Florida Senate Bill Proposes Increasing Speed Limits From 70 to 75 mph on Interstates

Four-lane roads outside urban areas from 65 to 70 mph

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — Florida Senate Bill CS/SB 462 proposes significant updates to transportation laws and operations across Florida, including funding mechanisms, safety regulations, airport development, utility management, and project planning.

The bill spans 71 pages and affects numerous Florida Statutes. These are the bill’s key provisions:

Funding & Tax Allocation
● Redirects certain sales tax revenues to the State Transportation Trust Fund.
Allocates funds for:
● Airports and aviation projects
● Construction workforce development programs
● Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust Fund
● Electric and hybrid vehicle infrastructure

Speed Limits
Raises speed limits:
● Limited access highways: from 70 to 75 mph
● Four-lane roads outside urban areas: from 65 to 70 mph
● Interstates: establishes new minimum speeds

Airports & Aviation:
● Updates responsibilities and funding criteria for public-use airports.
● Encourages public-private partnerships at airports.
● Allows certain airports to join the FAA’s Airport Investment Partnership Program.

Project Planning & Development
● Requires counties to submit uniform project data annually.
● Mandates project concept studies to consider elevated roadways.
● Sets an 18-month deadline for completing project development studies.

Construction & Contracting
● Revises bidding procedures and contractor qualifications.
● Increases claim limits for the State Arbitration Board.
● Updates bonding and insurance requirements, especially for bridge projects over navigable waters.

Utilities in Rights-of-Way
Utilities must:
● Submit as-built plans.
● Make underground infrastructure electronically detectable.
● Sets new rules for relocating or removing utilities at the owner’s expense.
● Allows the Department of Transportation (FDOT) to withhold payments or permits if utility owners fail to comply.

Metropolitan Planning Organizations
● Modernizes MPO coordination and reporting.
● Requires MPOs to adopt performance metrics and targets.
● Eliminates some outdated statutory provisions.

Interstate 4 Report
● Requires FDOT to develop a report on widening I-4, to be submitted to the Governor and Legislature.

Read the proposed bill HERE.

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