Alterations to road signs removing Gulf of Mexico mentions on Longboat Key

Key Information

• Location: Longboat Key, Florida
• Main Road: State Road 789, still referred to as Gulf of Mexico Drive
• New Legislation: House Bill 549 changes references from “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America”
• Town Commission Meeting: Scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, to discuss potential renaming
• Impact: Possible changes to addresses, signage, and marketing for homes/businesses
• Resource Available: FAQ section on www.longboatkey.org

Currently, the Town of Longboat Key maintains that the main thoroughfare, State Road 789, will continue to be known as Gulf of Mexico Drive for the time being.

This is in light of House Bill 549, which mandates the Florida Department of Transportation to begin the removal of any roadway signage that mentions “Gulf of Mexico” within the town limits.

The new statute states that all official documents, maps, and publications in Florida that used the name “Gulf of Mexico” will now refer to it as the “Gulf of America.”

In a recent news release, the town clarified that this legislative change does not automatically alter the local designation of the roadway: “Street addresses using ‘Gulf of Mexico Drive’ in the Town remain unaffected at this time,” it noted.

Nonetheless, the Longboat Key Town Commission is scheduled to convene to discuss the potential renaming of Gulf of Mexico Drive at their workshop meeting on Monday, Oct. 20.

Should the Town Commission opt to amend the road’s name to align with the new state law, it will necessitate a revision of official addresses for residences and businesses along the street, leading to modifications in signage and marketing approaches.

The town has also set up a frequently asked questions section that can be accessed by the public at: www.longboatkey.org.

In their announcement, the town emphasized, “We continue to work closely with FDOT and keep the community updated.”