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Proposed Sun Trail changes divert non-motorized traffic to busy Manatee Avenue

By Mark Young
The latest version of the state’s proposed Sun Trail system through Manatee County has removed more than 15 miles along the Manatee River and Robinson Preserve. The latest drafts shows the trail moving in conjunction with Manatee Avenue which some say is a safety and economic disaster in the making. The red line along Riverside Boulevard is the recently deleted section with the yellow and dotted lines along Manatee Avenue as the added route.
The latest version of the state’s proposed Sun Trail system through Manatee County has removed more than 15 miles along the Manatee River and Robinson Preserve. The latest drafts shows the trail moving in conjunction with Manatee Avenue which some say is a safety and economic disaster in the making. The red line along Riverside Boulevard is the recently deleted section with the yellow and dotted lines along Manatee Avenue as the added route. Young, Mark
Manatee

Proposed changes to a draft of the Florida Greenways & Trails System Plan that is the master plan for the Florida Sun Trail have some bewildered.

Recommended changes to the 2018 draft deleted portions of the trail through Manatee County that was originally approved in 2013 to parallel the Manatee River along Riverview Boulevard, Robinson Preserve, western Perico Preserve and on to Anna Maria Island. According to the latest draft map, that route has been deleted and non-motorized traffic is now proposed to be diverted straight down Manatee Avenue.

In a letter to the editor and emails to the Bradenton Herald, Ed Goff said he was shocked to see the latest changes, “which follows 45 mph Manatee Avenue from downtown Bradenton to (Anna Maria Island) has been added.”

Goff said the only good news is that the proposal is still in draft form.

“The final version will determine where funding is allocated for the next five years,” Goff said. “It is not known who requested the change, but the community was not consulted.”

It would be great to be able to safely ride a bicycle in west and northwest Bradenton, but Manatee Avenue is not the way to go.

Ed Goff

Efforts to contact state officials on Sunday were unsuccessful.

Goff started an online petition to encourage Manatee County and the city of Bradenton to officially endorse a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail at its originally proposed location. Goff said the trails being proposed for construction as part of the Sun Trail system are, “designed for slower moving bicycles, walkers, joggers, and runners. ... The deleted trail is ideal for its location. It would connect approved trails in Palmetto and Anna Maria Island.”

Goff said it would be both an economic and safety mistake to move the trail to Manatee Avenue where walkers, joggers and bicyclists would mingle with one of the city’s busiest motorized corridors.

“It would be great to be able to safely ride a bicycle in west and northwest Bradenton, but Manatee Avenue is not the way to go,” he said.

Mark Young: 941-745-7041, @urbanmark2014

This story was originally published September 3, 2017 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Proposed Sun Trail changes divert non-motorized traffic to busy Manatee Avenue."

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