Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesDecember 13, 2018

Forget “Smart Cities.” Members of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ economic transition team want Florida to be the first “Smart State.” Joe York, president of AT&T Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, said Florida has the chance to lead the nation in data infrastructure at a moment when the “internet of things” begins to affect everything […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2018

After a year and a half as Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, Mike Dew is saying goodbye. His last day will be next Monday, he said in an email sent late Wednesday. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of the group of talented, professional and innovative individuals who come together every day […]

Jacob OglesNovember 26, 2018

On the great swath of road known as Alligator Alley, a single fire station at mile marker 63 handles wrecks from Collier to Broward County. But since the Department of Transportation opened the facility in 2014, there has been debate over who pays to keep the lights on. A new bill (SB 72) filed by state […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 20, 2018

Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times during the year, and that influx can cause some issues for people choosing to fly to their destinations. The U.S. Department of Transportation is making sure travelers know what to expect this holiday season as well as what their rights are: Flight delays and cancellations Federal […]

Peter SchorschJune 26, 2018

It’s only been eight years since Tallahassee’s “Taj Mahal” courthouse scandal made headlines, sparking an investigation into the state’s decision to fund a lavish $48 million building for the 1st District Court of Appeals. Granite counter tops, flat screen TVs and framed artwork were among the building’s high-end amenities. Now, it appears another Taj Mahal, […]

Jim RosicaMay 5, 2018

A lawyer for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has told a Tallahassee judge that “at least two federal agencies” and Miami-Dade police are pursuing criminal investigations into March’s collapse of a pedestrian bridge at the Florida International University campus. The disclosure came in a letter sent this week to Circuit Judge John Cooper, who’s presiding […]

Ana CeballosMarch 2, 2018

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A quiet change proposed Thursday under a wide-ranging commercial motor vehicle bill would strip the power of a transportation panel and give the governor sole discretion over the appointment of the state’s top transportation official. State law tasks the Florida Transportation Commission to recommend three names to the governor when it comes to choosing the […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 23, 2018

Florida could soon be unified under one time zone. An amendment to a state bill (SB 585) that seeks year-round observance of daylight saving time, or ‘spring forward’ time, would ask Congress to authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow the entire state to observe Eastern Standard Time. In Florida, Central Standard Time observance begins at […]

Phil AmmannMay 31, 2017

Among the five bills signed Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott is HB 865, an omnibus measure that reforms several areas in the Florida Department of Transportation. LobbyTools reports that the bill, in part, mandates the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority to get DOT approval on contracts before receiving department money. The department must also submit a […]

Guest AuthorMay 26, 2017

When disasters happen, whether natural or man-made, emergency responders work in unison to protect the public. In the case of a hurricane, even before the heavy winds bear down on communities, emergency responders are already implementing plans to help residents get out of areas at risk, safely and swiftly. Behind the scenes utility companies, government […]

Tag: Department of Transportation
Mexican Security Chief Genaro Garcia Luna speaks during an interview in Mexico City, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File)

Forget ‘Smart Cities’ and start thinking ‘Smart State,’ DeSantis transition team says

Mike Dew out as Secretary of Florida Department of Transportation

Who pays for Alligator Alley’s lonely fire station?

Flying for turkey? Know your rights before you board

Taj Mahal Part Deux?

NTSB confirms local, federal criminal investigation into FIU bridge collapse

Governor would have sole discretion over FDOT head appointment under proposal

Daylight saving time bill could change Panhandle time zone

Rick Scott signs DOT reform bill

Gary Croke: Past hurricanes help prepare for tomorrow