Ringling Trail Complete Street Named FL ‘Project Of The Year’: City

SARASOTA, FL — The Ringling Trail Complete Street was recognized as the Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association Florida chapter during its annual conference in Jacksonville last week, according to a news release from the city of Sarasota.

The project transformed Ringling Boulevard into a complete street in December 2022 with enhanced bicycle safety, and expanded multimodal and connectivity opportunities between The Legacy Trail, downtown Sarasota and the Bayfront, the city said.

The Ringling Trail extends one mile between Lime and Pineapple avenues and features protected bike lanes for a safer road experience for recreational cyclists and commuters.

The Project of the Year award was given to the city in the category of “Transportation: $2 million - $5 million”.

“This is a significant recognition,” Nikesh Patel, city engineer, said. “For the Ringling Trail Complete Street to rise to the top and be recognized as Project of the Year is an honor. Congratulations to the entire project team and the community for this successful project.”

APWA judges considered many criteria for the Project of the Year, including community need, commitment to sustainability, accomplishments under adverse conditions, economic challenges and creative use of resources.

“This was the first protected bicycle lane project in the Sarasota-Manatee region, coupled with lane repurposing, and community conversations occurred during the pandemic,” according to Dan Ohrenstein, assistant city engineer. “We embarked on extensive community outreach online which, while challenging, resulted in higher citizen interest and participation than previous Public Works engagement meetings.”

Ringling Boulevard between U.S. 41 and Lime Avenue was identified as a potential complete street in 2019 when the city commission approved the Multi-Modal Connections Plan.

The $2.7 million Ringling Trail Complete Street project was funded through Sarasota County’s Penny Sales Tax, Economic Development Funds, multimodal impact fees and federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, the city said.

“More cyclists are traveling between The Legacy Trail and downtown core since the protected bike lanes were installed along the Ringling Trail and that’s translating into economic growth,” City Manager Marlon Brown said. “To have public works professionals from around the state take note and declare it Project of the Year is icing on the cake.”