Letter to Hon. Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Rubio, Scott Support Navy, FDOT Joint Corridor Project to Allow Public Access to NASP

Letter

We write to express our support for a joint corridor project between the U.S. Navy and
the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that would allow the public to access specific
public interest areas located on Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) while preserving
operational security. The corridor will provide a solution to improving security and protecting
the critical training mission that NASP provides to our Navy, while simultaneously restoring the
unique relationship the installation has enjoyed with the local community since its inception.
The security and protection of our military personnel, their families, and the vital national
security assets operating at NASP are of the utmost concern. No one understands this reality
better than the Pensacola community. It is our job as public servants to find a way to protect the
security of the installation while ensuring the opportunities that led to the close-knit relationship
between the installation and community remain intact. The installation is home to numerous
important cultural and historic sites, including the Barrancas National Cemetery, the National
Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), the Pensacola Lighthouse, and National Park Service historic
sites. These sites also attract tourists from around the country who bring business to the local
community.
The proposed joint effort to develop a safe and secure corridor will include local, state,
and federal resources, making it truly a multi-agency transportation partnership to the benefit of
all. It will continue the FDOT's history of partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and
other federal agencies on infrastructure projects. Through this necessary partnership between
state and federal agencies, Pensacola, the State of Florida, and the Navy have an opportunity to
reinforce their rich history of working hand-in-hand for Floridians.
We look forward to working with you to find a solution to this important issue. We
appreciate your commitment to promoting security at NASP, and thank you for your attention to
this important proposal.
Sincerely,

Source