Florida Department of Transportation staff presented the SIS 2050 multimodal unfunded needs plan to the Pasco County MPO board on Oct. 9, describing it as a statewide inventory of transportation projects that are not yet cost‑feasible but are important for long‑range planning.

"The SIS 2050 multimodal unfunded needs plan serves to identify transportation improvements needed for SIS facilities," the FDOT presenter said. The plan compiles projects across modes, draws on MPO long-range transportation plans and regional master plans, and uses traffic modeling to identify capacity needs driven by growth. FDOT staff said the update process takes about 18 months; MPOs and TPOs will review a draft and FDOT senior management will present a final draft to the FDOT executive board for adoption.

Board members pressed FDOT about why certain Pasco corridors appear outside the SIS network and asked how local reliever projects could be added. FDOT staff explained the SIS network has statutory mileage caps and specific eligibility thresholds tied to urbanized areas and terminals (airports, seaports, passenger terminals) and that some connectors and relievers are considered through a separate planning process. The presenter said unfunded needs identified in the plan could later be evaluated for funding programs and that the MPO would have opportunities to propose local needs. FDOT staff estimated the MPO and committees would see proposals in roughly 4–6 months.

Why it matters: The SIS network receives priority for capacity funding in Florida; identification in the unfunded needs plan helps projects remain on the state planning radar even if immediate funding is unavailable. Pasco board members suggested adding relievers and regional connectors important to local freight and commuter patterns.

No formal board vote was taken on the SIS plan at the Oct. 9 meeting; FDOT committed to return with materials for local review and to accept MPO input on unfunded needs.