Plan to transform Bradenton-Sarasota traffic flow faces COVID-related funding challenge
By the year 2045, the population of the Bradenton-Sarasota area could grow to an estimated 1.1 million people, making local roads impossibly dangerous and congested.
On Monday, Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization staff briefed the agency’s board on the results of an 18-month process, involving more than 2,500 people, to develop a plan to avert a traffic catastrophe.
The MPO is made up of representatives from 11 cities or county governments to set local transportation priorities.
The sprawling plan, called Transform 2045, takes into account new technology, including automated vehicles capable of driving themselves, and the growing emergence of electric vehicles, which are reducing revenue generated by gasoline taxes, traditionally used to maintain and build highways.
The plan proposes 50 miles of new roadways and widening projects, 160 miles of technology improvements for traffic management and future autonomous vehicles, more than 20 projects for urban core redevelopment, including 11 new roundabouts, and 65 miles of bike, pedestrian and complete street improvements.
Among the priorities identified in Transform 2045 are the replacement of three Manatee County bridges: Cortez, Anna Maria and DeSoto.
One of the most innovative projects would extend University Parkway in a straight line along the Manatee-Sarasota border to connect with State Road 70, and adapt it for self-driving vehicles, including trucks.
“University Parkway might be the first to have dedicated lanes for buses and autonomous vehicles,” said Leigh Holt, strategic planning manager for the MPO.
The great unknown going forward is the disruption to funding sources caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By some estimates, revenue won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2029-2030. To date, no construction dollars have been budgeted for local bridge replacement projects.
Transform 2045 aims to help promote economic diversity through a traffic system that would attract high-tech businesses, and focus on port centers as economic engines, as well as higher education and cultural centers along U.S. 41.
Among the gateways to promote economic diversity are the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, the Bradenton Riverwalk, the DeSoto Square area, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Long Boat Key, University Parkway and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
Another key to promoting economic diversity are the corridors to the beaches, and transportation systems for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves baseball stadiums.
Another component, called Complete Streets, would help create vibrant places, including 10th Avenue and 7th Street and the convention center, all in Palmetto, Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, 9th Street and DeSoto Square in Bradenton, and East Venice Avenue in Venice.
The downtown Bradenton improvements are fully funded through completion of construction, said Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, who serves as chair of the MPO.
Also proposed is completion of walking and bicycling trails from Venice through Long Boat Key, Anna Maria Island, along Manatee Avenue and across the Green Bridge to Palmetto over five years at a cost of $25 million.
Funding for Transform 2045 is based on $2 billion in projected revenue over the life of project improvements, Holt said..
But the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to push some of the projects back, Holt said.
“Some of the projects are already in the Florida Department of Transportation plan, but most will begin after 2026,” she said.
The report presented to the MPO board on Monday is the final draft. There will be a 30-day public comment period before the MPO meets Oct. 26 to give final approval to Transform 2045.
To view the long range transportation plan, visit https://www.mympo.org/m/mandates/lrtp.
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 3:49 PM.
