Manatee and Sarasota Counties to Partner in Transportation and Safety Projects

Posted Thursday, May 26, 2016 12:00 am

John Rehill

SARASOTA – At Wednesday's joint meeting of commissioners from both Manatee and Sarasota Counties, an FDOT update was given for the I-75/University Parkway Diverging Diamond Interchange Project. Commissioners also reviewed an update and timeline preview on the new 800 MHz radio system being built in partnership by both counties. And last but not least, Commissioners from both counties reported a steady progression in services from both MCAT and SCAT since they started coordinated routes connecting both counties.

The Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) Project began in August of 2015. Traffic will cross paths twice as traffic shifts to the left side of oncoming traffic between the interstate ramps. The projects also calls for adding an auxiliary lane on northbound and southbound I-75.

There will be a widening of new I-75 bridges, a widening of University Parkway and a widening of the existing I-75 bridges going over Erie Creek and Foley Creek. The project is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2017.

Marlena Gore, project manager for Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), finished off the presentation with a fast-forward two-minute video of FDOT workers placing the "Acrow" temporary bridge, used to carry I-75 traffic while the new bridges are being built, over University Parkway.

The 800 MHz Public Safety Communication System presentation from Richard Collins, Director of Emergency Services for Sarasota County, and Wilfredo Miranda, Radio Communications Manager for Manatee County, provided an update on the new Sarasota/Manatee radio system partnership.

The project is currently at 15 percent completion. Both counties are finalizing radio tower sites and system design. In August, 2016, Factory Acceptance Testing will begin, and later in October the installation stage will start and run until March of 2017, to be completed. In June of 2017, Complete Coverage Testing will begin and end in August of same year. Final test will be performed November of 2017.

MCAT and SCAT (Manatee County Area Transit and Sarasota County Area Transit) have been serving transit riders in the two-county region since 1979. In 2005/2006, SCAT and MCAT started two coordinated routes connecting both counties: the Route 99 along U.S. 41, and a Longboat Key route. Route 99 operates between Palmetto and downtown Sarasota and is the top performing route for both systems, providing important connections for residents and visitors, and bringing many riders to area jobs. The Longboat Key route connects residents and visitors to Anna Maria Island and to downtown Sarasota.

Both counties are sharing a Universal Pass Program and are negotiating with Ringling College and New College of Florida for approval of a Universal Pass Program similar to the agreement they now have with University of South Florida (USF) Sarasota/Manatee Campus.

USF pays $5,000 each semester so that all students who carry a student ID can ride free. Both counties also share a program that allows anyone 80 years or older to ride free.

Both MCAT and SCAT are looking at Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) for a possible Joint Participation Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to lead an initiative for a Regional Fare/Smart Card that can be used on transit systems within the 7-county Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) region. MCAT, SCAT and HART will be looking to FDOT for the funding.