Commission OKs bayfront connectivity plan

Sarasota city commissioners reaffirmed Monday their commitment to bayfront connectivity.

They voted unanimously to back the city’s connectivity plan, beginning with two U.S. 41 roundabouts at 14th Street and 10th Street.

“We’re not just trying to get people across the street,” said project manager Steve Stancel. “We’re trying to change the character of U.S. 41.”

Changing the character calls for slowing traffic, narrowing the lanes on the roadway, widening the medians and landscaping them and building six roundabouts.

Commissioners wanted to build the first two roundabouts north of downtown for several reasons: the money to build them, $5.9 million, is already available; they can get drivers used to roundabouts before the other four are built; drivers will be more likely to use 10th Street to access downtown via Lemon Avenue; and pedestrians at 14th Street will have a safer way to cross the street

“We’ve been on a 12-year quest to get a safer situation at 14th Street,” said Steve Roskamp, a partner of Sarasota Bay Club, whose employees park across U.S. 41.

Those first two roundabouts could be complete in three years.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].