Florida Seaport System Plan - SeaCIP

Florida Seaport System Plan
5.3 Current FDOT Work Program Related to
Seaports
FDOT makes funding available for port and port-serving transportation
improvements through a variety of programs. This funding falls short of the
stated investment needs of Florida’s ports. Therefore, it is essential that the
Department be as efficient as possible with respect to its investments in
Florida’s seaports. The Department will base these decisions on: 1) consistent,
transparent, and fairly-applied decision criteria; 2) the sound evaluation of
benefits and costs, similar to the level of analysis it applies to its investments in
other modes of transportation; and 3) achievement of adopted FDOT goals.
The most recent update to the Department’s goals is summarized in the 2060
Florida Transportation Plan (FTP). To this last point, it is recognized that
FDOT does not build or operate ports, nor does it dictate their development or
operation. However, by strategic and targeted application of its support, it may
act to encourage port improvements and strategies that are most consistent with
the Seaport Plan vision and Florida Transportation Plan goals.
The seaports are responsible for identifying and programming on-port
improvements. However, they also rely on landside connectors, both rail and
roadway, to provide access to their markets. FDOT, MPOs, and local agencies
identify and program these off-port connector projects. These off-port
projects/needs are in addition to the $2.73 billion in capital improvement needs
identified above. These projects are essential for efficient passenger and freight
movements throughout the State’s multimodal transportation network. These
projects are generally coordinated through the FDOT Seaport Office and FDOT
Districts along with various interagency partners, including local governments,
MPOs, and the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development
Council (FSTED). The rail and highway connector projects benefiting seaports
typically are summarized in FDOT’s work program under rail and highway
categories.
Table 5.8 presents the seaport-specific projects currently reflected in FDOT’s
work program by port. Over the next six years, FDOT anticipates spending
over $442 million on seaport projects; this reflects all existing state funding
sources. Projects include on-port terminal improvements, on-port intermodal
improvements, and to a lesser degree on-port connectors (water, rail, roadway).
In addition to these “seaport projects”, FDOT also funds roadway and rail
projects that promote access to/from Florida’s seaports. Table 5.9 provides a
summary of roadway connector projects by port. Over the next five years,
FDOT anticipates spending over $1.6 billion on roadway connector projects.
These include mega projects like the Port of Miami Tunnel, as well as
numerous improvements such as adding lanes to existing connectors.
Table 5.10 provides a port-level summary of needed investments in railroads
that will specifically benefit seaports. This list exceeds $448 million and is
partially funded. These include connector, bridge, and terminal improvements.
5-12 Florida Department of Transportation
December 2010