FDOT presents nearly $70 billion five‑year plan, urges full funding and innovation

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue told the Senate Transportation Committee that FDOT is entering the 2026 session with a five‑year capital plan approaching $70 billion and a set of priorities that emphasize innovation, project delivery and workforce capacity.

Purdue said the department now manages more than 12,000 active contracts with a total value of approximately $22 billion and processes about $45 million in invoices each business day. He described a recent procurement innovation — a Modified Phase Design‑Build method — used on large “mega projects” and cited the Moving Florida I‑4 congestion relief work as an example where the approach accelerated delivery and saved costs.

"We now as it stands today have a 5 year capital plan of nearly $70,000,000,000," Purdue said, adding that recent legislative investments enabled record work programs and large projects to move forward sooner than previously forecast.

Purdue told senators the department faces flat revenue forecasts for the trust fund over the next several years and will therefore ask the legislature both to fully fund the work program and to support policy changes that enable greater efficiency and innovation. He identified recurring capital needs, including a roughly $9 million annual request for heavy equipment replacement (about 120 pieces replaced over three years), facilities upgrades in several districts and expanded investment in technology and cybersecurity.

He also stressed workforce initiatives, reporting that FDOT has reduced vacancy rates from about 20 percent to roughly 10 percent and is projecting further improvement through targeted hiring programs, on‑the‑job training and regional recruitment events.

Senators pressed Purdue on modal investments for ports, airports, rail and spaceports and on longer‑term planning horizons. Purdue said FDOT primarily owns roads and bridges but partners financially and strategically with airports, seaports and spaceports; he said strategic intermodal investments and short‑line rail connections are part of the agency’s logistics planning.

The committee followed with a DHSMV agency preview from the executive director, who summarized the proposed agency bill provisions including requiring a Florida address and proof of residence for vehicle registration, updated identification requirements for registration, changes to tank‑vehicle definitions to align with federal rules, steps to conform to the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), an increased damage threshold for crash reports, and options to allow customers to opt in to electronic notices.

Purdue answered follow‑up questions and said FDOT will provide members with project lists for each district. No formal votes related to FDOT priorities were taken in the hearing; the committee adjourned at the scheduled close of business.