Commission grapples with traffic issues on north end

Depending on a number of factors, Gulf of Mexico Drive, near its intersection with Broadway Street, may some day have a roundabout, a new crosswalk to the north, a reduced speed limit and a 120-room hotel.

Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan hopes to delve into these and other topics that will affect traffic on the north end during a workshop this month. Commissioners voted to schedule such a session during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

“There’s a lot of little pieces of this whole planning scenario,” Duncan said in an interview with the Longboat Observer this morning. “I want the commission to have a full appreciation for what our options are, and I don’t think we’ve done that yet.”

Commissioners during the meeting also asked Town Manager Dave Bullock send a letter to the Florida Department of Transport advocating for lowering the speed limit on Gulf of Mexico drive from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour north of Broadway.

A public beach access and the proposed Floridays hotel could bring more pedestrians and cars together at the north end.

And while FDOT has planned a crosswalk at North Shore Road, commissioners and Longbeach Village residents have criticized it for potentially being unsafe.

Duncan said he wants to bring the commission up to speed on these issues and others, and if necessary, consider rallying support for the town’s vision for new infrastructure of the north end, rather than the state’s plan. Though he did acknowledge that FDOT ultimately holds sway over the future of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“I don’t want FDOT to push us around,” Duncan said during Tuesday’s meeting. “This is our town, this is our road and we need to really push back on this in a big way.”