About
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One has kicked off the much-anticipated Bradenton-Palmetto Connector Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Study. This ACE study will evaluate feasible corridor alternatives to connect the Cities of Bradenton and Palmetto across the Manatee River and improve regional multimodal mobility, connectivity, and safety for all users, including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, trucks and transit.
The need for an improved access across the Manatee River was identified as part of the Central Manatee Network Alternatives Analysis (CMNAA) Study, concluded in 2019, which was a collaboration between FDOT, Manatee County, the Cities of Bradenton and Palmetto, and the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
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Study Description
ACE Studies are performed during the Planning phase to define project parameters, the project definition and the purpose and need for the project. The Bradenton-Palmetto Connector Study is part of the Planning phase of the project development process. The study will be used to identify, evaluate, eliminate and recommend project alternatives prior to the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) phase.
Purpose of the Project:
Evaluate additional capacity and transportation demand across the Manatee River as part of the regional transportation system. Secondary needs of the project are to enhance safety and multi-modal interrelationships.
Need for the Project:
- Increase roadway capacity
- Address anticipated transportation demand
- Increase safety
- Support modal interrelationships
Study Scope:
- Phase 1 - Conduct an Alternatives Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Study
- Phase 2 - Conduct a PD&E Study
The Bradenton-Palmetto Connector Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Study will evaluate 10 corridors to address mobility, access and safety concerns including capacity limitations to meet future needs of the area.
The alternatives considered as part of this ACE Study are located in the Cities of Bradenton and Palmetto in west Manatee County.
The ACE Study will document the process for how each of the corridors are evaluated as well as the process used to identify reasonable corridors to advance into the PD&E Study.
As part of this process, the analysis will include a comprehensive evaluation of the natural, social, physical, and cultural environment; project cost; traffic; and the extent to which each corridor meets the purpose and need of this project. Coordination with resource and regulatory agencies, project stakeholders, and the community plays a crucial role in the ACE Study process.