Manatee Commission Drives Vision 41 to Next Phases
By Lisa Neff
Manatee County commissioners unanimously voted Nov. 18 to authorize county staff to work on identifying streetscape projects along a stretch of U.S. 41.
Commissioners also authorized staff to develop specific recommendations on potential changes to the county’s land development code.
The decision takes the county into phases two and three of the Vision 41 beautification of Tamiami Trail project, a long-range effort to transform a high-speed auto-centric corridor beginning at the south county line just north of University Parkway into a more aesthetic multimodal corridor to improve safety, foster pride, boost economic development and promote sustainability.
The complete corridor runs north to Cortez Road, with the first segment running from the border to Bowles Creek.
The planning — as well as funding and construction — also will involve the Florida Department of Transportation, as well as property owners along Tamiami Trail, including Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, New College and the University of South Florida.
The county launched Vision 41 in 2024 and the first step involved a series of nine workshops and online surveys to discuss project goals, including reducing vehicle speed and creating more options for transit, bicycling and walking, as well as improving opportunities for redevelopment and infill development.
The results of those talks were shared with commissioners, voted 7-0 to advance the project to the next phases, estimated to cost $240,000.
John Osborne of Green Street Associates and Stu Henderson of Fawley Bryant Architecture, the county’s project consultants, guided the commission through a report during the meeting at the county administration building in downtown Bradenton.
They said improvements will boost property values in the area and that a majority of people consulted on the visioning believe streetscape project will reenergize the corridor.
Some projects will take time, while others will be implemented relatively quickly. Costs, some funded by the state, some by property owners and some with county TIF money, also will vary.
The improvements they described include:
• Well-designed transit stops that provide safe and accessible locations for riders, with seating, lighting and clear signage.
• Trees and landscaping to enhance aesthetics, provide environmental benefits and buffer pedestrians and street traffic.
• Street “furniture” like benches, trash cans and bike racks to make corridor use more comfortable, inviting and cleaner.
• Sidewalks to make travel easier and safer for people walking and using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
• Dedicated bike lanes to provide safe space for cyclists, separating them from vehicle traffic, with curbs or planters or painted markings.
• Reduced speed limits from 50 mph to 45 mph and a “lane diet” to enhance safety plus create space for bike lanes and landscape medians.
Options for changing regulations include amending urban corridors overlay, amending the county’s comprehensive plan and land development code, establishing design standards and using form-based code.
“This is a great vision,” said County Commissioner Mike Rahn, R-District 4. “It’s going to do a lot for tourist development, for both the colleges, for SRQ and for that whole section there of US 41.”
