The Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) is Florida’s high priority network of transportation facilities important to the State's economy and mobility. The Governor and Legislature established the SIS in 2003 per 339.61 (1), F.S. The SIS was created to focus Florida's limited transportation resources on the transportation facilities most significant for interregional, interstate, and international travel. Planning for the SIS is guided by the Florida Transportation Plan (found here: www.floridatransportationplan.com), the long-range transportation plan for the State of Florida, and the SIS Policy Plan (found here: https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/planning/sis/policyplan/sis-policy-plan.pdf?sfvrsn=37cbc076_2). Per 339.64(1) F.S, the SIS Cost Feasible Plan (CFP) shall be developed “in cooperation with metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning councils, local governments, and other transportation providers,..." The plan shall be updated at least once every five years.

The Department is currently developing its 2050 SIS CFP. As part of that development process, the Department provided the MPO with an initial draft 2050 CFP project list in August 2022. MPO staff reviewed the draft project list and provided comments to the Department (see Attachment 1). The Department also provided presentations to the MPO's Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens' Advisory Committee in November 2022.

In February of this year, the Department provided the MPO with an updated 2050 SIS CFP project list (see Attachment 2). MPO staff reviewed the updated list and found that most of our comments had been addressed. However, the draft SIS CFP does not have any stand-alone transit projects as the Department continues to list only highway projects. The MPO would like to see modal projects explicitly included in the SIS CFP, not just included in the 20% set-aside for modal (non-highway) projects. The 2050 Draft SIS CFP also contained projects that required Board support. The MPO has numerous times provided feedback to the Department regarding specific improvements that could be implemented in the SIS program that would be beneficial to MPOs and more specifically MPOs in large urban areas where adding roadway capacity is not consistent with regional priorities. These proposed improvements included providing MPOs greater input in both the selection and designation of transportation facilities to be included as part of SIS. To that end, the Broward MPO separately and jointly with its neighboring MPOs in the Miami Urbanized Area have continually made these recommendations to the Department (see Attachments 3 and 4).

The MPO and the Department will continue to coordinate on the development of the 2050 SIS CFP and will also work collaboratively through the 2050 MTP process to incorporate projects into the plan and ensure the priorities of both organizations are met. The MPO will also continue to advocate for improvements to the SIS program.

Broward MPO staff will present an overview of the SIS 2050 Draft CFP analysis at the upcoming meeting. The presentation can be found in Attachment 5. FDOT staff will also provide an overview presentation of the SIS 2050 Draft CFP. FDOT's presentation can be found in Attachment 6. MPO and FDOT staff will be available to answer any questions at the meeting. 

If you have any questions about this item, please contact Ronald Kareiva at (954) 777-4441 or ronald.kareiva@dot.state.fl.us.