accessing the park and maintaining island access when the road is rendered impassable by storm events or other unfavorable conditions. Ultimately, the ferry service could provide the only public access to Fort Pickens if the road is destroyed and not rebuilt. Two ferries will be purchased using $4,020,000 in Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Phase III early restoration Natural Resource Damage Assessment funding.

Citation

Brown, D. (2015). Establishing Alternative Transportation to Fort Pickens to Supplement Vulnerable Road Access, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida [Case study on a project of Gulf Islands National Seashore]. Excerpted from Schupp, C.A., R.L. Beavers, and M.A. Caffrey [eds.]. 2015. Coastal Adaptation Strategies: Case Studies. NPS 999/129700. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Retrieved from CAKE: www.cakex.org/case-studies/establishing-alternative-transportation-fort…;(Last updated November 2015)

Affiliated Organizations

Gulf Islands National Seashore - Florida District

Millions of visitors are drawn to the islands in the northern Gulf of Mexico for the white sandy beaches, the aquamarine waters, a boat ride, a camping spot, a tour of an old fort, or a place to fish.

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