Central Florida Year 2050 Highway Capacity Analysis

Central Florida is not only one of the fastest growing regions in the country but is also a world famous tourist destination attracting millions of visitors every year. To accommodate the increased demand resulting from this growth, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Five Planning Office began to project traffic conditions and regional land use for the year 2050 (as opposed to a more traditional 20–25 year plan).

Based on the land use projections, FDOT produced a series of maps identifying transportation needs in the area. For the existing (2006) and future conditions (2025 and 2050), a map series was created showing number of lanes, network deficiencies, and required improvements. Deficiencies in the network were identified as roads that are congested or over capacity. As the maps indicate, the number of deficient roads increases drastically from 2006 to 2050, and so do additional road miles needed to meet this demand. For 2050, more than 7,500 unfunded lane miles at a cost of $38 billion will be needed.

These maps have led officials and citizens to think out of the box, focusing on transit-oriented and transit-friendly developments, introducing transit at a higher level in the community, using other transportation management strategies (telecommuting, flexible work hours, carpooling), and incorporating other modes of transportation (commuter rail, bus, bikes) as viable options.

Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation.