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In a speech Friday at Marco Island, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad outlined the Florida Transportation Vision for the 21st Century.
According to Sec. Prasad, the FDOT and Governor Rick Scott are considering new financing tools to advance several transportation projects. These projects include State Road 50 in Hernando County, the Veterans Expressway in Hillsborough County and the Pinellas Bayway.
The Secretary said that new capacity on interstates, expressways and major river crossings would be tolled. He said that, "At the very least, tolls should compliment traditional funding in delivering the improvements and new capacity."
Speaking about Tri-Rail in South Florida, Sec. Prasad committed FDOT to a public-private partnership to increase the level of service along the rail line. PPP was also mentioned by the Secretary as an option to fund managed lanes construction.
The vision outlined by the Secretary included part of the 2006 Future Corridors Action Plan, which included Hillsborough to Duval County, Manatee to St. Lucie County and Collier to Polk County transportation corridors. The last two corridors would be part of a proposed Heartland Parkway.
For the entire speech and FDOT press release, continue reading here.
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