Latest guidance puts focus on government holidays
On Feb. 11, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) notified the City of Sarasota that the illumination of facilities that FDOT owns, including bridges, “in various colors to communicate a message of support for a cause or event,” is reserved for government holidays, the city announced.
“The revised policy affects the Ringling Bridge,” a news release pointed out.
Effective Feb. 1, 2025, that new policy said, “[L]ighting combinations will be limited to the recognition, commemoration or promotion of government holidays” observed by FDOT, the release said. The lighting scheme will default to red, white and blue, FDOT pointed out.
“Any alternative lighting combinations will be determined by FDOT,” the policy noted.
“Local organizations that had requested and received approval from the City Commission and FDOT for a special lighting scheme on the Ringling Bridge in 2025 to bring awareness to their cause are being notified by the City about the policy change,” the City of Sarasota news release pointed out.
Not quite three years ago — in late April 2022 — the members of the City Commission approved a list of holidays and other annual observances that they wanted to mark by having FDOT adjust the lighting scheme for the Ringling Bridge.
Every year, then-City Manager Marlon Brown explained at that time, the commission would have the opportunity to update the list.
Then, in May 2024, as The Washington Post reported, Gov. Ron DeSantis implemented plans for “Freedom Summer,” which included direction to FDOT that if cities wanted to illuminate their bridges at night, they could use only the colors red, white and blue.
“A number of bridges across the state prominently display rainbow colors in honor of Pride Month in June, among other celebrations throughout the year,” The Post pointed out. “Many see the [May 2024] order to display only red, white and blue as another move against the LGBTQ+ community, which has been targeted by a number of DeSantis-backed laws in recent years,” The Post added.
“The bridge lights were about celebrating diversity and inclusion, which will continue to happen in our communities,” Carlos Guillermo Smith, Equality Florida’s senior policy adviser, told The Post.
In late September 2020, FDOT issued a bridge-lighting policy that said, “Lighting a bridge is a great way to turn a bridge asset into an object than can brighten the everyday lives of residents and visitors. Towards this end, it is the policy of the department to display special lighting sequences on bridges with the capability.”
Signed by then-FDOT Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, that policy added, “On bridges located on the state or federal system with lighting systems capable of special lighting displays, maintained and operated by a county or local government, special requests for lighting colors and sequences shall be limited to the recognition, commemoration, or promotion of federal or state holidays or celebrations, and events of broad community interest and significance approved by county or local governments.”
Nonetheless, it did add, “The department reserves the right to refuse any request it deems offensive or not in the best public interest.”