Early results say no to changing Gulf of Mexico Drive

It wasn’t on the agenda, and town leaders were content to leave the discussion until October, but someone said the M word, and voices raised.

At a Town Commission workshop meeting Monday, discussion on legislative priorities unexpectedly descended into debate when a commissioner suggested it may be better to refer to the road as State Road 789 on a document state lawmakers would be reviewing. On a page detailing the town’s legislative priorities for the 2026 State of Florida legislative session, the third item on Longboat Key’s list was “support funding for complete street improvements to Gulf of Mexico Drive through the Town of Longboat Key.”

The sentiment was agreed upon by commissioners. The improvements and state funding for them are welcome, but Commissioner BJ Bishop suggested not writing Gulf of Mexico Drive on the final version of the document.

“Could we just replace GMD with route 789, since that is currently what they’re asking since they’ve taken the signs down, on our legislative priorities list?” asked Bishop.

The question follows a Florida Department of Transportation move to remove the big green Gulf of Mexico Drive signs from state-owned intersection mast arms. FDOT said the department did so in response to a change in state law that describes how state departments refer to the body of water west of Longboat Key. The town scheduled a meeting on Oct. 20 to discuss whether to rename the road, and messages from residents began pouring in. According to a recent tally gathered by town staff, 91 emails were received from residents on the subject. Of those, 67% expressed opposition to renaming the road. 23% said the road should be renamed Gulf of America Drive, and 10% suggested another alternative name.

Town mayor Ken Schneier said, though minimal, referring to the name as anything other than Gulf of Mexico Drive before residents had their say in a public meeting would be a concession, and changing the name of the road is not popular in the community. 

“I wish. I really, really, really wish we weren’t having this conversation now. Because I think if we had left things the status quo until it comes before us (we could) know whether the feeling of our community continues to be five to one against,” Schneier said.

The town tally that includes social media comments shows nine people in support of naming the road Gulf of America Drive, and 105 saying it should remain Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“No one has asked us, except for one individual and a couple of followers in the community, to change the name of the road to anything or to change the designation that we have of the road to anything from what it is,” Schneier said.

Town Manager Howard Tipton has said the only thing that has changed is how FDOT refers to the road, which the state is only calling State Road 789. A town FAQ page set up after FDOT’s move explains that resident mailing addresses have not changed and that the local name of the road is still Gulf of Mexico Drive. But those mast arms that once displayed Gulf of Mexico Drive remain empty, with FDOT waiting to see what the town decides. If the town were to stick with the name Gulf of Mexico Drive, FDOT would put up signs marking the road as State Road 789. If any other name were picked, FDOT would put signs up matching that new name. Vice Mayor Debra Williams suggested writing “State Road 789 (recognized locally known as Gulf of Mexico Drive)” on the legislative priorities document.

FDOT is waiting, and others are monitoring, town attorney Maggie Mooney noted.

“Your lobbyist has indicated that this is being closely watched by the delegation members to the extent that that makes any difference in what you put down on this paper. It is being closely watched,” Mooney said. “So, for what it’s worth, I think the vice mayor’s suggestion is a good one, kind of walking both lines right now so as not to upset anyone.”

After 20 minutes of back and forth, a motion was made by Schneier and the commission voted unanimously to write Gulf of Mexico Drive (State Road 789) on the document.