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Tag: Manatee Avenue

Juvenile e-bike rider struck on Manatee Avenue

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

This story was updated at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 5

MANATEE COUNTY – A 13-year-old boy riding an e-bike was struck by a vehicle late Friday morning on Manatee Avenue. The driver of the SUV involved in the accident was not at fault, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

The accident occurred on Manatee Avenue. – WMFR | Submitted

West Manatee Fire Rescue was among the agencies that responded to the accident scene.

At 12:02 p.m., WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski provided the following information: “West Manatee Fire Rescue is on the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving an automobile and an electric bicycle near the area of Flamingo Drive and 107th Court West. Initial reports indicate a male juvenile, approximately 13 years old, was struck while riding an e-bike. The patient reportedly sustained a possible head injury after impacting the vehicle’s windshield and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.”

This e-bike was involved in the accident. – Ernie J Vanderwalt | Sun

“Due to the nature of the injuries, a medical helicopter was requested to expedite transport to a trauma center for advanced medical care. WMFR, Manatee County EMS and law enforcement personnel are working together to secure the scene and provide patient care. Eastbound traffic in the area was temporarily shut down during emergency operations. He was in stable condition at transfer. The patient’s current condition has not been released,” Kwiatkowski stated.

Kwiatkowski confirmed that a medical transport helicopter landed behind King Middle School on 75th Street N.W. and the injured boy was airlifted to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

A medical transport helicopter landed behind King Middle School. – Leslie Lake | Sun

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
At 4:18 p.m. on Friday, Bradenton Police Department Public Information Manager Meredith Censullo provided the following information via email: “The Bradenton Police Department is the investigating agency and our Traffic Unit responded to the crash scene. The crash occurred on Manatee Avenue West, just west of Flamingo Drive. BPD was notified of the crash through the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) at 11:07 a.m. ECC had already dispatched EMS, and EMS was on scene.

“The crash involved an SUV and a juvenile, 13, who was riding an e-bike. The e-bike and vehicle were traveling in the same direction. The e-bike swerved into the lane of traffic and the SUV driver was not able to avoid the collision. The driver of the SUV is not at fault in the crash,” Censullo stated. 

“The 13-year-old was not wearing a helmet and sustained a head injury. The juvenile was transported, via medical helicopter, to All Children’s Hospital. At the time of transport, the juvenile was in stable condition and remains hospitalized,” she wrote.  

This vehicle was involved in the accident. - Ernie J Vanderwalt | Sun
Emergency vehicles were on scene when the medical transport helicopter landed. – Leslie Lake | Sun

“The Holmes Beach Police Department assisted with traffic control for drivers leaving Anna Maria. All lanes of traffic reopened around 12:20 p.m.,” Censullo stated.

Censullo did not provide the names of the individuals involved in the accident. She said the final Traffic Unit report will not be available for approximately 10 days.

Regarding e-bike safety measures, Kwiatkowski said, “West Manatee Fire Rescue reminds all bicyclists and e-bike riders to wear a properly fitted helmet every time they ride. Helmets significantly reduce the risk of serious head injuries and can save lives.”

E-BIKE REGULATIONS

 Regarding e-bike safety measures, Kwiatkowski said, “West Manatee Fire Rescue reminds all bicyclists and e-bike riders to wear a properly fitted helmet every time they ride. Helmets significantly reduce the risk of serious head injuries and can save lives.”

According to Florida Statutes, “An electric bicycle, or an operator of an electric bicycle, shall be afforded all the rights and privileges and be subject to all of the duties of a bicycle or the operator of a bicycle. An electric bicycle is a vehicle to the same extent as a bicycle.” 

According to Florida Statutes, “A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap and that meets the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets. The term ‘passenger’ includes a child who is riding in a trailer or semitrailer attached to a bicycle.”

Section 316.003 (23) of Florida Statutes classifies electric bicycles into three classes and says, “A bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and an electric motor of less than 750 watts which meets the requirements of one of the following three classifications:

“Class 1 electric bicycle means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

“Class 2 electric bicycle means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the electric bicycle and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

“Class 3 electric bicycle means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.”

E-MOTORCYCLES

Two-wheeled electric vehicles with more than 750 watts of power are not considered e-bikes.

In May 2025, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer discussed e-bike concerns and regulations with the mayor and city commissioners. Around that same time, the Holmes Beach Police Department posted a message at the department’s Facebook page that said: “Not all e-bikes are created equal. If it has a throttle, can’t be pedaled manually or exceeds certain speeds, it may be classified as an electric motorcycle. If your e-bike doesn’t fit these classes, it’s likely a motor vehicle and you must follow all motor vehicle rules.”

City declines to take over maintenance of SR 64 rights of way

City declines to take over maintenance of SR 64 rights of way

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners recently voted 4-0 against entering into a maintenance agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pertaining to the roadside rights of way at the entrance to the city.

The proposed agreement requested by the city would have shifted to the city the responsibility to clean and maintain the state-owned rights of way along Manatee Avenue (SR 64) from the east side of the Anna Maria Island Bridge, on the bridge, along the Kingfish Boat Ramp and along the areas leading to the East Bay Drive and Gulf Drive intersection.

In recent months, the mayor and commissioners have expressed their disappoint­ment with the appearance of the entrance to the city that’s maintained by FDOT. The state’s maintenance respon­sibilities include mowing the grass and removing litter and debris from those state-owned rights of way.

As directed, Public Works Director Sage Kamiya helped broker the proposed agreement before he took a job with the city of Sarasota in October. Using a standard FDOT memorandum of agreement, the state agency proposed pay­ing the city $3,883 per year for the next three years to maintain those rights of way currently maintained by FDOT.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer was unable to attend the Oct. 28 meeting but he included in the meeting package a memo he submitted in support of the city taking over those maintenance responsibilities.

“This issue was originally discussed with Sage and Judy (Titsworth) months ago as an alternative to the inconsistent maintenance provided by FDOT at the threshold to our city,” Schaefer stated in his memo. “The debris collecting on the south walkway of the bridge, and irregular debris pick up and mowing of the right of ways was in my opinion casting a negative appearance to our city.”

“I’m not in favor of it. It’s a lot of right of way,” Titsworth told the attending commissioners.

She said the agreement would subject the city to more storm and hurricane cleanup and debris removal responsibilities and would require city staff to remove litter and debris from the state-owned bridge.

Titsworth said Public Works Maintenance Supervisor Tray Thorp would be relieved to not take on the additional right of way maintenance responsibilities.

Titsworth suggested the commissioners, and others, contact FDOT more frequently if they continue to have concerns about the appearance of the entrance to the city.

City Attorney Erica Augello said, “I couldn’t support the contract. It’s got a lot of lan­guage in it that’s not applicable to a maintenance agreement. It puts a lot of onus on the city and this contract would put a lot of liability on the city if anything were to happen.”

Commissioner Dan Dig­gins said he didn’t like the proposed agreement.

“It’s a state road,” he added.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she wasn’t com­fortable with the proposed agreement and commission­ers Steve Oelfke and Carol Whitmore joined Diggins and Soustek in opposing the proposed agreement.

County plans tree removal in Manatee Avenue medians

County plans tree removal in Manatee Avenue medians

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – Eighteen trees that were installed in medians in 2006 on Manatee Avenue, using Bradenton Tree Funds, state grants and private donations, are slated for removal by Manatee County.

Ingrid McClellan, Scenic Manatee Coordinator, and author of the 2006 grant proposals that funded the median landscaping, said the landscaped medians project from 75th Street West to 27th Street East cost $159,115, and were installed with the cooperation of the City of Bradenton’s Tree and Land Preservation board to increase the city’s urban tree canopy.

FDOT issued a permit for the proposed plantings on Oct. 23, she said.

The plans are for Manatee County dollars to be used to remove 18 established trees (eight black olive shady lady, eight crape myrtle and two paurotis palm) in five medians on Manatee Avenue between 75th Street West and 43rd Street West. The trees do not require an irrigation system, but the new trees will require up to four irrigation wells, she said – 19 royal palms, four alexander palms, shrubs and groundcover… “then maintenance thereafter of palm frond pruning, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides,” she wrote. “Doing so does not follow the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles.”

She noted that royal palms are “self-pruning,” dropping their 20-40-pound fronds, which can damage vehicles on parking lots and roads.

Department of Health issues a no-swim advisory for causeway beach

Department of Health issues a no-swim advisory for causeway beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

BRADENTON – Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has issued a no-swim advisory for the beach on the south side of the Palma Sola Causeway along Manatee Avenue.

“A no-swim advisory is issued when enterococci bacteria levels exceed Federal Guidelines for safe swimming. It is thought that contact with the water at the site could make beachgoers sick,” a DOH-Manatee press release said.

The advisory will be in effect until the water meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety guidelines.

No other Manatee County beaches are under the no-swim advisory.

As a participant in the Healthy Beaches Program, DOH-Manatee collects water samples at select beaches each week. The samples are then sent to labs to determine if the levels of enteric bacteria (enterococci) – which can bring human disease, infections or rashes – are acceptable based on EPA standards.

If levels are read as unacceptable, a no-swim advisory is issued; a no-swim advisory is lifted once the levels read as acceptable.

DOH-Manatee received test results from samples taken at Palma Sola South on June 19 and June 22 that show an elevated level of enterococci bacteria.

Additional information about the Healthy Beaches program can be found by calling (941) 714-7593, or by visiting the Florida Department of Health’s website at www.FloridaHealth.gov and selecting Beach Water Quality under the Environmental Health tab of the navigation bar.

Repairs on tap for local boat ramps

Repairs on tap for local boat ramps

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

MANATEE COUNTY – Members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) met Aug. 12 and discussed what’s going on with the two boat ramps on Manatee Avenue West.

Liza Click with the Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department said that the anticipated changes and repairs at Kingfish boat ramp in Holmes Beach are still in the planning phases.

“Nothing is moving forward until we see a concept drawing,” Click told her fellow CME members. While some trees have been marked at the boat ramp, she said the marking was only done for a survey and it doesn’t indicate that those trees will ultimately be removed.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth told her city’s commissioners during a July meeting that she had been given an overview of the planned changes to Kingfish which include the addition of pervious pavement in the parking area, an expansion of the parking area for vehicles with boat trailers, resurfacing of the boat ramps and removal of the Australian pine trees that provide shade to boaters and picnickers who use the park.

Currently, Manatee County has nearly $5 million budgeted for the work at Kingfish with $450,000 in the 2019-20 fiscal year and $4.5 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year.

At the Palma Sola boat ramp, the small craft boat launch area on the southwest side of the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue, Click said work is ongoing. The boat ramp, which has been closed since Manatee County took responsibility for it from the city of Bradenton in 2019, has recently undergone dredging and workers have been resurfacing the ramp and are performing repairs to the dock.

Repairs at the Palma Sola ramp are expected to be completed by the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.

Related coverage

 

Boaters return to reopened boat ramps

 

Paid parking may be coming to county boat ramps

 

Palma Sola Boat Ramp remains closed

Anna Maria bridge mudline

New details emerge for high-span bridge

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Transportation.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – There’s been a lot of talk from the Florida Department of Transportation about high-level bridges coming to the Island. The first one expected to arrive is the planned 65-foot, fixed-span replacement bridge for the current drawbridge on Manatee Avenue. Despite a lack of available funding, FDOT representatives are still making big plans for the Anna Maria Island Bridge.

FDOT project manager Roxann Lake and Ryan Forrestel, project manager for American Consulting Professionals, appeared before elected officials at the Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting to discuss those plans. They discussed what the new bridge is planned to look like and what may change on the Island when the new bridge is finally built.

“Our job is essentially to get the job done and on the shelf in case funding becomes available,” Forrestel said.

The new bridge is planned to be built about 100 feet south of the current bridge, with bridge approaches in roughly the same place they are now. This allows for the current drawbridge to remain in service while the high, fixed-span bridge is under construction. Once finished, at its highest point the new bridge is planned to have 65-foot vertical clearance to allow boats to pass underneath without the traffic stop of a drawbridge raise.

Two vehicular traffic lanes of 12 feet each are planned, along with a 10-foot shoulder on either side of the bridge. A concrete barrier wall will separate the vehicle lanes from 10-foot pedestrian and bicycle paths on either side of the bridge.

Anna Maria bridge piers
The hammerhead style piers supporting the bridge are planned to be blue with an impression of sea turtles on every fourth pier. – FDOT | Submitted

Forrestel and Lake went over the design choices selected by the bridge aesthetics committee in 2017. The group, made up of local stakeholders including representatives from Keep Manatee Beautiful, the Island cities, Save Anna Maria and Manatee County, met for 10 months between 2016 and their final meeting in April 2017. Choices made by the committee include the selection of hammerhead style piers to support the underside of the bridge cast in blue with a stamped motif of sea turtles on every fourth pier. The underside of the bridge is planned as a natural cement color. A metal railing with a sunshine motif is planned for the outer edges of the bridge.

Anna Maria bridge railing
Pedestrian railings lining the outer sides of the bridge will feature this sunshine motif. Pedestrian walkways are planned to be separated from vehicle lanes by concrete barricades. – FDOT | Submitted

While no lights or landscaping will be placed on the bridge, small pocket parks are planned for each end of the bridge featuring native landscaping and benches for pedestrians to rest. Walkways will wrap around the base of the bridge approaches on each side and feature cement tile walls with motifs of pelicans, sea turtles and manatees separated by tiles of fractured granite to give the area some texture. Railings will separate the walkway from the water.

Landscaping choices for the pocket parks and bridge approaches include sabal palms, silver buttonwoods and royal palms. To help add instant “curb appeal” to the bridge, Forrestel said FDOT planners have chosen a “bold” approach to landscaping where more mature trees will be planted so the effect is more noticeable immediately after plantings.

Anna Maria bridge parks
A pocket park is proposed as a “rest area” for each end of the new bridge. – FDOT | Submitted

Final plans for the bridge are expected to emerge in late 2019.

Forrestel said no right of way acquisitions are needed for the project.

Construction on the bridge, estimated to cost $15 million, is not yet funded.

Anna Maria bridge wall impressions
The aesthetics committee for the Anna Maria Island Bridge chose a mixture of wildlife impressions to recognize the animals that make the area home. These impression panels are planned to wrap around the base of the new bridge on each side underneath the bridge approach. – FDOT | Submitted

Once the fixed-span bridge is built, other changes may be made to the Island side of Manatee Avenue, including changes to parking at Kingfish Boat Ramp.

Forrestel said the bridge project managers are working with Manatee County officials to determine just how parking at the popular boat ramp will be affected and where additional parking spaces can be placed. Currently, the plan is to primarily eliminate parking on the south side of Manatee Avenue and extend the current parking area to the east toward the bridge.

Another change proposed for Kingfish is the elimination of left-hand turns to the east out of the parking area.

With the installation of a roundabout planned for the intersection of Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive, Forrestel said it would be safer for boaters going east to turn right out of the boat ramp and circle the roundabout to get up adequate speed to go east over the bridge.

Engineer to all three Island cities Lynn Burnett said she hopes the roundabout, which she called “a much-needed improvement,” will be installed before the new bridge is built.

Lake said the Anna Maria Island Bridge project is being presented to FDOT leaders again in fall 2018 for possible funding.

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FDOT approves Holmes Beach speed changes

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH — It didn’t take long for the Florida Department of Transportation to respond to Holmes Beach commissioners’ request to return the Holmes Beach speed limit to 35 miles per hour west of the Anna Maria Island Bridge.
Holmes Beach drivers were in an uproar after the FDOT lowered the speed limit across the bridge from 45 to 35 m.p.h. and reduced speed west of the bridge from 35 to 25 m.p.h. without notice.
During a special meeting convened Feb. 16, commissioners unanimously voted to request a reversal of the FDOT decision.
David Gwynn, FDOT Director of Transportation Operations, sent a same-day response Feb. 22 to Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson’s e-mailed request to increase the speed limit west of the bridge to its previous posted limit.
While Gwynn agreed to reverse the change, in his e-mail, he maintained the speed study completed prior to the change and submitted to the city after new signs were posted remains valid. He said another one would not be conducted by the department at this time. The change took effect Feb. 28.
Commissioners also voted 4 to 1, with Commissioner Pat Morton dissenting, to increase the speed limit from 25 to 35 m.p.h. along a stretch of Gulf Drive from 43rd Street to 52nd Street near Anna Maria Elementary School.
The change went into effect Feb. 22.