The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

A detailed update on the Bee Ridge Rd. project came from the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee, a volunteer group representing some 14 communities impacted by the Bee Ridge Rd. improvements. The information was shared at the Dec. 10th Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting , and is in addition to the latest official report  from Sarasota County: The new completion date for the project as a whole is now June 2016 (original date was April), mainly because of unusual amounts of rain. The traffic signals at Mauna Loa are currently under control of the contractor, and they are being monitored to cope with changes in traffic levels due to returning snowbirds and seasonal fluctuation. The Mauna Loa intersection is considered "very difficult" and will require ramping. The south lanes need to be resurfaced and elevated to match the northern lanes of Bee Ridge. Asphalt plants go offline this time of year, however, so the timing of the southern lane elevation has been moved to b...

Berkshire closed until Jan. 8, Maui to be closed off soon.

The release below from FDOT offers a brief overview of the plan for Bee Ridge Road and I-75, with major changes, and widened roads and highway. Note there is a public information gathering on Tuesday Dec. 15th - details below. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One is preparing design plans for future widening of approximately 3.8 miles of Interstate 75 (I-75) from south of Bee Ridge Road to south of Fruitville Road and reconstruction of the I-75/Bee Ridge Road interchange in Sarasota County, Florida. In December 2011, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved a preferred alternative from the Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) study of I-75 from south of SR 681 to north of University Parkway in Sarasota and Manatee counties. As part of the PD&E study, two public hearings were held in 2009. At the I-75/Bee Ridge Road interchange, the preferred alternative maintained the existing partial cloverleaf interchange but added turn lanes o...

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback relating to this newsletter, contact us at  communications@scgov.net .  Maio chosen as 2016 commission chairman The Board of County Commissioners selected Alan Maio, District 4, as chairman and Paul Caragiulo, District 2, as vice chairman for 2016 during a public meeting  Friday . Charles Hines, District 5, will serve as Pro Tem. Commissioners honored students who took part in the 2016 'Branch Out - Plant a Tree' NEST calendar Sarasota County commissioners honored 13 elementary school artists whose illustrations appear in the 2016 "Branch Out - Plant a Tree!" calendar, an effort of Sarasota County's Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST). Six libraries closing  Dec. 11  for staff development Six Sarasota County public libraries will be closed  Friday, Dec. 11 , for staff development as library employee...

Lake Sarasota residents interested in the welfare of the neighborhood are welcome to attend an open meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10 - 7 pm at the meeting rooms behind Sarasota Alliance Church. Representatives from the County and Sheriff will be on hand, as well as a representative from the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee who will address road questions. Please share this info with your neighbors. Lake Sarasota has no formal HOA, no dues, no deed restrictions - just people who volunteer as they can. Thursday, Dec. 10 7 pm Sarasota Alliance Church Meeting Rooms AGENDA 1. Bee Ridge Rd. and I-75 Updates. Bee Ridge Exchange at I-75 and widening of 75 ( Public Workshop Dec. 15 ) More info about this project HERE . Bee Ridge construction, timing.  SCAT route changes and Bus shelter update Temporary closing of Middlesex (and maybe Wake) due to construction Roundabouts - Community Meeting TBA  2. Neighborhood Security Concerns for Lake Sarasota Vulnerabilit...

To all who use SCAT service in Lake Sarasota - Route 14 - Bee Ridge Rd. - SCAT Service Update Due to the construction at Wake Ave, Middlesex Pl and Berkshire Rd, SCAT buses cannot continue service into the lake Sarasota Area. Therefore, effective Monday December 7, 2015 SCAT will no longer turn into the residential area at Middlesex PL. All SCAT service will remain on Bee Ridge Rd. Operators will maintain schedules as to be at Middlesex and Bee Ridge at the current posted Middlesex times. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. ++++++++++++++++ How can we improve transit in Sarasota County? SCAT will hold two workshops to gather public input - These will be open house style events. Attendees may stop by at any time during the event. The content of each workshop will be the same. Workshop #1 Tuesday, December 8, 2015 5:00 to 6:30 PM Sarasota County Administration Building 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Training Room Sarasota, F...

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at communications@scgov.net .  Marker dedication for Mable Ringling Memorial Fountain and Luke Wood Park The Sarasota County Historical Commission invites you to the dedication of the Luke Wood Park and Mable Ringling Memorial Fountain Historical Marker  at  4 p.m. on  Saturday, Dec. 5 . Two public meetings planned for Parks Master Plan discussion Community members are invited to share their thoughts on the future of Sarasota County's parks, preserves and reserves at two upcoming public workshops. SCAT seeks feedback at two open houses Sarasota County Area Transit will host two open house-style workshops to hear input from the public as part of the department's ongoing comprehensive  operations analysis.  Six libraries closing  Dec. 11  for staff development Six Sarasota County pu...

Bee Ridge roadwork update for Thanksgiving week:

Aerial of Bee Ridge Rd from Cattlemen Rd to Mauna Loa Blvd. On Tuesday, Dec. 15, District One staff of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public workshop regarding design improvements to Interstate 75 from south of Bee Ridge Road to south of Fruitville Road in Sarasota County, the department has announced. The session has been scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at the offices of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, located at 2320 Cattlemen Road in Sarasota, a news release says. FDOT will give interested persons the opportunity to view the proposed design, review displays, talk one-on-one with staff and make comments about the project, the release adds. The 3.8-mile project will include reconstruction of the I-75 interchange at Bee Ridge Road from the existing diamond configuration to a hybrid diverging diamond interchange and southbound diversion ramp, the release says. The department also will transform the intersection of Bee Ridge Road ...

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at communications@scgov.net .  County offices closed for Thanksgiving Sarasota County Government offices, including libraries, Sarasota County Historical Resources and recreation centers, will be closed  Thursday, Nov. 26 , and  Friday, Nov. 27 , for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Register now for the Sarasota County's 10th annual Sustainable Communities Workshop The workshop will be held  Thursday, Dec. 3 , at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Event and Conference Center, 4740 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. New SCAT routes, changes began Nov. 14 Several route changes and new services for Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) became effective Nov. 14, county transportation officials  have announced. Sarasota County libraries announce 'One Book' program for 2016 Sarasota County Libraries and Histor...

This bulletin from the County came this morning: Good Morning, I was just informed that a dump truck struck the Comcast cable at the intersection of Bee Ridge Road and Westminster Drive. Comcast is in route to the location and estimates the repair to take a few hours. Westbound traffic on Bee Ridge Road is being controlled by flaggers. Eastbound traffic is being rerouted at Santo Avenue to Westminster Drive. There were no injuries and no property damage.

SCAT's Route 14 will be extended to include the Publix Shopping Plaza at Bee Ridge Extension beginning Saturday Nov. 14. For a full route map and updated schedule, click here . More info below.

Welcome to Sarasota County's community e-newsletter. If you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, contact us at  communications@scgov.net .  Revised draft flood hazard maps available for review Nearly 15,000 properties have been removed from high-risk zones on the revised draft of Sarasota County's Special Flood Hazard Area maps following a review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Keep Sarasota County Beautiful honors standout volunteers The 27th Annual Keep Sarasota County Beautiful awards were handed out at Robarts Arena  Wednesday  night, honoring 19 individuals and organizations who dedicate their time and energy to making Sarasota County a better place. Ted Sperling Park improvements continue next week  The entrance road and trails at Ted Sperling Nature Center Park at South Lido may be periodically closed or have limited access starting next week as Sarasota County begins the second phase of a...