Here we go ’round again.
Preliminary plans are afoot to convert three intersections in Holmes Beach to roundabouts.
Lynn Burnett, city engineer for Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, previewed the preliminary plans at a Dec. 7 meeting of the Island Transportation Planning Organization.
Burnett said roundabouts are ideal projects for the ITPO to submit for state or federal funds because of their concentration on safety. One possible funding source is the federal Safe Routes to School program.
Burnett first suggested the intersection where 81st Street, Palm and Gulf drives merge, near Haley’s Motel and the northern city border with Anna Maria.
Having a roundabout at this location, Burnett said, would allow motorists to make a “clean” left-hand turn onto Gulf Drive from Palm Drive.
“That’s a very dangerous intersection,” she said. “It’s not a safe place for vehicles to cross, much less pedestrians and cyclists.”
The second proposed roundabout is at the intersection of Key Royale Drive, Marina Drive and 66th Street. Burnett said the improvement would be more oval-shaped than round.
“You have multiple legs of road coming in at varying angles,” Burnett said, adding that it, too, is unsafe for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
The third proposed roundabout location is the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives, which would provide continuous traffic flow and safe crossings for pedestrians in the downtown area.
Funding is a tricky issue. Burnett said officials would need to purchase additional rights of way at the Gulf-Marina intersection. Preliminary discussions have been held with a property owner who is receptive to the idea, she said.
David Hutchinson, executive director of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, said not having to purchase rights of way is an advantage when competing with other communities for federal funds.