Longboat officials say they are supportive of enhancing pedestrian connectivity but not at the cost of increasing traffic.

Hines said that rather than spending $1.1 million he would prefer funding a trolley or build something tangible instead of hiring consultants.

Traffic has already been amassing in late afternoons.

“My experience is wherever I have traveled in the country, when two lanes become one, I find traffic and congestion.”

Each time the bridge went up, there was an instant three-mile standstill because of traffic volumes.

“Do not assume I am patient. I am a caffeined-up, angry ex-New Yorker…

“I’m totally opposed; we are nibbling away at the 45 MPH speed limit and here we are, we have five other crosswalks and the argument could be made for every other crosswalk to go to 35 MPH. It’s a de facto attempt to lower the speed limit,” said Younger.

“FDOT was very concerned with the crosswalks as death trap rhetoric.”

Is an inferior, but cheaper solution, a good enough outcome?

‘Remember, the average age is 70 plus years and people are not running across the street.’