After Florida removed Gulf of Mexico Drive signs, must Longboat Key cover the cost of new ones?

Longboat Key residents won’t have to pay for new signs on Gulf of Mexico Drive, whether the town keeps the current name or changes it.

The state removed the road signs under a law requiring state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect the federal government’s recent renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” 

The roadway itself is also designated as State Road 789, so it remains clearly marked for drivers, and residents can still use Gulf of Mexico Drive in their mailing addresses.

If the town keeps the name, the removed signs won’t be replaced. If leaders decide to change it, the state has said it will cover the cost of new signage. Commissioners will discuss the issue at their Oct. 20 meeting.