Bill > H0003

This bill aims to enhance freight and trade infrastructure and planning in Florida by revising provisions related to seaport funding, establishing freight logistics zones, and improving port operational readiness. Specifically, it expands eligibility for seaport funding to include asset management plans, increases the annual allocation from the State Transportation Trust Fund for the Intermodal Logistics Center Infrastructure Support Program to at least $5 million starting in fiscal year 2014-2015, and allows counties or groups of contiguous counties to designate "freight logistics zones" which are defined as areas focused on freight transportation and related services. Projects within these zones that align with the state's Freight Mobility and Trade Plan may receive priority for state funding and incentives, with evaluation criteria focusing on factors like intermodal connectivity, economic impact, and local support. The bill also mandates a review of existing continuity of operations plans at seaports and the development of a statewide "all-hazards economic recovery and resumption of trade plan" to ensure ports can quickly resume operations after major incidents, and requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to designate certain public roads connecting port facilities as "port district roads" with appropriate signage, exempting port vehicles and equipment used on these roads from standard registration requirements for the purpose of transporting cargo.