Welcome to "high season" as far as tourism is concerned.
It’s money-making time for businesses that cater to our winter friends. Restaurants are packed. Resorts are filled. Highways are gridlocked with packs of vehicles.
Let’s talk about that traffic problem.
A City of Sarasota Transportation Policy Options Analysis Summary has used lots of transportation-speak words seldom found in official documents: "Not sustainable." "Outdated and inconsistent." The word "insufficient" was popular regarding right-of-way acquisition, as well as "revenue" for acquisition and other issues.
Goals offered in a report approved by the Sarasota city commissioners Monday suggested in part that "A change in transportation policy that focuses on ‘moving people, not just vehicles’ will demonstrate to be more sustainable and more consistent with the city’s adopted motto ‘where urban amenities meet small-town living.’"
First stop for traffic betterment is roundabouts, specifically at U.S. 41 and 10th and 14th streets.
Roundabouts are mini-traffic circles that allow vehicles to travel slowly without stopping through intersections. The traffic management tool is widely used in Europe, but seldom seen in Florida. In fact, the first roundabout on a state highway in Florida is in little Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, where it has been in operation for more than 10 years without a hitch.
Along with the roundabouts in the city plan for part of the North Tamiami Trail are major streetscape improvements in the form of landscaping and wide medians, narrower travel lanes, bicycle travel paths, wide sidewalks and a general overall improvement to the city’s northern gateway.
The proposed changes to the highway will result in a reduction of pavement by 28,000 square feet, according to City Planner Steven Stancel.
The cost of improvements on the roadway between the 10th and 14th street intersections is estimated at $15.8 million. Construction is expected to be completed within four years, although the city commissioners agreed the plans should be fast-tracked.
The two roundabouts and subsequent streetscape improvements are the precursor of a grander plan for U.S. 41 from 14th Street south to Osprey Avenue. Six roundabouts and a $36-million price tag, spread across 20 years have been proposed for the corridor.
Roundabouts are being considered at U.S. 41 and Orange Avenue, Main Street, Gulfstream Avenue and Fruitville Road, along with 10th and 14th streets.
The roundabout elements of the bayfront plan have generally been vilified by residents of Longboat Key, who view the mini-traffic circles as an impediment to their travel.
In other transportation matters Monday, the city commissioners approved a revised multi-use recreational trail from the downtown bayfront through Bird Key to St. Armands. The so-called MURT drew the ire of Bird Key park patrons early in its design stage because of a diminishment of parking and reduction of access to Sarasota Bay.
Revisions were made and the new plan actually increases parking and provides two kayak wash-down structures, covered picnic facilities and lower-scale landscaping.
March 19th 2010 - 1:22PM