Federal Legislative Priorities

The Board's 2024 platform reflects the legislative priorities that will help Manatee County better achieve its mission to provide efficient, effective, responsive government that is always mindful of our sensitive natural environment and serve our residents and visitors, while achieving the Commission's vision for the County as a premier place in which to live, work and play.

Download Manatee County's 2024 Federal Legislative Platform

2024 Manatee County Legislative Priorities

Ft. Hamer Bridge & Roadway Widening

Manatee County requests support in funding for construction of the second Fort Hamer Bridge. The second bridge which will be parallel to the existing bridge and will double the capacity of this essential North-South thoroughfare. Manatee County is funding $30 million for construction of the bridge and requests a dollar-for-dollar Federal match. Bridge Funding Request: $30 million appropriation in Fiscal Year 2025 for construction of $60 million project of the Fort Hamer Bridge from Rive Isle Run to Upper Manatee River Road.

Fort Hamer is a primary reliever for I-75 congestion and critical to incident management capabilities. The second project extends from U.S. 301 to Moccasin Wallow Road. This 2.0-mile section was constructed as a two-lane road but designed and prepared for four lanes. This project adds the additional two lanes on this 2.0-mile section. Manatee County is funding $50 million for land acquisition and construction of this corridor and requests a dollar-for-dollar Federal match. Funding Request: $50 million appropriation in Fiscal Year 2025 for construction of $100 million project of Fort Hamer Road from Rive Isle Run to Moccasin Wallow Road.

DeSoto Bridge Water Main Replacement

This project would construct a new 16” waterline to replace the existing subaqueous waterline that crosses the Manatee River adjacent to the Hernando DeSoto Bridge on US41N in Manatee County. The waterline was installed in 1967 and has reached the end of its useful life. This line is a critical part of the County’s potable water distribution system. Funding Request: $1.8 million appropriation in State Fiscal Year 2025 for construction and planning of the $10.8 million water main replacement project that will be needed prior to the new bridge construction in 2027.

War Memorial Park & Veterans Resource Center

This project will serve an array of functions and address multiple needs of the Community. From a Veterans Resource and Counseling Center, to a parade ground for special events and training, to a highly educational field trip destination for all County students, to a beautiful space to honor Those Who Gave All in defense of our great Nation, this multi-phase project will be useable in each phase and provide a meeting place for Veteran and community organizations. Funding Request: $3 million appropriation in State Fiscal Year 2025 design and initial construction of the $30 million project cost of the Park and the Resource and Counseling facility.

15th Street East Widening Segment 2A

Manatee County requests support in funding for construction of the 15th Street East rebuild, including widening and multi-modal improvements. The project extends from 63rd Avenue East to 59th Avenue East; this is the old US Hwy. 301 corridor, which serves numerous commercial and industrial sites, and needs improved access points. The corridor also experiences heavy use by pedestrians and bicyclists and is currently an extremely unsafe roadway for these uses. Manatee County is funding $7.5 million for construction of this roadway and requests a dollar-for-dollar Federal match. Funding Request: $7.5 million appropriation in Fiscal Year 2025 for construction of $15 million project on 15th Street East from 63rd Avenue East to 59th Avenue East.

Rails to Trails

This project requires $2.9 million for the completion of planning, design, permitting and construction for Gateway Greenway segments connecting Lincoln Park in Palmetto to Parrish along County Road right of way, Florida Power & Light utility corridors and railroad track right of way. With only 1 in 3 residents in this HUD-designated area having access to an automobile, this trail investment provides safe access for those disadvantaged by lack of access to an automobile to gain employment. The Rails With Trails project has been included in the MPO project priority list as part of the statewide Florida Gulf Coast Trails Network. Funding Request: $2.9 million appropriation in State Fiscal Year 2025 for planning, design, permitting and construction of the multipurpose regional Rails to Trails Gateway Greenway.

Gulf Coast Recreation Trail Partnership

Manatee County is actively participating in the multi-county Gulf Coast Recreation Trail. The project will require $1 million to link to trails planned in Hillsborough County to the segments of Legacy Trail in Sarasota County. Manatee County’s plans call for a multi-purpose recreational Gateway Greenway Trail extending from the Hillsborough/Manatee County line south along trail alignments crossing public utility easements, County- and State-owned lands and additional developer-agreement routes to reach northern Sarasota County with linkages to the Legacy Trail and points south into Charlotte County. Funding Request: $1 million appropriation in State Fiscal Year 2025 for construction to link trail segments from Hillsborough County to Legacy Trail in Sarasota County.