Proposed Traffic Easing Plan for Leaving the Island

Suggested third turning lane from Gulf Stream onto US-41 to help ease traffic congestion

Full time Lido Shorians know that summer time brings a welcome respite from the travel travails of tourist season.  We have the roads to ourselves again... after navigating several frustrating months of traffic snarls.  It's the price we pay for living in paradise. But couldn't there at least be some mitigating changes to provide a modicum of relief during the height of the season?

Perhaps. LSPOA President Bob Lifeso has been meeting with the other HOA Presidents from our sister keys Bird and Lido, in hopes of coming to some interim solutions. The biggest bottleneck when attempting to exit our islands is the intersection of US-41 and Gulf Stream Drive. With a proposed roundabout likely still three-years away, it seems that some common sense changes could ease congestion in the meantime.

So far Lifeso has met with Sarasota Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie, Commissioner Hagen Brody and will be meeting with Commissioner Willie Shaw and the other commissioners in the near future.

Lifeso has also also spoken with Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock and plans are to meet with Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin. Bullock has no standing with the City of Sarasota, but of course is very interested in solving this problem for his own constituents.

Proposed three-lanes heading north on 41 to Fruitville

Briefly, island leaders are proposing that we add another turn lane. Here's the plan:

1) The current outbound (East) lanes from the Keys would be re-configured. The third or most southerly lane, which now goes only straight into the downtown Core, be resigned and painted to allow both straight ahead traffic, and also allow left turns.

2) The 10-foot median on US-41 at the north side of the intersection be reduced to allow for a third northbound lane on US-41.

3) The third northbound lane would then end at the new right turn lane, which has just been completed at Fruitville Road.

This can be accomplished quickly and fairly cheaply, and if it should prove to work, might give us another option as compared to a roundabout.   

So, that's the idea that's being floated to the City of Sarasota... and it seems to be a pretty well reasoned one. Thoughts? Our Prez would like to hear your ideas and suggestions as well. Drop him a line at lifeso1@aol.com.  ~ BT

Third lane becomes dedicated turn lane onto Fruitville