Sarasota News Leader

03/21/2014

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the interchange, with the help of Schroeder Manatee Ranch Inc., developer of Lakewood Ranch, and Benderson, developer of the new Mall at University Town Center. Both firms are obligated to provide area infrastructure improvements through development agree- ments and impact fee guidelines. Benderson and Schroeder Manatee Ranch (SMR) representatives have been given copies of the draft resolution, according to Harmer. "We have included Benderson and SMR in the review of the draft and also provided a copy of the draft to Rep. [Greg] Steube's Office," Harmer wrote in the March 18 email. Steube, the Sarasota Republican who holds the District 73 seat in the Florida House, also is supportive of the project. According to the draft resolution, the fol- lowing regional improvements would be included in an area roadway plan: the con- struction of a bridge over I-75 on the southern boundaries of Nathan Benderson Park and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch; the extension of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from its cur- rent terminus south of University Parkway to Fruitville Road, subject to contractual com- mitments tied to development approvals; and the construction of Lorraine Road between University Parkway and Fruitville Road, subject to contractual commitments tied to development approvals. TRAFFIC FLOW The new I-75/University Parkway interchange could mark the first big step in improving traf- fic flow in that area. While many residents already cite that inter- change as one of the most congested in the region, the area will see even more cars as the new Mall at University Town Center opens in October and additional homes are built around it. The diverging diamond design would require the traffic on University Parkway to briefly switch sides. That would reduce the two traffic signals to "two-phase" signals and remove the need for left-turn leads onto and off the interstate, in concept, reducing traffic delays. For a visualization of how a diverging diamond would work, watch a video pro- duced by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which shows free-flowing traffic moving onto and off an interstate and the path motorists travel over the interstate. Although it is designed to improve traffic flow, this type of interchange has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the location, traffic counts and other factors. Rod Warner, a member of the citizens advi- sory committee to the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), also has posted some information online about diverging diamonds. % A diagram shows how a diverging diamond w o u l d b e c r e a t e d o n I n t e r s t a t e 7 5 a t University Parkway. Image courtesy Sarasota Connectivity Sarasota News Leader March 21, 2014 Page 51

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