Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Coree Cuff Lonergan
Department: Transportation
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Broward County Transit Development Plan Annual Update and Progress Report for Fiscal Years 2025-2034 submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 341.052, Florida Statutes, and Section 14-73.001, Florida Administrative Code require the Board of County Commissioners (Board), as the transit system’s governing body, develop a Transit Development Plan (TDP) based on a ten-year planning horizon and submit annual updates to FDOT to receive state public transit block grant funds.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the Broward County Transit Development Plan Annual Update and Progress Report for Fiscal Year 2025-2034 submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Upon final approval by FDOT continues the Broward County Transportation Department’s (BCT) participation in state public transit block grant funding for operating expenses, for an estimated $12,455,733 in state funding to be awarded for State Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026).
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Previous Action Taken
December 12, 2023, Item No. 25
Summary Explanation/Background
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board’s Connected Community Goal of "Cooperatively delivering an efficient and accessible regional intermodal transportation network."
In 1990, the Florida Legislature enacted Section 341.052, F.S., which established a State Public Transit Block Grant Program to be administered by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The program provides Broward County funding assistance on an annual basis for fixed-route bus service operating costs. Each transit agency in Florida that receives Block Grant funding is required by FDOT to prepare a Transit Development Plan (TDP) every five years. The TDP is a short-range (ten-year horizon) transit plan that addresses operational and capital improvements for the Broward County Transit (BCT) system and is updated annually. This requirement is intended to ensure that the provision of public transportation services is consistent with the travel needs and mobility goals of the local communities that are served by the transit system.
BCT’s last TDP Major update (Fiscal Year 2024-Fiscal Year 2033) was approved by the Board on December 12, 2023, Item 25. Per Section 14-73.001 of the Florida Administrative Code (the TDP Rule), BCT is required to provide an annual update in the years between each major ten-year TDP effort. Effective July 9, 2024, the TDP process was revised and streamlined with an emphasis on prioritizing projects that align with goals and funding. Annual updates are now required to include a formatted table presenting the ten-year schedule of projects, financial plan, and list of priority projects, and any updated modifications to the previous year’s ten-year operating and capital program. Revisions to the rule also included changing the report timeline from the State Fiscal Year (July 1 to June 30) to the County’s Fiscal Year (October 1 to September 30) and a change in the report deadline from October to March. As part of the new streamlining process, the TDP Annual Progress Report (TDP APR) is no longer required to be approved by the Board, as BCT’s governing body, and there is now a focus on enhanced collaboration with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Accordingly, it will be presented to the Broward MPO Board for planning consideration and coordination.
BCT’s TDP APR Fiscal Year 2025-2034 (Exhibit 1) is the first of four annual updates to occur after the last TDP Major Update, follows the revised July 2024 TDP Rule, and was submitted in draft to the state on March 13, 2025. It must still be presented to the MPO Board for planning consideration and coordination and BCT staff is coordinating with MPO staff to ensure that it is on their June 12, 2025 Board agenda. Upon official approval by FDOT, BCT is programmed to receive an estimated $12,455,733 in annual state public transit block grant funds in FDOT Fiscal Year 2026, which funds are allocated by FDOT specifically for assistance with BCT’s operating and maintenance costs. These funds require a 50/50 match (met by funding which the County provides for operating fixed-route bus service) and are available to offset operating expenses incurred by the County in providing fixed-route bus service.
Source of Additional Information
Coree Cuff Lonergan, Director, Transportation Department (954) 357-8361
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Final approval of this TDP APR by the MPO and FDOT will, upon approval by FDOT, provide an estimated $12,455,733 in State Fiscal Year 2026 Block grant funds allocated by FDOT specifically for BCT’s operating and maintenance expenses.