Evaluation and Monitoring of 2005 Growth Management Legislation

During the 2005 legislative session, the Florida legislature made significant changes to Florida’s growth management statutes and also provided additional transportation funding. The legislation addresses the issues of adequate infrastructure requirements for schools, water, and transportation in the face of increased demand caused by growth. The transportation component includes a new commitment to mobility funding of over $4.5 billion from fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2011. Given the significant changes in policy, funding, and the work program associated with the new growth management law, the Florida Transportation Commission (FTC) engaged the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida to assist them with an evaluation of the implications of the new funding on the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) five-year work program and an analysis of other aspects of the legislation related to transportation. The development of the fiscal year (FY) 2006 to 2010 Work Program in the 2005 Legislative Session also brought significant changes to transportation funding and to the transportation planning process as a part of a statewide growth management initiative. By signing Senate Bills 332, 360 and 444 into law, Governor Bush implemented a new “pay as you grow” policy for the state of Florida. While the package addresses infrastructure requirements for schools, water and transportation, the transportation component represents a new commitment to mobility funding of over $4.5 billion for the next five years. Although some of the new transportation funding is available to local jurisdictions, the program will be administered by the Florida Department of Transportation. The Growth Management Legislation provided for recurring and one-time general funds to be dedicated to the State Transportation Trust Fund to fund two new FDOT programs and to supplement funding for four existing programs. The County Incentive Grant Program, the Small County Outreach Program, the State Infrastructure Bank, and the Strategic Intermodal System are programs that were funded at some level prior to the legislation and for which new funding was allocated. The New Starts Transit Program and the Transportation Regional Incentive Program are newly created and funded programs, as a result of the legislation. + Read more