Effective Strategies for Comprehensive Corridor Management

The Florida Transportation Plan directs the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to maintain the efficiency, capacity and safety of the state highway system. In 2003, the Florida Legislature formally established the Florida Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) and provided for its development and implementation. The SIS is composed of facilities of statewide and interregional significance and is intended to efficiently serve the mobility needs of Florida’s citizens, businesses, and visitors and help Florida become a worldwide economic leader. As the backbone of the state’s interregional transportation system, the SIS will provide the primary means for long-distance movement of residents, tourists and goods. FDOT has also adopted a systems management goal for the Florida transportation system aimed at applying corridor management strategies to extend the life and improve the operation of the existing system. Such strategies are of particular importance in light of constrained budgets and escalating transportation improvement costs. In recognition of the safety and operational benefits of access management, several corridor access management plans have been or are currently being prepared by FDOT Districts in coordination with local governments and metropolitan planning organizations (e.g. US Highway 19 in Citrus County, FDOT District 7 and US Highway 98 in Polk County, FDOT District 1). These plans address median openings, auxiliary lanes, and typically call for the provision of alternative access via service roads, supporting street networks, shared driveways, and inter-parcel connections. Despite the increasing importance of comprehensive corridor management at the state and local government level, questions remain regarding effective methods for developing and implementing corridor management plans. Of particular importance is the need for further insight into how best to coordinate FDOT and local government policies and procedures to accomplish alternative access and other important corridor management objectives. Obtaining answers to these questions is important to managing land development and access on the SIS as well as the remainder of Florida’s State Highway System (SHS). This study documents success stories in implementing comprehensive corridor management and identifies best practices that can be applied by FDOT, MPOs, and local governments throughout the state. The emphasis is on policy, regulatory, and funding strategies for comprehensive corridor management that can be directly applied by communities alone, or in coordination with state transportation agencies and MPOs. The study also addresses policy issues in comprehensive corridor management and recommends changes in current practice that will assist the FDOT, MPOs and local governments in managing access to the SIS and other important state highways. + Read more