Needs outpace revenues in region's 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan for Manatee, Sarasota

MANATEE -- While the Manatee and Sarasota region's transportation needs are three times more costly than expected revenues, a regional transportation board adopted the area's Strategic Mobility Plan on Monday.

The 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan is "a strategic document for multimodal transportation investments to support and strengthen the region's economic vitality, livability and environment over the next 25 years," according to agenda materials.

"I can't help but notice the needs versus the revenues," Commissioner Betsy Benac said. "Obviously, we have to deal with the situation we have currently. ... We do have that opportunity to continue to look at things we can do maybe outside the box, I guess. We recognize the constraints with the revenues."

But Nick Lepp, an MPO-contracted project manager for the Renaissance Planning Group, reminded the board, which includes elected officials from Manatee and Sarasota counties, that the plan is flexible enough that they are able to bring new projects in and out.

"This plan isn't static," Lepp said.

The Sarasota/Manatee region has $4.370 billion worth of multimodal needs but can expect $1.175 billion in federal/state/local revenues. In terms of transportation alternatives, the region has $42 million worth of needs with only $16.8 million in revenue. There are $835 million worth of transit needs with $294 million in expected federal revenues.

Each county will receive $3 million per year for the Multimodal Emphasis Corridor, $1 million per year for Congestion Management and $400,000 per year for Transportation Alternatives.

Roadway projects included for Manatee County are the 15th Street Complete Street Project, projects resulting from the Central Manatee Network Alternatives Analysis and continued funding to expand the Advanced Traffic Management Systems.

"There is still a large gap in providing all that transportation necessary by 2040 but we are moving this forward and we are doing some of those critical projects that help support the mobility," Lepp said.

Also on Monday, the MPO approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2015-16 through fiscal 2019-20 Transportation Improvement Program which includes $1 million for design of roadway improvements at State Road 64 at Rye Road.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Needs outpace revenues in region's 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan for Manatee, Sarasota ."