Town pitches traffic study for mainland/barrier island

Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan said for the first time during his tenure on Longboat Key he’s hearing that residents are rethinking living on Longboat Key because of traffic problems.

 “With the economy getting better, it is evident that seasonal congestion is getting worse,” Duncan told Manatee County Council of Government leaders last week. “This year we started hearing from residents and visitors that the congestion is causing them to doubt their selection of the Manatee/Sarasota area as a good place for retirement, second homes or vacations.”

In response to residents’ concerns, Duncan and Town Manager Dave Bullock are asking for support for a study from Manatee and Sarasota counties, the cities of Sarasota, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria and the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization and FDOT.

Last week, town officials attended both Manatee and Sarasota council of governments meetings to make their analysis pitch. 

Residents have urged the town to find traffic solutions, saying they feel like prisoners in their own homes during season.

Victoria Lyons, president of the Hideaway Bay Homeowners Association, and Rosemary Dilgard, president of the Sleepy Lagoon Homeowners Association, sent a March 29 letter to Duncan, citing concerns from longtime residents.

“Residents have experienced missed doctor and dentist appointments, restaurant reservations, canceled shopping expeditions and entertainment activities,” the letter states. 

Duncan urged action in a March 23 email to Manatee County Commission Chairwoman Betsy Benac and other officials.

“The small things might include a careful look at traffic light timing during season, pedestrian controls, turn lane operation, etc.,” he wrote. “Larger system improvements should also be examined. The routes on and off the island are mostly Florida Department of Transportation roads with county and some city roads intersecting with these main routes. The system analysis should consider all these.”

“With the economy getting better, it is evident that seasonal congestion is getting worse.”

— Mayor Jack Duncan