FDOT Traffic

Florida, known for its year-round warm climate and vibrant communities, relies heavily on a robust transportation system to keep people and goods moving efficiently. At the heart of this complex network is the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), an executive agency that directly reports to Governor Ron DeSantis. FDOT’s core mission is to establish and maintain a safe and effective transportation system that not only serves the needs of Florida’s residents and visitors today but also accommodates the state’s ongoing growth.

About FDOT Traffic

The FDOT Traffic website is an online platform that serves as a repository for statistical traffic information related to the State Highway System. Behind the scenes, the Transportation Data and Analytics Office diligently coordinates the collection of traffic data, encompassing not only the State highways but also many other roadways beyond the State Highway System. Depending on your location of interest, the wealth of traffic data includes a range of crucial details.

These include daily traffic counts, vehicle classifications, speeds, vehicle weights, directional factors, truck factors, and design hour factors. The dataset provides insights into traffic patterns, vehicle types, and road usage, aiding in transportation planning and decision-making.

Traffic Data Collection

To ensure the timeliness and accuracy of this information, the Traffic Data Section operates a network of approximately 300 continuous traffic monitoring sites. These sites continuously gather data, which is then transmitted daily to the Transportation Data and Analytics Office. In addition to this ongoing data collection, the Section collaborates with District personnel to coordinate short-duration traffic studies at thousands of sites throughout the year.

The data collection process spans from January through December annually, and by the first quarter of the following year, the collected information is meticulously converted into comprehensive annual statistics. These annual traffic statistics, reflecting the most recent data available, are typically posted on the website by April each year

Florida Transportation Districts

The Florida Department of Transportation operates through decentralized districts, in line with legislative directives. These districts differ in their structures but commonly feature divisions for Administration, Planning, Production, and Operations. Additionally, each district houses essential Public Information Offices and District Chief Counsels. Let’s take a closer look at some of Florida’s transportation districts:

• District 1 (Southwest Florida): Covering 12 counties in the southwestern part of the state, this district boasts 2.7 million residents who contribute to 42 million daily miles traveled on state highways. It supports public airports, private aviation facilities, a deep-water seaport, and various rail services.

• District 2 (Northeast Florida): Encompassing 18 counties in northeastern Florida, District 2 is home to over 1.9 million residents. With more than 43.2 million daily miles traveled on state highways, the district relies on multiple transit authorities, deep-water ports, rail lines, and numerous airports.

• District 3 (Northwest Florida): Representing Florida’s Panhandle, District 3 stretches across 16 counties and 11,500 square miles. Over 26.1 million daily miles are logged on state roads. This district benefits from rail lines, deep-water ports, and 80 airports.

• District 4 (Southeast Florida): Covering Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties, District 4 spans 5,000 square miles and hosts over 4 million residents. Daily, vehicles in this district travel more than 52.4 million miles. It has 90 airports, three deep-water ports, and two railroads.

• District 5 (Central Florida): This rapidly growing district encompasses nine counties and over 4.1 million residents. More than 67.3 million daily miles are logged on state-maintained highways. It supports seven transit authorities, a passenger rail line, freight rail lines, a deep-water port, numerous airports, and Space Florida.

• District 6 (South Florida): Encompassing Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, District 6 is home to 2.7 million residents. Its roads are traveled over 30.8 million miles daily, and the district supports public transit, airports, rail lines, and deep-water ports.

• District 7 (West Central Florida): Covering the Tampa Bay area, District 7 represents five counties with 2,884,600 residents. More than 33.6 million daily miles are driven on its roads, with support from transit authorities, airports, rail lines, and deep-water ports.

Safety Initiatives & Outreach Programs

Target Zero

Target Zero is a statewide initiative with a clear and ambitious goal: to reduce the number of transportation-related serious injuries and deaths in Florida to ZERO. Every day, on average, eight people lose their lives, and 49 suffer serious injuries on Florida’s roads. In most of these tragic accidents, driver behavior plays a significant role. Target Zero is all about connecting, interacting with, and designing our transportation system to address the behaviors that contribute to these serious injuries and fatalities.

Target Zero goes beyond many existing safety programs or campaigns by pinpointing the behaviors that contribute to accidents, understanding why they occur, identifying the specific target audience, and crafting impactful messages to promote safe driving. It is a data-driven, multi-faceted behavior change initiative, informed in part by direct conversations with drivers most involved in accidents resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.

TRAC & RIDES Programs

TRAC (Transportation and Civil Engineering) and RIDES (Roadways Into Developing Elementary Students) are educational outreach programs developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). These programs have a compelling mission: to connect students with the world of transportation and civil engineering through hands-on classroom activities. By demonstrating the real-world applications of principles taught in their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) classes, TRAC and RIDES programs aim to inspire the next generation of civil engineers and transportation professionals.

RIDES Program

The RIDES educational outreach program caters specifically to K-8 students. It begins with teachers attending two days of training led by National Board Certified Teachers experienced in implementing the RIDES program. RIDES provides teachers with a comprehensive curriculum and a trunk of resources containing all the materials required for engaging classroom activities designed to breathe life into science and math concepts. The curriculum encompasses various subjects, including Transportation and Energy, Roadway Geometry, Humans and Nature, and Designing Ways.

Tools and Resources

For those seeking detailed traffic information, FDOT offers a range of resources:

• Florida Traffic Online: A web-based mapping application providing traffic count site locations and historical traffic count data.
• Real-Time Traffic Information: This application offers real-time traffic count information during emergencies like hurricanes.
• Non-Motorized Traffic Monitoring Program: Providing data and statistics on bicycle and pedestrian volume.

Additionally, you can easily stay in the loop about FDOT’s publications and training options by using the Contact Management System. You can also sign up to receive email updates on specific publications or training courses. If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to their customer support team at (850) 414-4718.

Read Also:

• FDOT Office of Modal Development
• FDOT Project Search
• FDOT Upcoming Projects
• FDOT District 4 Map
• FDOT Work Program GIS

FAQs

Q : How many districts does FDOT have?

A : FDOT is divided into seven districts, each with its own unique transportation needs and challenges.

Q : How many public seaports are in Florida?

A : Florida is home to 16 public seaports that play a vital role in trade and commerce.

Q : How many public transit systems are there in Florida?

A : Florida is served by 37 public transit systems, providing essential transportation options to residents and visitors.