Periodically the Florida Department of Transportation/District Five Modal Development Office leadership team seeks out team building opportunities for their staff. These events are intended to boost morale, allow staff to become better acquainted with each other and better understand the workings of the FDOT. Recently, the group contacted Claudia Calzaretta/District Scenic Highway Coordinator (DSHC) to learn more about one of the FDOT’s most unique community engagement programs. Knowing that Claudia is always eager to show off her program, a plan was quickly developed to allow District staff to learn while doing. It was decided that the A1A Coastal & Historic Byway would be a good candidate because of its proximity to the DeLand office, its scenic beauty, and the presence of FDOT construction projects underway along the corridor for the group to learn about.
On the day of the tour each participant was provided background information on the Florida Scenic Highway Program (FSHP) and the byway. The participant package also included a map of the byway and a trip itinerary including the byway highlights. Although much of the tour was conducted from the FDOT vans, the day included stops to meet with docents that talked about whale watching along Flagler Beach, the history of Washington Oaks State Park, and the history of a 60+ year old fish camp on the Matanzas River. The day also included lunch at one of Flagler Beach’s most renowned beachside restaurants. As part of the tour the group also got to experience the ongoing SR A1A reconstruction project designed to help prevent highway damage resulting from high intensity storms along the coast.
There was complete consensus that the day was a success, it met its intended purpose of team building, and the team got the chance to learn about one of the more unique programs that FDOT manages.
The FDOT Scenic Highways Program recognizes over 1,500 miles of the state’s most special and unique roads. District Five, home to nearly one-third and 800+ miles of Florida’s designated byways offer a glimpse of real Florida including scenic vistas, pastoral farm settings, coastal sand dunes and cultural and historical traditions. For further information on the SR A1A Coastal & Historic Byway or the Florida Scenic Highways Program, contact Claudia Calzaretta/DSHC at cl****************@do*.us.
