The Problem

UWF has chosen the wrong route for a western exit and access to West Campus.

There is a better route.

UWF needs a west entrance and access to 647 acres of University property (called West Campus) north of Scenic Hills North and on both sides of Pate Road, the private road to the Gulf Power Crist Steam plant. The last Campus Master Plan (CMP 2006) proposes a Greenbrier Boulevard extension from campus for that purpose. Apparently the Greenbrier route was chosen for two reasons: 1) the close proximity of the eastern dead-end of Greenbrier to the University Loop Road, and 2) some disagreement with Gulf Power over using or crossing Pate Road. However, the choice of a Greenbrier route does not fulfill many of the published needs and desires expressed by the University in its own 2006 CMP.

There is a better route for this road. And the better route would better meet the needs and functionality of the university and the public for many years into the future.

The University of West Florida

Graphic Legend: Note West Campus, East Campus, Pate Road, and Greenbrier Boulevard.

Why is a Greenbrier Road the wrong choice?

• The Greenbrier Route does not maintain the “Campus in the Woods” culture, creates a disjointed campus, leads to security issues with two campuses a mile apart, and does not stimulate pedestrian or bike traffic which the university claims as objectives.
• Travel from Main Campus to West Campus would entail a trip of over a mile off campus for students, staff, and security. And this trip would pass 47 private driveways and 8 subdivision access roads along the way!
• This Greenbrier option includes 850 feet of bridging and 250 feet of causeway crossing three named streams for the Greenbrier extension. This is much more bridge and fill than other options.
• A Greenbrier Route will create a traffic bottle neck at Pate Road where the right-of-way narrows and is inadequate for the road width necessary on to Highway 29 a distance of 1.8 miles. (The right-of way from University Campus Loop Road to Pate Street on Greenbrier (1.6 miles) is adequate for up to a three lane road, but not beyond Pate Street.)
• Former Campus Master Plans had the athletic complex and football stadium in the West Campus with plenty of space for parking, stadium, and practice fields. The Greenbrier right-of-way problem west of Pate Street has caused the moving of the proposed stadium to the main campus with accompanying space restrictions.
• Avoiding the Greenbrier Sewage Pumping station is a bigger problem than Atkins Engineering advised. The Greenbrier Extension will need moved 50 or more feet to the south into wetlands that my private civil engineering consultant says will not be “fillable.”
• A Greenbrier route will require nearly two miles of access roads from Greenbrier into the West Campus.
• Greenbrier will be a natural short cut from Cantonment to Pace through campus (several miles shorter than Nine Mile Road). Short-cutting is very undesirable to the university and the neighborhoods.
• This choice does not fully meet any of the desires of the University. It is only a choice of expediency.

There is a better route for a western UWF exit and access to West Campus.

The 2001 Master Plan (now superseded by the 2006 plan) had proposed a direct and short connector between East and West Campuses across Thompson Creek. This is a better route. This route never leaves UWF property and connects the center of both campuses without loss of continuity. This access would keep the contiguous East and West Campuses fully connected geographically, physically, and psychologically. Just as a trip now from the President's office arrives at the Pace Library in 0.1 mile so would such a trip to the first buildings on West Campus.

Why is a direct route from East Campus to West Campus the right choice?

• A direct route from near Main Campus Building 10 (The President's Office) to the center of the West Campus is only about 0.5 miles.

• The bridge necessary only crosses Thompson Creek (not three separate creeks) requiring one causeway bridge of 290 feet length (at the 10 foot elevation level). This is the shortest bridging of all options .
• This option gives direct development property access by contiguously connecting East and West Campuses. Interaction between campuses, and Campus security and ability for lock-down would be enhanced not hindered.
• It greatly simplifies the wayfinding issues as travelers from East to West never leave campus.
• The new Campus Drive to West Campus would be a limited access road. There would be no private driveway or subdivision entrances, crossings, or hazards. No crosswalks, speed bumps, traffic lights, and minimal road signs would be required.  
• No separate access roads are required. Trolley, auto, bike or pedestrian access would be easy without leaving campus.

• If a connector to Highway 29 is desired, Kingsfield Road does not have any right-of-way bottle-neck issues such as exist on Greenbrier west of Pate Road.

The University had the managerial fortitude to halt the ill-fated bad idea of a Maritime Museum at the 11^th hour. It was not in the best interest of the University. The Greenbrier proposal deserves the same reconsideration in the best interest of the future of the University.

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