City shares plans for two-lane Ringling Bridge

APRIL FOOLS’ — A plan to narrow the John Ringling Causeway to one lane in each direction highlights the city of Sarasota’s continued pursuit of more pedestrian-friendly roadways.

At an April 1 meeting, city officials will present a new vision for the bridge that connects the mainland to a series of barrier islands. By reducing the four-lane causeway to two lanes, the city hopes to create a welcoming environment for runners, bikers and people walking to destinations such as St. Armands Circle.

The city would use the space formerly dedicated to the roadway to construct a multiuse recreational trail and install enhanced landscaping. Officials hope the changes will inspire residents to use alternate modes of transportation, reducing the number of cars that travel over the bridge every day.

If the new design is ultimately approved, the city and Florida Department of Transportation will invest $20 million to fast track the changes over the next two years. The eastbound lanes would be reduced in summer 2016, while the westbound construction would take place in summer 2017.

“We don’t want the project to have any impact on seasonal traffic,” city consultant Jamiroquai Anthony Miller said. “We’re very sensitive to the needs of the residents.”

For motorists concerned about the impact the changes might have on a notoriously congested bridge, Miller confidently said any fear surrounding the project is unwarranted.

“I think motorists in Sarasota are skilled enough to deal with these changes.” — Jamiroquai Anthony Miller

An analysis of the traffic between Longboat Key and downtown Sarasota, conducted by Miller’s J.A.M. Traffic Consultants, found the choke points along the road network are so severe that any changes to other areas will have no material impact to the average travel time. Basically, Miller said, whether the bridge is two lanes or four makes no difference — because you’re going to get stuck at U.S. 41 either way.

“We hear a lot of people say, ‘I can’t imagine traffic being any worse,’” Miller said. “That might seem like a flippant remark, but it’s actually a remarkably accurate insight that will guide the current and future status of the Ringling bridge.”

Even if the traffic flow isn’t impacted by the lane reduction, residents on the barrier islands are worried the project might impact the causeway’s efficacy as an evacuation route in case of emergency. City officials said the concerns may prove legitimate but indicated an interest in tackling those challenges “when they come up” — if any problems arise at all.

“I think motorists in Sarasota are skilled enough to deal with these changes even if it’s on the fly, in a high-pressure situation,” Miller said. “Let’s give our local drivers the credit they deserve.”

Hopefully you made it to the end of the article, so we can say, Happy April Fools' Day! This story is not true.