*NOTE 2023 This Project is Under Scope Review and will be updated as soon as possible*

Project Description

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One made improvements to 15th Street East/Old US 301 from Tallevast Road to US 41 in Manatee County. These improvements included adding a center turn lane, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes; constructing roundabouts at Tallevast Road, Whitfield Avenue, 57th Avenue, 51st Avenue, and 49th Avenue; and upgrading bus stops to meet requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). FDOT worked on this project in partnership with Manatee County.

About the Project

FDOT made design plans for improvements to 15th Street East/Old US 301 East (15th Street) from Tallevast Road to US 41 in partnership with Manatee County. Manatee County has designated the project as a Complete Streets Corridor, which requires that the project is planned, designed, operated, and maintained to serve the transportation needs of all users including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and freight handlers. The proposed improvements to 15th Street included adding a center turn lane, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes. The project also included constructing roundabouts at Tallevast Road, Whitfield Avenue, 57th Avenue, 51st Avenue, and 49th Avenue and upgrading bus stops to meet requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Need for the Project
The purpose of this project is to improve mobility, accessibility, and to provide safer travel conditions for all users. The project is identified as a financially feasible transportation project in the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO's) 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

Project Funding
Funding for the design phase of this project is included in the FDOT Five-Year Work Program (fiscal years 2020-2024). There was funding for right-of-way and construction in the work program for "Segment 2" from 63rd Avenue to north of 55th Avenue.