6.4 Public Hearing
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.
6.5 Public Comments and Outstanding Issues
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
DateMeetingType
3/13/2025City of Bradenton – Mayor Gene BrownElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/13/2025City of Bradenton – Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez MooreElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/13/2025City of Palmetto – Mayor Dan West and Commissioner Scott WhitakerElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/13/2025City of Palmetto – Commissioner Brian WilliamsElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/18/2025Manatee County – Commissioner Pam CoachmanElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/24/2025Manatee County – Commissioner George KruseElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/26/2025Lakewood Ranch Business AllianceNeighborhood Meeting
3/26/2025Sanctuary Cove Informal DiscussionStakeholder Meeting
3/28/2025Manatee County – Neighborhood SummitCommunity Outreach Event
3/28/2025Manatee County – Commissioner Amanda BallardElected - Stakeholder Meeting
3/31/2025Manatee County – Commissioner Jason BeardenElected - Stakeholder Meeting
4/7/2025Manatee County – Commissioner Tal SiddiqueElected - Stakeholder Meeting
4/21/2025Pastors – Bradenton/PalmettoStakeholder Meeting
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