This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1031a.TIE
DATE: 2/15/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 1031 Transportation Research
SPONSOR(S): Andrade
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1160
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee 14 Y, 0 N Johnson Keating
2) Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
3) Commerce Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The University of Florida (UF), the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT), and the City of Gainesville
have partnered to create the Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of
Emerging Technologies (I-STREET) Living Lab. I-STREET’s principal objective is to make significant
improvements to transportation safety and mobility, utilizing a real-world testbed environment that has been
created on and surrounding the UF campus and the expanding set of diverse technology installed on Florida
segments of the Interstate Highway System.
The bill codifies the I-STREET Living Lab within UF and provides for its duties relating to transportation
research, education, workforce development, and related issues. The bill requires I-STREET, by July 1, 2023,
and annually thereafter, to provide to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives a report outlining its goals, as well as its efforts and progress on reaching those goals.
The bill also creates a nine-member advisory board to periodically review and advise I-STREET concerning its
research program.
The bill does not provide funding for any costs associated with participation in I-STREET. Such costs are
indeterminate and are expected to be absorbed within the existing resources of UF, DOT, and other
participants.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2022.
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DATE: 2/15/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Various centers, institutes, and special programs within the State University System are codified in
Florida Statutes, including the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute at Florida
Polytechnic University,
1
the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of
South Florida,
2
the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida,
3
the Florida Institute for Child Welfare at Florida State University,
4
and the Center for Urban
Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.
5
The University of Florida (UF) College of Engineering’s Transportation Institute aims to advance
transportation, disseminate research results, and provide educational opportunities related to
transportation. The institute is an umbrella organization housing several transportation-related centers.
6
UF’s Transportation Institute, the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the City of Gainesville have
partnered to create the Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of
Emerging Technologies (I-STREET) Living Lab. I-STREET’s principal objective is to make significant
improvements to transportation safety and mobility, utilizing a real-world testbed environment that has
been created on and surrounding the UF campus and the expanding set of diverse technology installed
on Florida segments of the Interstate Highway System.
7
I-STREET has received funding from the
National Science Foundation and through research conducted as part of the United States Department
of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program.
8
I-STREET’s mission and main goals are to:
Facilitate the development and implementation of advanced and emerging technologies to
improve safety and mobility that are suitable for implementation statewide and beyond;
Foster collaboration with industry wishing to develop, test, and implement their own
technologies to improve safety, and mobility; and
Become a recognized national and global leader in the development and implementation of
advanced technologies to improve transportation safety and mobility.
9
I-STREET projects include:
I-75 Florida Regional Advanced Mobility Elements;
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Demonstration;
Gainesville Autonomous Shuttle Evaluation; and
Transportation Mobility Assessment and Recommendations for Smart City Planning.
10
DOT has issued an invitation to transportation industry leaders for participation in the “UF I-STREET
program.” According to DOT:
I-STREET is designed to assist in implementing emerging technologies aimed at safety and
mobility improvements. DOT will develop requests for proposals utilizing the emerging
1
S. 1004.346, F.S.
2
S. 1004.43, F.S.
3
S. 1004.44, F.S.
4
S. 1004.615, F.S.
5
S. 334.065(1), F.S.
6
University of Florida (UF) Transportation Institute, Overview, https://www.transportation.institute.ufl.edu/overview/ (last visited Jan 13,
2022).
7
UF, I-Street Living Lab, https://www.transportation.institute.ufl.edu/i-street-living-lab/ (last visited Feb, 11, 2022).
8
House of Representatives, Appropriations Project Request – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 HB 4285 (2022) p. 5.
9
UF, supra note 7.
10
UF Transportation Institute, Projects, https://www.transportation.institute.ufl.edu/i-street-living-lab/projects/ (last visited Jan. 13,
2022). STORAGE NAME: h1031a.TIE PAGE: 3
DATE: 2/15/2022
technologies and will select vendors through a competitive bidding process. The selected
vendor for each project will deploy technology solutions. UF will conduct before-and-after
evaluations of implemented projects. After evaluation, DOT will consider whether to expand the
successful I-STREET projects elsewhere in the state.
DOT has allocated funding for these innovative projects per fiscal year (FY) from FY 2020-2021
until FY 2024-2025. Each FY, DOT will fund multiple projects based on the projects' merits and
safety and mobility improvement potential. The number of awards will vary depending on the
project type and scope.
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Effect of the Bill
The bill codifies the I-STREET Living Lab within UF. The bill requires I-STREET to, at a minimum:
Conduct and facilitate research on issues related to innovative transportation mobility and safety
technology development and deployment in Florida and serve as an information exchange and
depository for the most current information pertaining to transportation research, education,
workforce development, and related issues.
Be a continuous resource for the Legislature, DOT, local governments, the nation’s metropolitan
regions, and the private sector in the area of transportation and related research.
Promote intercampus transportation and related research activities among Florida universities
to enhance the ability of these universities to attract federal and private sector funding for
transportation and related research.
Provide by July 1, 2023, and each July 1 thereafter, to the Governor, the President of the
Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a comprehensive report that outlines
I-STREET’s clearly defined goals and its efforts and progress on reaching those goals.
The bill creates an advisory board to periodically review and advise I-STREET concerning its research
program. The board must consist of nine members with expertise in transportation-related areas,
including:
A member appointed by the President of the Senate.
A member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee.
The Secretary of Economic Opportunity or his or her designee.
A member of the Florida Transportation Commission.
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Four members nominated by UF’s College of Engineering and approved by UF’s president.
These nominees may include representatives of UF, other academic and research institutions,
or private entities.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2022.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1 Creates s. 334.066, F.S., creating the Implementing Solutions from Transportation
Research and Evaluating Emerging Technologies (I-STREET) Living Lab.
Section 2 Provides an effective date.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
11
Department of Transportation (DOT), UF I-Street, https://www.fdot.gov/traffic/its/projects-deploy/cv/maplocations/uf-testbed.shtm (last
visited Jan. 14, 2022).
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The Florida Transportation Commission is a citizen’s advisory board for the Department of Transportation. STORAGE NAME: h1031a.TIE PAGE: 4
DATE: 2/15/2022
2. Expenditures:
Indeterminate. The costs associated with I-STREET are unknown but are expected to be absorbed
within the existing resources of the UF, DOT, and other potential government sector participants.
The bill does not provide funding for any costs associated with participation.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
Indeterminate. The costs associated with I-STREET are unknown but are expected to be absorbed
within the existing resources of the UF, DOT, and other potential government sector participants.
The bill does not provide funding for any costs associated with participation.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
While the bill does not have a direct fiscal impact on state or local government revenues, appropriations
bill HB 4285 (2022) provides a $3,373,000 appropriation request for I-STREET.
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III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to impact municipal or county governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
This bill does not require or authorize rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
Not applicable.
13
House of Representatives, Appropriations Project Request – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 for HB 4285 (2022) p. 1.