Manatee to host roundabout information session as local neighbors gather in opposition

James A. Jones Jr.
·4 min read
3

Neighbors are rallying against Manatee County Government’s plans to build a roundabout at Lorraine Road and Players Drive.

The roundabout, one of at least 23 planned for Manatee County, would be between two gated communities: Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Country Club East.

And therein lies the problem, opponents say.

At certain times of the day, visitor and service vehicles line up at the entrances to the neighborhoods, sometimes backing up onto Lorraine Road.

A roundabout would worsen that problem and create more hazards for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, they say.

The county’s position is that roundabouts are safe.

“They have fewer and less severe crashes, 90% fewer deaths and 75% fewer injuries. In roundabouts, drivers cannot run red lights or stop signs,” the project webpage says.

In addition, the county says that roundabouts have up to 40% fewer incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. The county already has a number of roundabouts.

Residents counter that rather than building a roundabout, the county should install a traffic light there as originally planned.

“The traffic light had already been 75% designed. There is still an opportunity to stop the roundabout,” said Nancy Haas, one of those opposing the roundabout.

Lakewood Ranch residents say they don’t necessarily dislike roundabouts, but the one planned at Lorraine Road and Players Drive would create more problems than it would solve. Shown above is a line of vehicles backed up at the gate of Country Club East.
Lakewood Ranch residents say they don’t necessarily dislike roundabouts, but the one planned at Lorraine Road and Players Drive would create more problems than it would solve. Shown above is a line of vehicles backed up at the gate of Country Club East.

Manatee County officials have scheduled a public information meeting for Wednesday to lay out details of the roundabout.

The public meeting will provide citizens with an opportunity to learn more about the proposed improvements for the intersection. Guests will be invited to view design boards and plans, but there will be no formal presentation.

The roundabout project would also include pedestrian ramps, crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, pavement resurfacing of all approach lanes, lighting and the reapplication of pavement markings.

But residents had their own meeting on Sept. 13.

The result? The majority of those in attendance opposed the roundabout and asked for a traffic light instead.

“We aren’t against roundabouts, but there is a time and a place for them. This is not the time and place,” Haas said.

“We have over 170 letters from residents opposed to the roundabout,” she said. “This is an issue for anyone who uses that intersection.”

Lakewood Ranch residents say they don’t necessarily dislike roundabouts, but the one planned at Lorraine Road and Players Drive would create more problems than it would solve.
Lakewood Ranch residents say they don’t necessarily dislike roundabouts, but the one planned at Lorraine Road and Players Drive would create more problems than it would solve.

Jeff Schillinger moved to Lakewood Ranch 10 years ago. At that time, there wasn’t as much traffic on Lorraine Road.

“Now, we can’t make a left-hand turn on Lorraine Road many times because of the traffic,” Schillinger said.

“The traffic engineers began planning a traffic light there and then all of the sudden we found out without any communication with anyone that they were planning a roundabout,” he said.

Schillinger said he and others plan to attend the county’s Wednesday meeting and will be wearing red shirts to show their opposition.

Richard Garrett, an avid cyclist, worries that the roundabout will make it more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

A roundabout would put cyclists and pedestrians at risk, he said.

“Several cyclists have been killed or injured at other roundabouts. They are taking away the rights of cyclists to ride on Lorraine Road,” Garrett said.

Art Vetter says that every other intersection on Lorraine Road is served by a traffic light. Why shouldn’t there be a traffic light at Players Drive? he said.

“It seems like a handful of people got to somebody to get a roundabout,” Vetter said.

Statistics provided by the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization show the intersection to be relatively safe. There was one accident reported annually in 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021, and no fatalities.

The county information meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, 11315 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch.

Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in late fall of 2024 and be completed at a cost of $2.1 million by late fall of 2025.

County rationale for a roundabout

According to the county project webpage, a roundabout is needed because of steady growth of traffic in the area, which is expected to continue with new residential development and new schools in the area.

“As the area continues to develop and experience growth, the side street traffic is expected to experience higher delays due to increased traffic volume along Lorraine Road.

“Based on evaluations of different intersection control measures and input from stakeholders, it was determined that a multi-lane roundabout is warranted.

“The multi-lane roundabout is expected to improve the overall operations and safety of the vehicles, pedestrians,and bicyclists in this area,” county officials said.

For more information, visit the project webpage at https://players-drive-and-lorraine-road-roundabout-manateegis.hub.arcgis.com/.