FDOT outlines $7 billion "Moving Florida Forward" plan; I‑4 reconstruction, supply‑chain grants highlighted

FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue told the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development that the Moving Florida Forward initiative is a $7,000,000,000 investment layered on top of the department’s existing multi‑year work program.

Perdue said the plan includes 20 projects across every region of the state and is intended to advance construction beyond the department’s regular program so communities can get congestion relief sooner.

Perdue described the centerpiece project as the I‑4 reconstruction through Polk and Osceola counties, calling it “one of the biggest transportation projects in the country right now.” He said the I‑4 Forward effort will ultimately cost more than $5,000,000,000, will be delivered in phases and will take roughly 10 years to complete, but that FDOT expects to open an initial new eastbound and westbound lane for traffic by the end of the calendar year. “It’s essentially a parking lot every single day,” Perdue said of the attractions corridor around Orlando.

Why it matters: Perdue told senators the program was structured to avoid overwhelming contractors and suppliers, and to allow the state to phase work so materials, storage and labor align with project schedules. He said the department expects Moving Florida Forward to create thousands of construction jobs in the regions where projects are built and produce broad congestion relief where bottlenecks currently exist.

Key program features and numbers - Total Moving Florida Forward investment: $7,000,000,000. - Projects: 20 statewide; FDOT reported 14 of the 20 projects expected to be under construction by the end of the calendar year (70% of the plan). - I‑4 Forward: estimated total investment “over $5,000,000,000,” delivered in sequenced segments including accelerated segments A and B; initial lanes to open within the year; overall program duration ~10 years. - I‑75 auxiliary and interchange projects and a Southwest 10th Street reconstruction in Broward County (construction value cited ~ $1,250,000,000). - Workforce: Perdue said the I‑4 project alone will “bring over 2,000 jobs to the region.” - Aggregate grant program: authorized by the legislature and currently operating at roughly $20,000,000 per year; FDOT said the first round of grants has been awarded and is focused on freight rail, seaports and private storage capacity to ease aggregate (sand/rock) supply constraints.

Delivery innovations described by Perdue included the use of modified phased design‑build contracts (allowing multi‑phase delivery and earlier contractor engagement), a voluntary acceleration tool to let contractors finish projects earlier in return for negotiated terms, and large regional hiring events that FDOT and contractors use to recruit workers (attendance cited at 400–500 at some events).

Senators asked about local impacts and related funding. Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (Senate District 17) raised concerns about long construction delays harming small businesses on corridors such as Robinson Street in downtown Orlando and asked whether state programs—such as the Job Growth Grant Fund administered by the Department of Commerce—could be used to offset business losses during construction. Perdue said FDOT works with local businesses to design construction staging that minimizes disruption, but he deferred questions about Job Growth Grant Fund eligibility to Commerce staff. He also confirmed FDOT’s role as a capital partner on transit projects where federal matching or local revenue sources are involved and noted that the department reserves right‑of‑way space for potential future passenger rail alignments as part of long‑running I‑4 planning.

On the aggregate issue, senators asked whether FDOT was stockpiling or pre‑purchasing materials. Perdue said the grant program focuses on increasing movement and storage capacity in the supply chain (rail, ports, stockyards) rather than buying raw aggregate outright, though he said pre‑purchasing futures is an option if needed. He also said FDOT has researched future demand by year and region to prioritize grant awards.

Discussion versus decisions: the committee heard FDOT’s programmatic presentation and asked follow‑up questions. No committee-level votes or directives on FDOT programs were recorded in the transcript.

What’s next: Perdue offered to meet with senators and staff to provide project‑level details and schedules. He emphasized the department’s intention to advance projects as quickly as industry capacity allows.