- March 28, 2024
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The Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved a big chunk of the city’s bayfront mobility plan Monday night, at its regular meeting, when it approved design concepts for a revamped U.S. 41 along the bayfront and two roundabouts at 10th and 14th streets.
The plan calls for a $9.51 million remodel of U.S. 41 — which will be widened to accommodate more bicyclists and pedestrians — that will be anchored by the two roundabouts.
Although the project is years away, according to Florida Department of Transportation officials, Sarasota city commissioners said they won’t sign off on the project until they get a better handle on how the roundabouts will be designed and landscaped.
“We need to make this the best we can,” said Mayor Suzanne Atwell. “This is an extraordinary gateway of the city.”
The 2,600-foot long section of road will be revamped in the following ways.
The northern segment from 11th Street to 14th Street will include:
• Four 11-foot wide lanes
• 4-foot bicycle lanes
• 10-foot medians
• 6-foot sidewalks on the east side of the road
• A 10-foot trail on the west side of the road
The south segment form 10th Street to north of 11th Street will include:
• Four 11-foot wide lanes
• 4-foot bicycle lanes
• A 22-foot median
• A 10-foot trail on the west side
• A 6-foot sidewalk on the east side
The entire stretch of the road will contain a 40-mph speed limit, although cars are expected to slow to about 30 mph when approaching the two roundabouts.
Revamped bus stations near the roundabouts are also being considered at the northeast and southeast corners of 10th and 14th streets.
The most costly part of the project involves obtaining rights of way for a pedestrian walking trail from Whitaker Gateway Park to Centennial Park. The project also involves moving the current Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall sign.
FDOT officials told the commission a public hearing for the project could be held in early 2013. Once the Federal Highway Administration signs off on the project, as FDOT expects, construction could begin in July 2016 and be finished a year later.
City resident and roundabout advocate Rod Warner urged commissioners to design roundabouts that go above and beyond what FDOT accepts as the roundabout standard.
“These roundabouts are the entry to the city ,” Warner said. “They need to make a statement.”
Warner also urged commissioners not to accept FDOT’s lengthy timeline.
“It shouldn’t take two years to acquire these rights of way,” Warner said. “This could get started in 2014 and we shouldn’t accept spreading this out forever.”
Commissioner Shannon Snyder agreed with Warner’s assessments.
“This needs to be a signature project and we need to make sure these roundabouts are signature pieces from day one,” Snyder said.