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DESCRIPTION
OF PROJECT
The
17th Street Extension project consists of connecting 17th
Street from US 41 (Tamiami Trail) to Orange Avenue, making
it a through street. The project will include an enclosed
drainage system, sidewalks, lighting, bicycle lanes, and traffic
signals. The project includes connecting 17th Street on each
side of the Seminole Gulf Railway by constructing a new at-grade
railroad crossing. In addition, the project will consider
road improvements from Orange Avenue to US-301.
The
first step of the project is to perform a Project Development
and Environment (PD&E) Study to develop supporting data
and document the analysis process used to reach a decision
on type, design, and location of 17th Street improvements
from US-41 to US-301.
HISTORY
OF THE PROJECT
The
17th Street Extension project has been recognized as a needed
project for over 30 years. The project was placed in the City
of Sarasota Thoroughfare Plan in 1972. In 1986, the project
was included in the City's Capital Improvement Plan. A major
segment of the project, described as 17th Street - from US-41
to Orange Avenue, presently is included in the Sarasota/Manatee
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Year 2025 Financially
Feasible Transportation Plan. The project is included
in the adopted 2002 MPO Project Priority LIT (as a City of
Sarasota funded project), where it has been included since
1992, and has been ranked as high as the number three priority.
It also is included in the adopted 2002 Sarasota-Bradenton
Urbanized Area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as
a project of the MPO.
PURPOSE
OF PROJECT
- Provide
improved mobility
- Satisfy
2025 traffic demand
- Assist
in relieving existing and future congestion
- Serve
all modes of transportation
- Meet
today’s design standards
PURPOSE
OF THE PD&E STUDY
Every
proposed public works project should be undertaken only after
performing a complete planning analysis to measure and evaluate
its proposed benefits against its expected costs, as well
as determining the consequences of not proceeding with the
project. In case of a major transportation project such as
the proposed 17th Street Improvement, this planning analysis
is particularly important. In addition, if State and Federal
funding is a consideration, then it is required that the planning
analysis be in the form of a Project Development and Environment
(PD&E) Study. The PD&E Study will evaluate the following:
- Deficiencies
in mobility, congestion and traffic safety;
- Access
to residences, social service agencies and economic and
commercial/industrial centers;
- Existing
roadways, right of way and drainage systems;
- Consistency
with existing and future land use;
- Impacts
on cultural features and community services, natural and
biological features;
- Existing
and proposed future traffic volumes and Level of Service;
- Alternative
alignments, right of way needs, intersection concepts and
signal analysis;
- Right
of way costs, construction costs and preliminary engineering
costs;
- Pedestrian
and bicycle facilities, access management, aesthetics, and
landscaping.
PROJECT
AREA AND BOUNDARIES
PROJECT
OBJECTIVES
- Follow
Federal procedures to allow for Federal funding assistance
- Interface
with long-term downtown plans
- Provide
east-west mobility
- Integrate
into community
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