Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) filed a bill on Monday to rename part of U.S. Highway 41 between S.R. 60 and U.S. 1, commonly known as Tamiami Trail, to the "Gulf of America Trail", following suit with the Trump administration's namesake of the new "Gulf of America" across the country.
"Time to Ride the GOAT! (Gulf of America Trail) What are your thoughts? Should we follow the GOAT President @POTUS @realDonalTRump and rename Tamiami Trail?" Gruters asked.
Joe Gruters, under SB 1058, would designate a section spanning Miami-Dade, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough Counties as the “Gulf of America Trail.”
Tamiami Trail, a portmanteau of Tampa and Miami, opened in 1928 and links both metros. The trail was the main connection between both cities until the construction of I-75 in the 1950s and 1960s.
If passed, the Florida Department of Transportation would be in charge of erecting new markers to recognize the new designation.
"Great idea @joegruters! Now it’s Longboat Key’s turn to rename Gulf of Mexico drive to Gulf of America drive. Who’s with me," Florida Congressman Greg Steube added.
The move comes after President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14172 to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" on his first day in office. He also recognized Feb. 9, 2025, as the first-ever Gulf of America Day.
Other Florida lawmakers picked up on the name change as well.
Along with the Tamiami Trail, SB 1058 would require state agencies to update their geographic materials to reflect the name change from the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America." The bill also calls for all district school boards and charter school governing boards to adopt instructional materials and library collections that show the new “Gulf of America” designation.
Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) sponsored a similar legislation, HB 549, in the House.
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1. The 2025 legislative session kicks off on March 2nd and goes till May 2.
