While the Authority appreciates and understands the potential benefits of showcasing the Mid-Bay Bridge by its inclusion on the proposed route, the request generally turned on a few considerations: (1) requirements in our bond master resolution (basically the Authority’s contract with its bond holders) to only relieve tolls for specific users like emergency response and DoD vehicles on official business; (2) the Authority would stand to lose revenues in the range of up to $10,000; (3) trading a sponsorship at the value of lost revenue was not an viable alternative to mitigate the impact of lost revenue; (4) the Authority’s commitment to the users of its system to provide transportation infrastructure to meet their needs all the time (not some of the time); and (5) sustaining the motoring public’s confidence that the bridge will be open when needed (not inconveniencing drivers by having to detour many miles).
We are currently putting together a new route to present to the City of FWB, FDOT, and the City of Destin. Generally it will take the full marathon runners through FWB, cross the Brooks Bridge, then pickup the half marathon runners around the convention center before continuing toward the finish in East Destin. Of course this is all subject to chance based on the approvals and permits process.
I know a lot of you are running great races this time of year and I can't wait for to be writing on this blog next year when we are only 2 weeks from the start of the Destin Marathon on April 17th, 2016!