Rural Planning Support

Welcome

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) coordinates directly with Florida's non-metropolitan local governments, those located outside of a designated metropolitan planning area, to address their transportation planning needs. The resources on this page reflect FDOT's efforts to enhance coordination and cooperation with non-metropolitan local governments in the transportation planning process.

Florida's Nonmetropolitan Planning Process

***NEW*** FDOT is excited to announce the public comment period is now open for the draft  Review of FDOT's Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Process (2024). The draft report is available for public comment through Monday, October 7, 2024. Comments and feedback may be submitted by completing the online public comment form or by emailing planning@dot.state.fl.us. 

According to Title 23 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations, Section 450 (23 CFR § 450.210), once every five years each state is required to review its process for cooperating with nonmetropolitan local officials during the development of its long-range statewide transportation plan, which in Florida is the Florida Transportation Plan (FTP), and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). This report to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is FDOT's 2024 five-year review of its process for cooperating with nonmetropolitan local officials in the transportation planning process. The previous version of this report is available here: A Review of Florida's Non-Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process 2019.

FDOT Rural Transportation Planning Resources

• Florida Transportation Plan
• Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) information from the FDOT Office of Work Program and Budget, including a Work Program/STIP Public Involvement flow chart
• Partnering with FDOT: A Resource Guide for Local Governments

Rural Transportation Funding Sources

• FDOT's Local Programs office administrates available funding for construction and maintenance of Florida's rural transportation resources. These programs include:
  • County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP)
  • Small County Outreach Program (SCOP)
  • Small County Outreach Program for Municipalities and Communities (SCOP Municipalities)
  • Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP)
  • Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP)
• FDOT's Systems Implementation Office administers the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside of the Surface Transportation Block Grant Programs. Program and project eligibility guidance is available here.
• FDOT's Transit Office administrates available State and Federal funding specific to Florida's rural areas. Information regarding these grant opportunities is available here.
• Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) offers rural transportation funding resources to the state's rural areas, including the:
  • Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant
  • Rural Infrastructure Fund
  • Competitive Florida Partnership
• US DOT Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grants
• US DOT Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES)

Rural Economic Development Initiative and FDOT Contacts

The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) established in Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, serves Florida's economically distressed rural communities by providing a more focused and coordinated effort among state and regional agencies that provide programs and services for rural areas.

Links

• FDOT Contacts
• FDOT Recruitment
• FDOT Statement of Agency Organization and Operation
• MyFlorida.com

For more information on rural planning, contact the Office of Policy Planning at planning@dot.state.fl.us