Raised median to reduce accidents on US-41
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning to install a raised median on US-41 bordering our neighborhood. This will restrict left turns onto and from this busy highway section into and out of our neighborhood, except at two streets with traffic lights. Detailed aerial views of FDOT's "Draft Concept for Discussion" were unveiled locally at a recent neighborhood meeting.
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Summary The current plan calls for installing a raised "green space" median replacing most of the center left turn lane on US 41 between Browning Street north of Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Siesta Key Drive. This will eliminate left turns from our neighborhood onto northbound 41 and into our neighborhood from northbound 41, except for two intersections with traffic lights at Webber and Siesta Drive. North of our neighborhood left turns will be allowed at Bahia Vista, Waldemere and Hillview, This is a very preliminary plan, and FDOT will be seeking further input from residents and businesses along the route and may modify these plans accordingly. No actual construction is expected before 2028, and a written survey will be sent to all residents prior to any plans being finalized.
Why is this being done? This stretch of road has the 3rd worst traffic safety record of any stretch of roadway in the City of Sarasota, and the 31st worst in a ten-county surrounding area. Installing a raised median is expected to significantly improve the safety record of this stretch of road.

Will the center median be landscaped? The current plans only include grass to be planted in the median. FDOT expects that the City of Sarasota will design and implement a second project to install additional landscaping, such as bushes, small trees and decorative grasses. 

Has a traffic study been done to determine the impact of traffic load on surrounding streets? A traffic study will be done after plans for the median are firmed up. With left turns eliminated at neighborhood intersections without traffic signals, it is expected that there will be increased traffic on the streets with traffic signals, increased u-turns at traffic signal intersections and increased traffic on South Osprey. All will be considered before plans are finalized. Since this is a very preliminary plan, additional left hand turnouts may be added in the future.

Will a landscaped center island reduce speeding and reckless driving on US 41? Experience has shown that dividing a road with a landscaped center does improve driving habits, with reduced speeds and better driving behavior.  

Are there any accommodations planned for Electric Bike usage? The Florida legislature has not finalized any electric bike regulations, and US 41 is not wide enough for a bike lane. As a result, there are no current plans to make any modifications to accommodate bikes or e-bikes.

Will rainwater flooding at the intersections be addressed? Catch basins & curbs will be repaired where needed and cleaned to ensure proper working status, but plans do not include new or expanded rainwater drainage systems.

Preliminary drafts of the plans are shown to the right and below. Green indicates a raised median covered with grass, with no left hand turn lane. That encompasses most of our neighborhood, except turns at Siesta Drive and Webber. 
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If you have any questions about this project, you may call FDOT directly:
​Amber Albritton, Project Manager Florida Department of Transportation
District One Project Management
801 North Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: (863) 519-2668
E-Mail: [email protected]

Enlarged excerpts from FDOT's "Draft Concept for Discussion" are shown to the right, rotated ninety degrees to match standard map orientation with north at the top, and stacked one above the other. Proposed medians are shown in green, proposed turn lanes in orange. Street labels have been superimposed for clarity. "S.R. 45" is the state's label for US-41, also known from Tampa to Miami as Tamiami Trail.

FDOT's original "Draft Concept for Discussion" is displayed below Siesta Drive. It includes a section not included to the right, extending from Bahia Vista north to Browning Street.
FDOT's original "Draft Concept for Discussion" is displayed below. It shows the following streets:
Page 1: Siesta Drive to Morris Street
Page 2: Boyce Street past Sarasota Memorial Hospital to Hawthorne Street
Page 3: Waldemere Street past Sarasota High School to Browning Street.
Proposed raised medians are shown in green, proposed turn lanes in orange. ​