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I-75 is a north/south facility with a functional classification of Urban Principal Arterial – Interstate. In the study area, I-75 traverses an array of diverse land uses ranging from urbanized to rural uses. Urbanized land uses include commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional uses in the vicinity of the interchange crossroad areas. Rural land uses consist of agricultural and natural vegetative features.
Among the improvements to be studied for I-75 is widening the existing six-lane roadway to accommodate projected future traffic. Improvements will enhance system mobility and accommodate travel demand generated by approved development in the project area. Traffic in the corridor is projected to increase given the population growth projected to occur within the county and the region.
Study Purpose and Need
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has conducted a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate improvements to Interstate 75 (I-75) from north of University Parkway to north of Moccasin Wallow Road in Manatee County. Within the study limits, I-75 is presently a six-lane, limited access interstate that serves regional travel and connects residential centers in the Sarasota and Palmetto areas with employment and industrial centers in Bradenton. I-75 also provides regional connectivity between US 301 and US 41. The objective of the study is to investigate an expansion of I-75 to a ten-lane four-roadway system and evaluate operational improvements to the existing interchanges at State Road (SR) 70, SR 64, US 301, I-275, and Moccasin Wallow Road.
With an abundance of new development, buildable land, and proximity to major employment centers such as St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bradenton, and Sarasota, Manatee County is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida.
Based on long-range planning, projected population and employment growth, and projected traffic volumes, the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has made improving I-75 a priority in Manatee County. The 2030 Financially Feasible Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) indicates that I-75 has been designated as part of the State of Florida’s Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), due to its critical role in both the regional and state-wide economy. I-75 also plays an important role in Manatee County’s and the west coast of Florida’s emergency evacuation plans. The interstate provides a crucial northbound evacuation route for the Gulf Coast communities.
Traffic in the study corridor is expected to increase given the population growth projected to occur within the county and the region. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Manatee County’s population was 264,002 persons, which was a 24.7 percent increase over the 1990 population of 211,707 persons. The Manatee County Planning Department estimated the 2006 population at 308,300, a 16.8 percent increase over the 2000 Census. The population growth in Manatee County can be attributed to tourism-related activities, a second home market, an influx of retirees, abundant developable land, and the overall economic growth in west central Florida. Projections from the Manatee County Planning Department estimate a 2030 county population of 457,000, a 73.1 percent increase over the 2000 Census.
Without capacity improvements on I-75 from north of University Parkway to north of Moccasin Wallow Road, operating conditions along the corridor will deteriorate to an unacceptable level of service. It is anticipated that capacity and operational improvements will relieve stress on the facility by accommodating the expected traffic growth.
The purpose of the proposed action on I-75 is to enhance system mobility and accommodate travel demand generated by approved development in the project area. Although much of the land east of the facility is rural today, a significant amount of new development has been approved and is coming online rapidly.
Proposed Improvements
Based on an evaluation of the operating conditions for the No-Build and Build scenarios, it is recommended that the proposed build geometry consists of widening I-75 to a ten-lane facility. These improvements will consist of two express lanes in each direction and three general use lanes in each direction. Based on the traffic projections, additional capacity is needed on I-75. Without significant mainline and interchange improvements, I-75 in Manatee County will operate at Level of Service (LOS) F prior to year 2035. Improvements will enhance system mobility and accommodate travel demand generated by approved development in the project area.