Manatee Commission approves transportation project priorities
MANATEE -- As the Manatee County Commission debated road projects Tuesday morning, board members decided transforming a 4.5-mile stretch of 15th Street East is among its highest priorities.
The county has been working with the state to design a complete street project for 15th Street East. It includes roundabouts and intersections with traffic signals. The work extends along 15th Street East/U.S. 301 Boulevard East from Tallevast Road to U.S. 41. The portion from 63rd Avenue East to 49th Avenue East has been identified as the highest priority.
The commission authorized county staff to work with the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Florida Department of Transportation.
"We think it makes sense to target that as the first area," said Clarke Davis, Manatee County Transportation Planning Division manager.
Since the corridor is 4.5 miles long, Davis said it is "a little bit more than the state can do in a single undertaking."
The commission also adopted the county's 2016 transportation project prioritiesand the major project priority list for the county under the 2040 long range transportation plan.
Projects include a congestion management program, U.S. 41 multimodal corridor, advanced traffic management, the 15th Street East project and Upper Manatee River Road/Fort Hamer Road improvements. And projects resulting from the Central Manatee Network Alternatives.
The multimodal project "is something that we need to move forward," Commissioner Betsy Benac said. The commission also:
Approved the Florida Department of Transportation Construction Agreement for signalization plans on State Road 70 at Lockwood Ridge Road/45th Street East. Manatee plans to build a northbound right-turn lane, related sidewalks on Lockwood Ridge south of S.R. 70 and modify the traffic signal at the northeast corner of the intersection.
Approved an amendment to the county agreement with Replay Outreach Inc., which will serve at-risk teenagers. The agency will offer services throughout the county so the agency can serve more at-risk youth without transportation.
Adopted an ordinance to restrict compression release braking on 17th Avenue West from 43rd Street West to 34th Street West.
Accepted a $161,000 donation from the Library Foundation from the "Bookends: An Evening With Two Literary Giants." The money will support the local campaign for grade level reading initiative and aligns with the Library Summer Slide program offerings for youth literacy and year round parent training.
Heard about emergency tests. At 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, a system will be tested and those with cell phones made since 2013 will get the alert. At 10 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service is set to run a tornado drill.
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitternote>
This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 11:56 PM with the headline "Manatee Commission approves transportation project priorities ."