Transportation Steps Up Pace

Ensuring that Florida's economy continues to grow, the state is committing record amounts of funding for the land, sea, air and rail transport systems businesses depend on for their economic well-being. Florida's overall work program for transportation tops $8.3 billion, nearly one-third of which targets the development of a strategic intermodal system, or SIS.

SIS directs dollars to the development of a statewide transportation network that is responsible for moving 99% of commercial air passengers, 68% of truck traffic and 54% of all other traffic on state highways, as well as virtually all waterborne freight tonnage and rail freight. When completed, SIS will be to Florida what the Interstate Highway System is to the United States.

"Investing in our transportation system is vital to Florida's economic prosperity and our high quality of life," says Gov. Jeb Bush. "These crucial transportation projects will benefit Florida's citizens, visitors and businesses by moving people and goods more efficiently."

Roadway access in all regions of the state is made possible by four major interstate highways, a 12,000-mile state highway system and 100,000 miles of local roads. The 2006-07 transportation budget allocates funds to construct 379 new miles of roads, repair another 3,614 existing miles and replace 11 bridges for a total investment of more than $3 billion in road building contracts.

By the sea
Florida's 14 deepwater seaports keep things moving efficiently into and out of a state that is virtually surrounded by water.

The Tampa Port Authority is preparing for future growth with the addition of three gantry cranes at its Hooker's Point Container Terminal and P&O Ports as its terminal operator for cargo and container operations.

Zim Integrated Shipping Services made its first stop at the Port of Tampa as part of its new Asia-Gulf Express service in August 2006. Moreover, the port has expanded its storage capacity with a new 40,000-square-foot warehouse; a second 96,000-square-foot warehouse is under construction.

The Port of Pensacola, Florida's most western seaport, posted its second straight record revenue year in fiscal 2006. In mid-year, the port received its inaugural shipment of sheetrock from China. Sheetrock imports are expected to remain a steady source of business here as the Gulf Coast region continues to recover from recent hurricanes.

Meanwhile, the Port of Jacksonville in Northeast Florida is growing exponentially. Ranked fourth in the state for the amount of tonnage flowing in and out, JaxPort is also the nation's 13th largest port in terms of cargo containers moving through. Since 2004, the volume of cargo at JaxPort has increased a total of 14%, and the amount of tonnage at the docks is up by 23%. When Asian carrier Mitsui O.S.K. Lines opens its doors here in 2008, tonnage moving through the port is expected to nearly double. To maintain its record-setting growth, the Jacksonville Port Authority has purchased 100 acres of adjacent waterfront property for expansion purposes.

The Panama City Port Authority has broken ground for a $6 million, 200-acre intermodal distribution center. Additionally, the port has developed an active container trade with Mexico, handling 25,000 containers in and out of the Yucatan Peninsula market.

The Port of Miami is finalizing an $18 million project aimed at improving security at its expanded cargo complex. When completed, the complex will boast 10 truck lanes and function as the security control point for entry into the cargo area. Truck operations will be controlled from a remote facility using a combination of electronic scanning equipment, closed-circuit television, intercom telephone systems, control lift gates and automated signalization.

Port Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast continues to thrive with a combination of recreational and commercial traffic. Three ships from Carnival Cruise Lines now call this port home. Princess Cruise Lines has added Canaveral to its ports of call and, in December 2006, Paradise Caribbean Cruise Lines will begin two-night cruises from the port. On the commercial side, cargo handling is on the increase. Ambassador Services Inc. is building up to five 60,000-square-foot warehouses and paved storage areas in the north cargo terminal area. A new fuel tank farm, which will enable pipeline construction, is under consideration.

At the Port of Palm Beach, a $14.5 million project will consolidate warehousing for public access and cargo receiving and give the port a second main gate plus several more acres of storage area with security improvements.

Rolling on rail
The state also is funding several rail projects that are essential to keeping Florida's economy, people and products moving.

In partnership with CSX Transportation (CSXT), Florida has agreed in principle to invest $491 million to improve infrastructure and expand capacity on two existing rail lines, one of which will be used to establish commuter rail service through a multi-county stretch in Central Florida. The commuter rail system is expected to carry as many passengers during peak hours as a single lane of Interstate 4. Another agreement with CSXT will expand commuter rail in South Florida.

In the Panama City area, Northwest Florida Bay Line is in the midst of a $5.6 million track upgrade slated for completion in summer 2007. The Florida Northern Railroad, which runs west out of Orlando, also is upgrading its track with the help of $7.25 million from the state.

Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern Railroad in Jacksonville has received $2.5 million in state dollars to build a siding extension that will increase its yard capacity, and South Central Express has garnered $10.5 million to upgrade track from Sebring to Moore Haven in Florida's Heartland region.

Flying high
Of the more than 800 aviation facilities located throughout Florida, 131 are public facilities, including 20 major commercial and international airports.
Orlando International Airport is
Florida's busiest in terms of traffic, serving 34 million passengers annually. Projects slated for completion in 2007 include the extension of the airport's E-pass payment system to its satellite parking lots, the opening of a cell phone parking lot for vehicles awaiting arrivals and continued work on interchanges to improve roadway access.

The North Terminal Development Program at Miami International Airport is aimed at preparing for future travel demands. New airline ticket offices, passenger lounges, Immigration and Naturalization Service facilities, an improved baggage handling system, concessions and an automated "people mover" system are under construction in an area of the terminal stretching 1.3 miles and encompassing 3.2 million square feet.

At Tampa International Airport, officials have unveiled their Skyward 2025 Master Plan to address the projected increase of passengers from 19 million in 2005 to 38 million by 2025. The airport has earmarked $505,000 for design work on a new north terminal, the first phase of which will be built beginning in 2011 and cost approximately $1 billion.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the state's third busiest, opened its new $283,000 cell phone waiting area in summer 2006. In addition, the airport became the first in Florida to operate its entire fleet of shuttle buses on biodiesel fuel; five of the 54 vehicles use hybrid electric technology.

The nation's newest commercial airport will soon be under construction in Northwest Florida. Plans call for a March 2007 groundbreaking for the Panama City-Bay County International Airport, which will
be constructed on 4,000 acres of land donated by The St. Joe Company, Florida's largest private landowner. Flight operations at the new $312 million airport will begin in 2009.

There is also a flurry of activity at Daytona Beach International Airport, where a $10 million interior security road is slated for completion in late 2007. The airport is also installing a new $2.5 million Instrument Landing System and approach lighting system on its primary runway. Construction of up to 24 T-hangars on the south side of the airport is scheduled to begin in 2007 at an estimated total cost of $8 million.

First in space
Florida gave birth to America's space program more than 50 years ago, and today space-related activities are found in every county of the state for an economic impact of $4.5 billion. More than 200 space companies employ thousands of Floridians. The state has set aside $35 million to aid in the development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), NASA's successor to the space shuttle.

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