MPO panel recommits to bridge

TARA — Members of a regional planning board have placed a two-lane extension of Tara Boulevard south to Honore Avenue back into the group’s long-range transportation plan, reversing a decision made less than one year ago.

Members of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization voted 12-3 Sept. 26 to place the Tara Bridge project back on its 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan list of unfunded needs at the request of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. The vote comes after Manatee commissioners voted Sept. 20 in favor of an eminent domain mediated settlement agreement with developer Pat Neal for the purchase of 3.6 acres needed for the bridge, as well as for the 22.5 acres surrounding it.

Under the settlement, the county is paying about $1.7 million for the land, attorneys’ fees and other expenses.

County commissioners are slated to hold a workshop on the Tara Bridge and other items on Nov. 15, County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said.

“The board will have a wide-ranging discussion about the Tara Bridge,” Hunzeker said.

Hunzeker said Manatee County owns all of the right of way necessary to construct the bridge and already has designs for the project completed.

The bridge, however, is not funded in the county’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Manatee County estimates bridge construction costs at about $14 million, while the MPO estimates costs at closer to $50 million.

MPO board members questioned the discrepancy between the county’s and MPO’s estimated costs for the bridge. MPO officials noted the county’s figure is a staff-generated estimate, while the MPO’s figure is one developed utilizing a formula provided by the Florida Department of Transportation. The $50 million figure, they said, likely incorporates a contingency fund and other factors the county estimate may not include.

The MPO voted to remove the bridge from its long-range plan in December 2010, also at the request of a Manatee County commissioner.

At Monday’s meeting, two residents spoke against putting the bridge back on the MPO’s plan, saying neighboring communities oppose the project, the bridge is not needed and the project is not a good use of taxpayer dollars.

“We feel this should not be part of the long-range plan,” University Park resident Linda Jones said.

Manatee commissioners have shown varied support for the bridge project, which has been in the county’s Comprehensive Plan since 1989.

Although Commissioner Joe McClash voted in favor of the move at the MPO meeting, at the direction of his board, he said he does not personally support moving forward with the project.

Fellow MPO member Commissioner Donna Hayes, however, said she continues to support the project because of its public safety and other impacts.

“All the studies have come forth and shown there’s a real need for that bridge,” Hayes said. “Staff has continued to support this (over the years). I’m not going to vote against recommendations from the staff when it’s such a serious nature.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].