FLORIDA'S APPROACH TO TRANSIT MANAGEMENT

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) transit programs are targeted on management, the keystone of the transit industry, and on full recognition of the role of the state and the importance of a dynamic federal, state, and local partnership in the future of transit. FDOT philosophy is made up of a number of basic elements. First, transit development is a statewide need not compartmentalized by definitions of metropolitan, small urban, or rural areas but on identified need and the local commitment to support a desired level of service. Second, it involves the transit systems and their transit association as partners in developing policy, regulations, and standards. Third, FDOT's role in the development of transit service will continue to be meaningful only through direct participation in the areas of management, operations, and maintenance. To assure a future, all the resources at the state and local levels must be channeled to cause transit to fight for that future. It is apparent that liaison among all parties must be maintained, including all federal, state, and local agencies, and between the state and the transit systems and authorities within the state. Future programs must emphasize a strong management base, and the transit industry must develop a strong political force recognized in every state capital. The role of transit must be developed to assure that all resources are applied to the fight for present and future transit needs. (Author)