Gulf Islands National Seashore

Transportation is all about connections​. Great transportation is about connections that tread lightly on the land and water. VHB partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) to develop a plan for a ferry that connects thousands of visitors to the Gulf Islands National Seashore without compromising the pristine water or landside environment of this delicate barrier island. We analyzed the potential effects of the ferry on historic and natural resources, including wetlands, wildlife, and protected species habitat in accordance with state and federal agency criteria. The resulting plan outlined ferry and shuttle service plans, site-specific program requirements for waterside and land-side operations, on- and off-season operational recommendations, and site development concept plans for three proposed departure/arrival sites.