Florida Department of Transportation - Definition

The Florida Department of Transportation, or FDOT, is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida[1] (http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/).

Achievements

In 1974, FDOT completed the Florida Turnpike, a 450-mile system of limited access toll highways. The turnpike is part of an initiative to finance transportation with user fees[2] (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/NewWebPages/about.html). In 2004, FDOT reopened the I-10 Escambia bridge 17 days after Hurricane Ivan ripped it apart [3] (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/viewpoint/viewpointseptemberoct04.pdf).

Structure

Each of FDOT's seven semi-autonomous districts is managed by a District Secretary. The FDOT Secretary is responsible for coordinating the Department as a whole. The Florida Transportation Commission, made up of nine commissioners chosen by Florida's Governor and Legislature, provides oversight for FDOT[4] (http://www.ftc.state.fl.us/about_the_commission.htm).

On March 5, 2003, Governor Jeb Bush appointed José Abreu, P.E., as Secretary of FDOT[5] (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/mission.htm).

References

• Florida Statutes 334.044 (http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/), Department; Powers and Duties, Public Transportation, Transportation Administration.
• Florida Department of Transportation (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/mission.htm).
• About the Commission (http://www.ftc.state.fl.us/about_the_commission.htm), Florida Transportation Commission.
• Viewpoint (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/viewpoint/viewpointseptemberoct04.pdf), Secretary José Abreu.
• Florida's Turnpike: The Less Stressway (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/NewWebPages/about.html).