Downloads
CS/CS/HB 1161 — Department of Transportation
by Economic Affairs Committee; Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee; and Rep. Goodson (CS/CS/SB 1048 by Community Affairs Committee; Transportation Committee; and Senator Latvala)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Transportation Committee (TR)
The bill authorizes, but does not require, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to provide for the monetization of the revenue stream from leases for wireless communication facilities on FDOT property. Revenues from such purchases are to be used to increase capital funding for the statewide transportation system.
The bill also makes revisions to the control of outdoor advertising. The bill provides that Water Management District (WMD) public information systems are subject to the provisions of certain federal laws and agreements and effectively rewrites ch. 479, F.S., to revise various duties of the FDOT to modernize and streamline the administration and enforcement of state and federal outdoor advertising provisions. The substantive revisions:
- Provide criteria to be used in the permitting of signs in commercial or industrial zones, as determined by the local government, and require the FDOT to notify a sign applicant in writing if the FDOT disagrees with a local government determination that a proposed sign location is on a parcel that is in a commercial or industrial zone;
- Require removal of a sign within 30 days if the FDOT determines the parcel does not meet sign permit requirements, and provide for a reduction in transportation funding to a local government if a local government fails to comply;
- Revise provisions relating to signs visible from more than one highway, make permanent a pilot program under which the distance between certain permitted signs may be reduced to 1,000 feet, revise provisions relating to vegetation management, and revise provisions relating to relocation or reconstruction of signs situated upon FDOT right-of-way;
- Provide for additional signs that can be erected without a permit, revise provisions increasing the legal height of a sign at its location if a noise-attenuation barrier is erected, and expand the logo sign program to the right-of-way of the limited-access system; and
- Repeal a pilot program authorized in 2012 for signs related to tourist-oriented commerce, which is replaced by authority to erect such signs without a permit.
The bill extends a pilot program for the Palm Beach County School District to recognize its business partners through signage on sports facilities.
The bill also authorizes the FDOT to enter into concession agreements for commercial sponsorship of multiuse trails and related facilities and to use the revenues for the maintenance of the trails and facilities. The bill requires provides sign location and size requirements.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2014.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 116-0