Governor DeSantis announces the Moving Florida Forward initiative, aimed at speeding up transportation projects over the next four years. If approved, the proposal would see a $4 billion investment from general revenue and a yearly average redirect of $131 million to the State Transportation Work Program, leading to a total of $7 billion in funding to improve Florida’s transportation infrastructure. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) would prioritize 20 projects to ease congestion and improve safety, with the goal of making the state’s transportation system more resilient and capable of accommodating growth.
According to Governor DeSantis, the initiative will streamline bureaucracy that slows down infrastructure projects and allow FDOT to address congestion across the state. FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. described the proposal as historic and emphasized its impact on congestion relief, safety, resiliency, the supply chain, and economic growth. With over 22 million residents and 105 million visitors in the first three quarters of 2022, Florida’s infrastructure needs to accommodate an ever-growing population.
The 20 projects included in the initiative will also make the transportation infrastructure more resilient and capable of withstanding severe weather events, such as hurricanes. FDOT will continue working on projects in their existing Five-Year Work Program, as well as those in the Moving Florida Forward package.
