The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) outlines the roadways, bridges, transit, aviation, rail, trail/bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and landscaping projects that are scheduled and funded for the next five years in DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties.
The HRTPO 2024/25 – 2028/29 TIP serves as a five-year financially feasible program of improvements for all modes of transportation within DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties. The TIP has a five-year total of $752 million.
The purpose of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is to provide a staged, multi- year, intermodal program of transportation projects. The TIP is consistent with the adopted Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization’s (HRTPO’s) 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The TIP is required of all metropolitan areas, under Section 134 of Title 23 and Title 49, United States Code (USC), and 23 CFR Part 450 Sections 320, 324, 326, 328, 330 and 332; and subsection 339.175(6) and (8), Florida Statutes (F.S.), the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and reaffirmed in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) signed into law on December 4, 2015.
The HRTPO’s TIP contains all transportation projects within DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee Counties, which are the six (6) counties that comprise the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization. These projects are those designated for funding from Title 23 and Title 49 funding sources and all regionally significant transportation projects requiring federal action. Projects contained in the TIP include highways, aviation, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and transportation disadvantaged projects regardless of funding source. The TIP ensures coordination for transportation improvements by local, state and federal agencies.
Over the next 5 years, this program invests:
- $31,763,945 in Safety Projects
- $122,443,705 in System Performance Projects
- $677,069,970 in Bridge and Pavement Projects
- $32,075,766 in Transit Projects
The HRTPO 2024/25 – 2028/29 TIP serves as a five-year financially feasible program of improvements for all modes of transportation within the six (6) Heartland counties referenced above and was developed in cooperation with the FDOT and public transit operators [23 CFR. 450.326(a) and subsection 339.175(8) F.S.,]. The TIP is financially constrained for each year and able to be implemented for each year using Year of Expenditure (YOE) dollars. YOE dollars are adjusted for inflation from the present time to the expected year of construction. Federally funded projects identified in the TIP can be implemented using current and proposed revenue sources based on the FDOT’s Tentative Work Program.
As required by federal and state law, a summary of available funds by funding category and project type for the state and federally funded projects contained within the TIP has been included [23 CFR. 450.324(a) and Subsection 339.175(8), F. S.] The detailed project listing and financial summary contain system-level estimates of costs and revenue sources that are reasonably expected to be available to adequately operate and maintain Federal- aid highways (as defined by 23 U.S. C. 101(a)(5)) and public transportation (as defined by title 49 USC. Chapter 53) [23 CFR 450.324 (h)]. To further ensure the financial soundness of the TIP, all projects funded by the Florida Department of Transportation with federal or non-federal dollars are considered committed projects if included in the first three years of the FDOT Five-Year Work Program. Section 339.135(4)(b)(5) Florida Statutes mandates the FDOT Work Program include a balanced 36-month forecast of cash and expenditures and a five-year finance plan supporting the Work Program.
The Transportation Improvement Program details transportation projects that are funded by federal, state, and local programs in the next five years.
To view the detailed list by county view the draft document at this link.- To view proposed projects and locations on an interactive map, go to the Draft Tentative Work Program ARC GIS Web Mapping tool.
The HRTPO has a strong commitment to ensure public involvement in the transportation planning process. Adopted in March 2023, the Public Participation Plan (PPP) provides guidelines used by the HRTPO to inform and gather input from residents, communities, and interest groups throughout the six counties in order to expand the information available for planning. Following the guidelines in the PPP, and following the requirements of 23 CFR 450.324, Section 339.175, FS, Section 163.3161et seq., FS, 23, and CFR 450.324, Section 339.175, FS, the HRTPO will make the draft document available for public comment 30 days prior to adoption, seven (7) days prior to amendment, and continuously during development. The TIP is reviewed by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the HRTPO Board at meetings that are open to the public. The TIP is also made available on HRTPO’s website.
The Heartland Regional Transportation Organization presented the draft Transportation Improvement Program to the Heartland Region on May 10, 2024, for a 30-day public comment period.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, income, or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Marybeth Soderstrom, HRTPO Title VI Liaison, 863-534-7130, extension 134 (voice), or via Florida Relay Service 711, or by email: msoderstrom@cfrpc.org.
Ways to Comment:
After you have reviewed the Transportation Improvement Program, please let us know if you have any comments:
- Email us @ info@heartlandregionaltpo.org
- Mail to 555 East Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830
- Call (863) 534-7130 x 134
- Or, just leave your comment in the box above