Florida Approves Bill to Shake Up Transportation Project Process

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an omnibus transportation bill earlier this week that makes a dozen changes to the work of the Florida Department of Transportation.

1 minute read

April 7, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Governor Rick Scott signed HB 7027 into law," according to a press release published by Mass Transit. HB 7027 creates the Florida Department of Transportation Financing Corporation and aims to streamline transportation projects by encouraging competition and lowering interest rates. In addition:

FDOT’s legislative package (HB 7027) will provide significant time and cost savings in project delivery by giving the department the authority to assume responsibilities of the USDOT for state projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This means FDOT would be able to use this delegated authority to review or approve any highway project within the state under any federal environmental law.

Ryan Ray provides media coverage of the approved bill, focusing first on the provision in the bill that will require the Legislative Budget Commission to review "any proposed amendment to the department’s five-year 'Work Program' – essentially its funding plan for major projects – amounting to more than $3 million…"

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