Five recommendations to improve Anna Maria Island traffic flow emerged as priorities at the Feb. 12 Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting in Anna Maria.
The Florida Department of Transportation also was questioned by ITPO members about communication between project managers handling the barrier island traffic study and the Cortez Bridge revamp, respectively, given the two major infrastructure projects are interlinked.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie asked for assurance from the DOT the traffic bottleneck on Gulf Drive south of Cortez Road in Bradenton Beach will be addressed.
“Information is always shared,” said Jesten Abraham of the DOT. “I can’t guarantee anything.”
The three ITPO representatives — Murphy, Chappie and Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson — were told DOT project coordination is routine.
Murphy and Chappie pressed the issue.
“Seriously, can you give us some assurance it will actually be looked at?” said Murphy. “I don’t get that comfortable feeling that we’re going to do something about it.”
Chappie listed the reasons he believes the issue is critical: dangerous traffic congestion could be eased, the right of way and bike lanes are too narrow and pedestrians are at risk.
“Everything just narrows down at that one spot,” Chappie said. “It’s a tremendous safety issue.”
Chappie chided the DOT for being lax in addressing the city’s safety issues.
“To be honest, I’m a little surprised FDOT would put up with this so long,” he said. “To even think about waiting until the bridge is there is not going to change that section right there. It still has to be included and why wait? This is common sense.”
The DOT barrier island traffic study, or BITS, now lists 74 ideas for improving barrier island traffic flow, including 25 short-term suggestions, 39 midterm fixes and 10 long-term solutions.
Short-term suggestions to request shared use of church parking and add parking on Longboat Key were eliminated.
Extending the northbound right-turn lane on Gulf Drive at the intersection with Manatee Avenue was added, according to Bessie Reina, project manager for BITS.
Suggestions will be prioritized as BITS concludes this summer.
Lynn Burnett, city engineer for Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, prioritized five projects for DOT funding in April by the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“I put together a list to get the ball rolling,” Burnett said.
Burnett’s list includes the Anna Maria Island and Cortez bridges, State Road 789 improvements in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach and implementation of short-term BITS solutions.
She added one priority request after Chappie and Murphy spoke.
“The recommendation would be to extend the eastbound turn lane from Gulf Drive” on the south side of the Cortez Road intersection, Burnett said. “We can do that.”
The priorities were unanimously approved by the ITPO, which was formed to advise the MPO on island traffic issues. One of the three representatives rotates in the island seat on the MPO board.
The MPO uses local priorities to generate state support and funding in its jurisdiction for DOT projects, but it doesn’t happen quickly.
“The general idea is they are looking for new money five years out,” said MPO executive director David Hutchinson.
Funding for DOT recommendations can follow once adopted as priority items by the MPO, which was created in the 1950s to provide a local voice to the state on transportation issues.
The ITPO focus this year includes implementing short-term BITS suggestions, lobbying the DOT to improve the three bridges connecting Anna Maria Island to the mainland and Longboat Key, and securing county beach concession funds from the Manatee County Board of Commissioners.
Reina said the BITS represents an untried approach.
“This is a new study for the department and the district,” Reina said. “We’re taking a new approach to viewing the seasonal traffic and increased traffic demand at this time.”
The ITPO will next meet at 2 p.m. Monday, April 9, at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
The MPO was to meet at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 26, after press time for The Islander, at the Holiday Inn, 8009 15th St. E., Sarasota.