By Signing SB 7068 Into Law, Elected Leaders Prepare for the 4.5
Million More Residents & Millions of New Drivers Expected by 2030
The Florida Chamber of Commerce congratulates Governor Ron DeSantis for signing a bipartisan supported infrastructure bill into law, and joining the Florida Legislature in preparing for the millions of more residents and drivers that will soon call Florida home.
Research from the Florida Chamber Foundation shows that Florida can expect 4.5 million new residents by 2030, in addition to the hundreds of millions of visitors over the same timeframe. Moreover, another three million new drivers will be on Florida roadways by 2030.
“Thankfully, Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature recognized that Florida will have another three million new drivers on our roadways by 2030, and that we need to plan smart and work fast to keep up with Florida’s growth or risk becoming like California,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce.
SB 7068 is moving forward with what Washington, D.C. hasn’t done yet – move forward with bold plans on how to improve our transportation infrastructure. Under SB 7068, the challenges that come with 900 new Floridians moving here each day can be minimized. Specifically, SB 7068:
- New transportation connections will be researched and, if appropriate, funded to ease congestion and create more efficient and safe hurricane evacuation routes.
- Connections to rural and suburban communities will be better linked to the urban economic drivers of the state, reducing commute times and increasing opportunity.
- Florida’s planning processes will take into consideration new technologies like connected and autonomous vehicles, which are already on some Florida roadways.
All of these things will happen alongside important environmental analyses and many stakeholder group meetings.
“I understand there are some that will always oppose smart growth and opportunities, believing that a thriving economy cannot coexist with responsible environmentalism or that our roadways are already adequate for the future. There are also some that believe nothing can be bipartisan anymore. The Florida Chamber disagrees. Moving goods, residents, and visitors is a paramount concern for Florida’s economy and that concern is felt by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike,” Wilson added.
The Florida Chamber believes SB 7068 is a step in the right direction, and hopefully the first of many.
Established in 1916 as Florida’s first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit FloridaChamber.com for more information.
