Bill > H0865

This bill: - Creates the Florida Smart City Challenge Grant Program within the Department of Transportation to provide grant funding to municipalities or regions that demonstrate the adoption of emerging transportation technologies such as autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, and electric vehicles. The program aims to identify transportation challenges, leverage additional public and private investments, and serve as a model for municipalities nationwide. - Establishes a calculation method for fines related to the unlawful weight and load of vehicles fueled by natural gas, allowing for a reduction in the actual gross vehicle weight by the certified weight difference between the natural gas tank/fueling system and a comparable diesel system. - Modifies bridge inspection requirements to align with federal standards and clarifies maintenance responsibilities. - Increases the threshold for the Department of Transportation to enter into certain construction and maintenance contracts without competitive bidding from $120,000 to $250,000. - Authorizes the Department of Transportation to undertake an economic feasibility study on the acquisition of the Garcon Point Bridge. - Amends provisions related to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, including requiring Department of Transportation approval of the authority's expenditures and allowing the department to advance 25% of the authority's annual state funding. - Allows the Department of Transportation to enroll the state in federal pilot programs to collect and study transportation-related data.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure

Government Accountability Committee (House), Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee (House), Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee (House)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/865