Plans to change Tamiami Trail to Gulf of America Trail have been rescinded.
Gulf Coast News reported last week that Sen. Joe Gruters wanted to rename a section from Hillsborough County to Miami Dade County the Gulf of America Trail.
"Absolutely not," said Sue Hipner, an Estero resident. "It's 41, Tamiami Trail. That's it. Let them rename the Gulf of America, but not a street."
Gruters changed his mind. In a statement, he said the following:
“After receiving community feedback, I removed the GOAT road rename portion of the bill to avoid unnecessary distraction of my own making.”
Renni Wise, an Estero resident, says he feels a sense of relief knowing that the iconic road will stay the same.
"I think that's great," said Wise. "Everybody already knows it's Tampa to Miami. Everybody who has lived here for a long time knows that's what it's called. I thought it was just political and had nothing to do with anything else."
The bill also included a directive for Florida schools to refer to the Gulf as “Gulf of America.” That is still being considered.