Changing the opening schedules for the three drawbridges leading to Anna Maria Island remains under consideration by the U.S. Coast Guard.
And that status may continue for another year.
During the Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting April 11 at Holmes Beach City Hall, David Hutchinson, executive director of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, gave an update on the July 2015 request.
The request to reduce bridge openings came from the island city mayors in a measure to reduce traffic backups for motorists both on the island and on the approaches to the island.
Hutchinson said the request may take several months or more to process.
A letter submitted by the ITPO to the Coast Guard asked for the bridge opening schedule on the Anna Maria and Cortez Bridges to be amended to open on demand on a 60-minute or less schedule during peak season and holidays. The letter also asked that the Longboat Pass Bridge openings be reduced but did not specify or recommend a schedule.
The ITPO members — the three island mayors — meeting with Roxann Lake of the Florida Department of Transportation, engineer Lynn Burnett of the MPO Technical Advisory Committee and Claudia Carlson of the MPO Citizen’s Advisory Committee, agree that the new schedule would help decrease traffic congestion coming to and leaving the island.
“Is there any way to get a guesstimate?” asked Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon of the Coast Guard response time.
Hutchinson said a response could take up to a year, not including the nine months since the initial request was submitted.
“We do expect that things are moving and we’ll have a better report in the next several months,” said Hutchinson.
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said he would follow up with the Coast Guard.
“I plan on calling the Coast Guard in three weeks,” Johnson said.
Currently, two of the three bridges to the island open on demand on a 20-minute cycle during the day and on request at night from boaters. The Longboat Pass Bridge opens on demand.
The ITPO is a group charted under the MPO to address transportation issues and agenda items that come before the MPO board. One representative from the island, currently Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson, serves as a voting member of the MPO.
The ITPO will next meet at 2 p.m. Monday, June 13, at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
— Kristin Swain