TALLAHASSEE, FL — Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced the proposed Floridians First Budget, which calls for a $15.4 billion investment in Florida’s transportation system.
“Governor DeSantis’ budget recommendations put Floridians first, investing in critical projects to reduce congestion and increase our state’s economic competitiveness — further demonstrating Florida’s role as the national benchmark in a state-led transportation system,” said Jared W. Perdue, PE, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary. “With these investments, FDOT will be further equipped to deliver on our commitment of getting the job done to reduce travel times, increase capacity at our airports, support our growing commercial space industry, and ensure road safety.”
If the budget is approved, the following funds would be invested into Florida's infrastructure:
$4.9 billion would go toward highway maintenance and construction. This adds 181 new lane miles to Florida’s roadway network to enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion, and support the state’s population growth, bringing the cumulative number added since 2019 to 1,667 lane miles. Projects include:
- New Interstate 10 (I-10) interchange near Beulah Road (County Road 99) in Escambia County
- Corridor improvements on Clyde Morris Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 483) from Beville Road (S.R. 400) to Dunn Avenue in Volusia County
- Reconstruction of Alton Road (S.R. 907) from Michigan Avenue to South Ed Sullivan Drive/43rd Street in Miami-Dade County
$1.4 billion would resurface 2,622 lane miles across Florida, bringing the cumulative resurfaced lane miles since 2019 to 22,677 lane miles.
| Your local Wirtgen America dealer |
|---|
| Dobbs Equipment (DXC) |
$873 million would repair or replace 59 bridges across the state, bringing the cumulative number of repaired or replaced bridges since 2019 to 791 bridges. Projects include:
- Trout River Bridge replacement at Lem Turner Road (S.R. 115) in Duval County
- Scott Road Bridge replacement over the Econfina Creek in Bay County
- Long Key Bridge rehabilitation at Overseas Highway (S.R. 5) in Monroe County
$269.2 million would go toward statewide highway safety projects and initiatives, such as preventing wrong-way driving and lane departure incidents, as well as statewide educational safety campaigns aimed at reducing fatalities or serious injuries resulting from the use of impairing substances, including alcohol and illegal drugs.
$93.4 million would support projects in Florida’s Spaceport Improvement Program, which will further contribute to Florida’s record-breaking and world-leading number of space launches, bringing the cumulative FDOT investment to $541 million since 2019. These funds are further bolstered by additional investments through the International Aerospace Innovation Fund within Space Florida to support increased activity at Cape Canaveral.
$295.5 million would go toward projects that support Florida’s commercial airports and general aviation facilities, bringing the cumulative investment to $2.4 billion since 2019. As proposed, funds are restricted to airports in compliance with the state’s landmark prohibitions on geoengineering and weather modification.
$30 million would be for the Rural Infrastructure Fund to support local rural infrastructure projects such as roads, storm and wastewater systems, and telecommunications facilities.
$81.9 million would be for the Small County Outreach Program to assist small county governments in repairing or rehabilitating county bridges, paving unpaved roads, addressing road-related drainage improvements, resurfacing or reconstructing county roads, and constructing capacity or safety improvements to county roads.
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
|---|
| SITECH Mid-South |
| SITECH South |
| SITECH Tri-Rivers |
$25.8 million would be for the Small County Resurfacing Assistance Program to assist small county governments in resurfacing or reconstructing county roads.
$69.7 million would be for the County Incentive Grant Program to provide grants to counties to improve transportation facilities located on the State Highway System or to relieve traffic congestion on the State Highway System.
$22 million would go toward projects to support the growth and development of Florida’s network of rural airports.
$155.5 million would go toward projects that will enhance Florida’s cruise and cargo operations and support the world’s busiest cruise ports, bringing the cumulative investment to $1.2 billion since 2019. Funding is contingent on compliance with state energy policy as well as cooperative engagement with spaceports, as directed in Florida law where such functions overlay.
$233.2 million would go toward projects that support Florida’s intermodal freight and rail infrastructure, bringing the cumulative investment to $1.5 billion since 2019.
$19.9 million would go toward projects included in the Aggregate Grant Program, which will increase storage capacity for critical construction material and keep infrastructure projects on track, bringing the cumulative investment to $77.5 million since the program’s inception in 2024.
| Your local Iowa Mold Tooling Co Inc dealer |
|---|
| Nichols Fleet Equipment |
In addition to the proposed budget, FDOT will work to pass legislation to expedite infrastructure project delivery by prohibiting the consideration of non-pecuniary factors in transportation planning studies. The proposal will also restore funding reallocated during the 2025 Legislative Session to the State Transportation Trust Fund for investments in the Strategic Intermodal System.
