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VOL 15 No. 34
June 24, 2015
TRAFFIC SOLUTION scramble
cindy lane | sun
The MPO plans to ask the Coast Guard to reduce drawbridge openings to lighten traffic congestion.
Request seeks fewer drawbridge openings ... The MPO says traffic delays on roads to and from the Island are “no longer seasonal.” BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking the U.S. Coast Guard to reduce the frequency of drawbridge openings in Manatee and Sarasota counties to alleviate traffic congestion year around. In a resolution passed on Monday, the MPO noted that “the delays on the roads serving the island communities… are no longer seasonal in nature.”
INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey TURTLES pet evac pages outdoors food column real estate
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The Coast Guard has the final say on the issue. Drawbridge openings are one of several issues to be included in a regional barrier island traffic study being developed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), along with traffic light timing, pedestrian controls and turn lanes, among other issues. Bill Hattaway, FDOT’s District 1 secretary, met with local officials in Cortez last week to discuss the study, which will focus on improving transportation between the island communities of Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key
Both the mayors of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach are looking at alternate forms of transportation. BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Officials discussed ways to reduce the number of vehicles on the islands at last week’s meeting of island elected officials.
see bridge, page 44
Readers’ choice: Favorites are revealed in this special section. 21-33
Anna Maria Island, Florida
... while some hail water taxi idea Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said he has spoken with Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker about a water taxi and “marketing it to people who work on the Island. It would have to be subsidized by the county to make it viable because you have to make it cheap for people who work.” He said the city is seeking providers who might be interested. Bradenton Beach Mayor Jack Clarke said he also has been considersee water taxi, page 44
TREE HOUSE: JUDGE DENIES APPEAL BY OWNERS. 8
Chamber, trolley grants total $50,000 for nonprofits. 5
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