Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/297477
areas; those areas should be targeted for islands. According to Stublen, the Bee Ridge/ Beneva Road intersection is particularly haz- ardous, a high-traffic area that will only get busier with the new Walmart scheduled to go in on the southwest corner. The islands aren't the only fix in the works. The department is also going to resurface some of the road, replace a drainage pipe, repair some cracked sidewalks, upgrade pedestrian sig- nals and improve pavement marking as well. But the plans aren't set in stone. The Department of Transportation is seeking public input on its map. Beginning April 15, Sarasota residents can see for themselves what the state department has in store: The plans will be on display at the Fruitville Public Library for a month. A public hearing on the topic will also be held, on May 1, at Trinity United Methodist Church. State representa- tives will be on hand with blown-up images of the plan and a slideshow, and the public can offer oral comments. The library is located at 100 Coburn Road in Sarasota. The church is at 4150 S. Shade Ave. in Sarasota. With so many lanes and so much suburban traffic, the Department of Transportation is never going to entirely eliminate the danger of crossing Bee Ridge, but Stublen says the department is doing what it can: "How can you reduce the problem?" % A map shows one segment of Bee Ridge Road where pedestrian refuge islands are planned. Dunn Drive, the eastern termination point for the project, is marked with a flag. Image from Google Maps Sarasota News Leader April 18, 2014 Page 47