Legislative Priorities

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Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)

On December 4, 2015, President Obama signed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) into law. The FAST Act is the first multi-year transportation bill passed by Congress in over a decade, and includes increases in funding for many programs vital to the Broward MPO and its mission. Please click below for more information on the FAST Act.

FAST Act Summary

FAST Act PPT from the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organization (AMPO)

 

State of Florida Legislative Updates

The Broward MPO engages with state and local partners further the MPO Board's goals of "Moving People, Creating Jobs, and Strengthening Communities," at the state level in Tallahassee. The Florida MPO Advisory Committee (MPOAC) provides weekly updates on transportation related bills in the Florida legislature. Please click on the links below for more information.

2017 Budget/Wave Streetcar

President Obama's proposed fiscal year 2017 budget includes $11 million dollars in funding for the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Wave Streetcar. Click here to view a summary of the proposed budget from Holland and Knight, and click here to view the list of proposed FTA grant fundees, including the Wave Streetcar.


Over the past year, the Broward MPO Board has had many thoughtful discussions on the transportation and economic issues facing the Broward urbanized area and the South Florida region. When the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) legislation was authorized, the State of Florida and the Broward Region saw a substantial reduction in Surface Transportation Funding while other metropolitan regions around the Nation saw funding increases. This has prompted the MPO Board to seek options that address the funding shortfall while remaining a competitive MPO in the region. In June 2013, the MPO Board approved an optional five cent per capita local contribution to use for Board approved advocacy purposes.

Using the proceeds from this optional local contribution, the MPO entered into an agreement with Holland and Knight, LLP in January of 2014 to provide State and Federal Advocacy Service to the Broward MPO for the Broward urbanized area and the South Florida region in Washington D.C. and in Tallahassee. Holland and Knight was directed to advocate for additional discretionary and formula based funding to further the Boards goals to “move people, create jobs and strengthen communities.” The Holland and Knight team, in conjunction with the Broward MPO, has been working diligently to advance these goals and generate support for enhanced Federal and State funds for transportation projects within our Member Governments. The team has been providing monthly legislative briefings to the MPO Board's Executive Committee, in addition to providing written monthly reports. These monthly reports can be found at the links below.


Federal and State Legislative Priorities


Monthly Reports (click links to view a .pdf version of each report)


Eyes on Washington

2015 Congressional Calendar


Other Documents and Presentations