A Public Hearing will be held on June 25, 2026. The hearing will inform the public of the results of the PD&E Study associated with the No-Build and the Preferred Alternative.
A summary of the public hearing will be added after June 25, 2026.
The feedback regarding the Bradenton-Palmetto Connector Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study highlights a proactive community eager for effective traffic solutions. Comments received at meetings generally outlined questions about specific corridor routes, potential right-of-way acquisitions, and the potential for flyover lanes.
Traffic Congestion: Many comments emphasize the need for designs that adequately address current and future traffic demands.
Community Preservation: There is strong support for preserving the character of local neighborhoods, historical sites, and reducing impacts on minority neighborhoods with calls for careful planning to minimize impacts.
Alternative Routes: Residents suggest exploring additional routes to ease congestion in central Bradenton and Palmetto, which would benefit overall traffic management.
While important issues need to be addressed, the community's constructive feedback reflects a shared commitment to improving local infrastructure and enhancing quality of life. A summary of the public and agency meetings is shown in Table 6-2.
Table 6-2 – Public and Agency Meetings
| Public and Agency Meetings |
| Date | Meeting | Type |
|---|
| 3/13/2025 | City of Bradenton – Mayor Gene Brown | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/13/2025 | City of Bradenton – Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/13/2025 | City of Palmetto – Mayor Dan West and Commissioner Scott Whitaker | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/13/2025 | City of Palmetto – Commissioner Brian Williams | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/18/2025 | Manatee County – Commissioner Pam Coachman | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/24/2025 | Manatee County – Commissioner George Kruse | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/26/2025 | Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance | Neighborhood Meeting |
| 3/26/2025 | Sanctuary Cove Informal Discussion | Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/28/2025 | Manatee County – Neighborhood Summit | Community Outreach Event |
| 3/28/2025 | Manatee County – Commissioner Amanda Ballard | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 3/31/2025 | Manatee County – Commissioner Jason Bearden | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 4/7/2025 | Manatee County – Commissioner Tal Siddique | Elected - Stakeholder Meeting |
| 4/21/2025 | Pastors – Bradenton/Palmetto | Stakeholder Meeting |
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