Sarasota County wants roundabout at U.S. 41 and University Parkway

SARASOTA -- Motorists traveling along U.S. 41 may have to travel around a new roundabout proposed to be built at the intersection of U.S. 41 and University Parkway, right at the entrance of the Ringling Museum of Art.

If approved, this roundabout would join at least two other roundabouts being constructed along U.S. 41 in Sarasota. The two other roundabouts will be at 10th Street and U.S. 41, and 14th Street and U.S. 41. At these intersections, U.S. 41 will be widened to include bike lanes, dedicated turn lanes, a 10-foot sidewalk along the west side and a 6-foot sidewalk along the east side. The construction phase, which is funded, is scheduled for 2017.

For all projects, including the proposed roundabout at U.S. 41 and University Parkway, Florida Department of Transportation must first conduct a project development and environment study for the roundabout. The PD&E study estimates the costs for the project and also evaluates engineering, environmental, social and historic and cultural effects of the project, according to the FDOT website.

This project was one of the county's 2015 Major Improvement Project Priorities and the county's 2015 state and federal transportation program priorities that the Sarasota County Commissioners unanimously approved at its Tuesday meeting. The priorities will now be submitted to the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization Board for adoption and inclusion in the development of the Florida Department of Transportation work program for fiscal years 2016-17 through 2020-21.

Also identified as a priority is a roundabout at the intersection of Cattlemen and Richardson roads, just south of Nathan Benderson Park. It would be completed under the Transportation Regional Incentive Program, a state-funded grant program that requires a 50 percent local match.

Other projects in northern portions of Sarasota County include road and intersection improvements along U.S. 41 between 14th Street and University Parkway, and a North County signal retiming to retime traffic lights to the new Advanced Traffic Management System and better coordinating signals.

Claire Aronson, University Parkway/Sarasota reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024 or at caronson@bradenton.com. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published November 18, 2014 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Sarasota County wants roundabout at U.S. 41 and University Parkway ."