improvements to the nearby I-75 interchange
and surrounding roadways. "It put an excla-
mation point on the need" for changes in the
area, Steube told The Sarasota News Leader.
Several weeks later, Steube was able to orga-
nize a sit-down session in Tallahassee with
Ananth Prasad, the head of FDOT, along with
representatives from the Sarasota/Manatee
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
and Sarasota and Manatee county officials to
discuss the same topic. Representatives from
developers Schroeder Manatee Ranch and
Benderson were also present. That discussion
last week yielded a fast-track push for the
interchange improvements.
State officials want to prioritize them and
seek funds for a "diverging diamond" inter-
change to improve traffic flow at I-75 and
University Parkway. It would be the first
such design constructed in Florida. The lay-
out would require the traffic on University
Parkway to briefly switch sides. That would
necessitate switching the two traffic lights to
"two-phase" signals and remove the need for
left-turn leads onto and off the interstate. The
concept is said to reduce traffic delays.
Image courtesy of Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Sarasota News Leader March 14, 2014 Page 42
