U.S. 41 - FDOT Construction Update   The medians along U.S. 41 between 14th Street and 10th Street are now removed as FDOT crews prepare to shift traffic for the upcoming roundabout construction.

 

The areas where the medians were located will be temporarily paved next Thursday and Friday in order to shift traffic during the construction.  That lane shift is expected to start on

	The first weekend in February, traffic lanes are scheduled to shift on U.S. 41 between 14th and 10th.

Saturday, Feb. 4 and Sunday, Feb. 5.

 

Staging and prep work has been going on in the area for awhile and this will be the first noticeable indication that a significant improvement project is underway.

 

FDOT is constructing roundabouts at 14th St. and 10th St., which will allow continuous flow of vehicles while enhancing motorist, bicyclist and pedestrian traffic.   

 

City staff meets weekly with FDOT and contractors on the roundabout project team to review schedules, exchange updates and to ensure City issues are addressed.

 

You can receive email updates directly from FDOT by registering at   

 

 

  

The Vue - Residents Moving In   As new residents begin to occupy the 161 new units of the Vue condominium building, located on U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Ave, Assistant City Manager John Lege, Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown and I had a chance to tour the very modern new building earlier this week.   Obviously, the view from the Vue is fabulous.    

Senior Project Manager David Arnet shared with us that residents who are moving in were attracted here not only because of our beaches/weather and active cultural/recreational lifestyle options, but also because we have an increasingly walkable downtown that residents can enjoy and access without having to get in a car and drive.    

 

In that regard, City staff continues to urge the Florida Department of Transportation to move forward on installing enhanced pedestrian street crossing strategies whenever possible on U.S. 41.  Following years of effort, a new pedestrian crossing with activated pedestrian crossing lights will be installed by FDOT contractors this spring at First Ave./Ritz-Carlton Drive and U.S. 41 this April.  We hope this will be the first in an ongoing effort to calm traffic and make pedestrian connectivity to our Bayfront and Cultural Districts much more pedestrian friendly.     

  

One Community, One Book   Sarasota County Libraries will participate again this year in the popular program "One Book, One Community".   

 

This year's selection is "Sing For Your Life:  A Story of Race, Music and Family" by Daniel Bergner.  Inspired by a true story, this

	"Sing For Your Life" is this year's One Community, One Book selection.

New York Times bestseller details the life of Ryan Speedo Green and his remarkable journey as a young African American man growing up in a tough neighborhood where he landed in juvenile detention, to becoming a star with New York's Metropolitan Opera.

 

This is the 15th year Sarasota County Libraries has participated in One Book, which encourages everyone in a community to read and discuss the same book.

 

The 2018 program will kick off with a visit by author Daniel Bergner.  He'll speak and sign books at the Sarasota Opera House on Friday, January 26 at 7 p.m. While it is a free lecture, you're encouraged to register to reserve a space. 

 

   

 

Vintage & Collectibles Fair   A few times a year, the Municipal Auditorium hosts a community event without a commercial promoter, which means all the proceeds go back into the historic auditorium operations.

 

The Vintage & Collectibles Fair will be held six times in 2018.

 

Employee Profile:  Dominic Harris