- May 3, 2024
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Proposed projects designed to improve Gulf of Mexico Drive and calm traffic near the intersection of GMD and Broadway Street are currently at a standstill due to the Florida Department of Transportation’s latest recommendations.
Town of Longboat Key Director of Public Works Isaac Brownman presented updates to two major GMD improvement projects during the June 20 Town Commission budget workshop: a roundabout at GMD and Broadway Street, and a GMD complete street. Both projects are now in need of redesign according to FDOT’s feedback.
The idea of a roundabout at the intersection of GMD and Broadway Street is something that was already being talked about when Brownman began his job in August 2017. Since then, the town has been going through the design process and was nearly 100% complete with the plans.
As a state road, any improvements or changes to the roadway must be approved though FDOT, according to Brownman. The town was engaged in designing the roundabout with a local engineering firm, and after completing about 60% of the plans they checked with FDOT before pursuing the plans further. Brownman said, at that time, FDOT noted no concerns over the plan's roadway banking. Banking is the way the road is angled to maintain friction for cars going around a curve. There were some comments about drainage issues, which Brownman said they spent months working through.
“We proceeded to 90% design, actually nearly 100% design, because we had a lot of confidence in the direction we were taking,” Brownman said.
When the town submitted the designs to FDOT at 90% completion, it was made aware that the banking was now an issue. The almost completed plans are no longer something FDOT would approve, according to Brownman.
Because GMD is a state road, FDOT was going to fund $1.6 million of the total $2.2 million project. However, if the plans must be changed considerably, money may be an issue, according to Town Manager Howard Tipton.
When the update was brought up at the June 20 budget workshop, Mayor Ken Schneier suggested the possibility of looking into alternatives if costs do become an issue. The main alternative would be to install a traffic signal. But having a traffic signal that close to a drawbridge may prove problematic, said Tipton.
“Roundabouts have a way of slowing traffic down without stopping traffic, and that’s what we were trying to get to, but if the costs get out of hand as part of the redesign, I think the mayor is absolutely right,” Tipton said.
The other project in question is the GMD complete street improvement. According to Tipton and Brownman, FDOT had proposed repaving GMD and replacing the sidewalk beginning in fiscal year 2025. At the same time, Brownman said the town was coming up with a vision for what they wanted the future of GMD to look like. Paramount in those discussions was including wider bike lanes and a wider trail. Specifically on the east side, they wanted to replace and widen the trail, which is currently not in great shape, Brownman said.
“It’s a patchwork of different concrete and expansions over time, and it’s got some heaving,” Brownman said. “It’s in pretty rough shape.”
The town proposed having a 12-foot trail, with the thought that an 8-foot trail would be too narrow for the high level of activity the trail currently sees with cyclists, pedestrians and their dogs.
Brownman said FDOT examined the idea for several months, before returning the recommendation that there would be too great of a need for drainage facilities and structures due to an increase in impervious surfaces. Tipton would like to see GMD get the additional 4 feet of sidewalk, but does share some concerns.
“There are some, I think, legitimate right-of-way concerns and potentially, depending on the surface or material that’s used for the trail, there could be some drainage concerns as well,” Tipton said.
For both projects, Brownman and Tipton are expected to have meetings with FDOT officials soon to discuss possible ways to move forward with the projects.
