The City of Sarasota identified Ringling Boulevard as a prime candidate for a complete streets project to accommodate the increasing bicycle traffic between The Legacy Trail and downtown Sarasota and the Bayfront. The Legacy Trail, a multi-use path stretching from south Sarasota County to downtown, offered an ideal connection to Ringling Boulevard, presenting the city with an opportunity to establish the region's inaugural protected bike lane corridor in Sarasota-Manatee.
Implementing the design-build delivery method enabled the City to swiftly provide this vital connectivity. With a budget of $2.8 million, the project garnered significant citizen interest, effectively addressed community needs, and is poised to stimulate economic growth in the downtown area. To optimize costs and sustainability, the City conducted construction engineering inspection services internally and repurposed concrete parking wheel stops as bicycle dividers.
The protected bike lane received top priority and is visibly delineated with green paint at intersections and conflict points to bolster safety measures. ADA ramps and crosswalks were overhauled and brought up to ADA standards. Additionally, landscaped islands featuring canopy trees were integrated into the streetscape as part of the comprehensive streetscape enhancement. To facilitate public transportation, bus stop pads were installed as designated loading/unloading zones outside the bike lane.
Remarkably, the project successfully delivered all planned features, from design to final acceptance, in under a year.
Awards:
Project of the Year Award – Transportation Roadways
2023 Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Florida Region
Crown Communities Award
2023 American City & County Crown Communities and Exemplary Public Servants
Project of the Year Award
2023 American Public Works Association Florida Chapter