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Longboat Key, FL - Longboat Key officials have confirmed that the island’s main road, State Road 789, will retain the name Gulf of Mexico Drive following a town commission workshop on October 20th.
The decision comes after the Florida Department of Transportation removed all road signs with the Gulf of Mexico designation in compliance with House Bill 549, passed earlier this year.
The legislation requires state agencies to update geographic references, prompting FDOT to remove the existing signage along State Road 789.
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Despite the removal of the signs, the local name of the road remains in effect, and mail delivery, emergency services, and business addresses continue to use Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Town officials noted that a name change would affect more than 5,000 addresses, including over 2,000 in Manatee County and more than 3,000 in Sarasota County.
Updating addresses, marketing materials, insurance documents, and other business records would require significant time and expense for residents and commercial establishments.
Town leaders said they received community feedback suggesting alternative names, including Veterans Drive or Gulf of America Drive.
However, informal responses indicated strong support for keeping the existing name, with roughly 80 percent of emails and phone calls favoring no change.
FDOT confirmed it would not replace the removed signage unless the town decides to fund new signs, which are estimated to cost around $100,000 for six backlit street name signs.
The town commission voted unanimously to maintain Gulf of Mexico Drive as the official road name, preserving consistency for residents, visitors, and local businesses.