Pinellas County is home to sugar sand beaches with crystal-clear water, playgrounds, picnic areas, camping, watersports, and even a historic fort.  Because of their natural beauty, our beaches are consistently ranked among the best in the country by various travel destination publications and organizations.  Visitors can stay at first-class resorts, fly over the water in a parasail, build a sandcastle, dig in and play beach volleyball, experience glittering nightlife, or eat at world-class restaurants at one of our many developed beaches, or escape from reality and experience nature at one of our undeveloped beaches.

Unfortunately, finding a reliable, comfortable, and safe means of transportation to and along the Gulf beaches is becoming harder and harder to find.  This unintended consequence of the immense popularity of the Pinellas County beaches requires a new approach in order to ensure that a positive visitor experience is maintained and the mobility for beach residents is preserved.

Enhancing Beach Access will be focused on innovative ways to enhance accessibility and mobility. Our goal is to work with our partners to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and significantly reduce the number and severity of crashes.  As part of our Enhancing Beach Access effort, our objectives are to:

  • Improve access to the beaches and along the corridor;
  • Increase transportation options along the beaches;
  • Create a safer environment for everyone;
  • Strengthen transportation alternatives connecting beaches to the region; and
  • Promote mixed-use redevelopment, job creation and preservation of neighborhoods.

Project Contact: Rodney Chatman

Email: rschatman@forwardpinellas.org

Phone: 727.464.8214

Communication, education and analysis are key components of this effort and our partners at FDOT, local governments, businesses and residents will all be working together to meet our shared goal for a safe transportation network and an economically vibrant community.

Forward Pinellas efforts that enhance beach access:

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