Section 1

Introduction

The Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serving all of Palm Beach County, Florida. An MPO is a federally mandated agency led by a Governing Board of elected officials, providing a collaborative and unified local voice for setting current and future federally and state-funded transportation investments.

This Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) provides a 25-year planning outlook that leads investment and decision-making today to accomplish the TPA's vision tomorrow. It is a cooperative planning process between partner agencies to create a collective vision with prioritized projects to meet the current and future mobility needs of Palm Beach County and the region. To learn more about the TPA, visit PalmBeachTPA.org/About.

As part of the Miami Urbanized Area, the TPA regularly coordinates with the Broward MPO and Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). These agencies together make up the Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC), which creates a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) every five years to coordinate regional transportation planning for all travel modes.

What is the Vision 2050 LRTP?

For urbanized areas to be eligible for federal and state funds, MPOs must maintain an LRTP covering at least 20 years, updated every five years. The purpose of the LRTP is to encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, operation, and development of a surface transportation system that serves the mobility needs of people and freight, fosters economic growth and development, and takes into consideration resiliency needs while minimizing transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution (23 U.S.C. 134).

The Plan is a collaborative process integrating all modes of transportation and prioritizing investments spanning from today into the year 2050. It must demonstrate fiscal constraint — a balanced budget of project implementation and operating costs against available revenue sources.

Section 2

Context: Today

Palm Beach County is part of the Miami Metropolitan area in South Florida and represents the fourth most populous county in the state. A destination known for its beaches, culture, and outdoor recreation, it continues to grow and diversify, attracting people from the US and countries around the world.

Congestion continues to be an issue that limits efficiency and traffic flow on roads throughout the county. Roadways designed primarily for vehicles pose a hazard for multimodal users, especially the most vulnerable: pedestrians and bicyclists. As the population ages, the transit-dependent age group grows, requiring expanded mobility options. Housing costs continue to rise, adding transportation affordability to the region's challenges.

Transportation System Map Map of Palm Beach County showing the multimodal transportation network. Brightline private intercity rail runs along the Florida East Coast corridor on the eastern coast. Tri-Rail commuter rail connects Palm Beach County to Broward and Miami-Dade along a north-south alignment. Local Palm Tran bus routes (shown in green) provide service throughout the urbanized area east of the urban boundary. The National Highway System (dark blue) includes I-95, Florida's Turnpike, and key US routes. Two airports (Palm Beach International and reliever airports) and the Port of Palm Beach are identified. The urban area boundary separates the denser eastern communities from the western Glades region.

Key Demographics

1.518M
Residents (2022)
758,113
Jobs
9.48M
Annual visitors
47.7%
Minority population
26%
Foreign born
25%
Age 65 or older
13%
Persons with a disability
6%
Households without a vehicle
33.8%
Speak a language other than English
15%
Speak English less than "very well"

Roadway System

3,919
Total centerline road miles
1,286
Miles — Palm Beach County roads
432
Miles — FDOT-owned roads
45
Miles — Florida Turnpike
2,156
Miles — locally owned roads
22.4M
Daily vehicle miles traveled (2022)
26.9 min
Average travel time to work
8.1%
Peak hour heavily congested NHS roads

Traffic Signals

1,070+
Palm Beach County signals
450+
Miles of fiber optic cable
138
City of Boca Raton signals
22
Town of Palm Beach signals

Public Transit

Palm Tran serves the county with 31 routes, 2,920 stops, and 28,500 daily riders. Ridership grew 24% from 2022 to 2023, nearly fully recovering from COVID-19 impacts. The system includes 19 park-and-ride lots and over 600 employees plus 400+ contract paratransit employees. In 2023, Palm Tran provided 7.4 million trips, 858,000 paratransit trips, and 121,000 Go Glades trips.

Tri-Rail commuter rail operates a 73.5-mile service area with 19 stations (6 in Palm Beach County). It has surpassed pre-COVID ridership levels and carries over 15,000 passengers daily. Ten percent of all Tri-Rail riders in Palm Beach County use a scooter or bicycle on their trip.

Brightline private intercity rail serves 2 stations in Palm Beach County, with 6 total stations from Orlando to Miami. Monthly ridership reached 223,117 in April 2024.

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) served 8 million passengers between May 2023 and May 2024, with 15 domestic and international airlines and 200+ daily non-stop arrivals. The Port of Palm Beach is the 4th busiest container port in Florida and 8th in the US, handling 412,000+ cruise passengers annually and supplying 60% of everything consumed in the Bahamas.

Active Transportation Facilities

89 mi
10-ft+ shared use paths
292 mi
8–9 ft paths
9.4 mi
Separated bike lanes
13.1 mi
Buffered bike lanes
258 mi
Designated bike lanes
1,169 mi
Sidewalks

Traffic Safety (2019–2023)

Fatal Crashes Map (2019–2023) County-wide map showing the location of fatal traffic crashes from 2019 to 2023. Triangle markers indicate fatality locations, concentrated heavily along major north-south and east-west arterials throughout the urbanized area, with the densest clusters along US-1, Military Trail, Congress Avenue, and other high-volume, high-speed corridors.
51,056
Total traffic crashes
197
Fatalities
882
Serious injuries
58
Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities annually

Mode Split and Affordability

How Palm Beach County residents travel to work
ModeShare
Drove alone70.3%
Worked from home15.1%
Carpool9.2%
Taxi, motorcycle, other2.5%
Public transportation1.2%
Walked1.2%
Bicycle0.5%

On average, 60% of household income is spent on a combination of housing and transportation — considered affordable only when no more than 45% of combined income is spent (no more than 30% housing, 15% transportation).

Section 2 (continued)

Context: Tomorrow

As the population continues to grow at roughly 12,000 people per year, communities will need to plan ahead to support additional housing and transportation options. Rapidly evolving technologies have the potential to impact future transportation and improve safety as traffic volumes increase and the need for expanded high-capacity transportation options arises.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can provide real-time information to drivers and transportation agencies to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety. Autonomous vehicles can communicate with each other and share data on traffic conditions, accidents, and hazards, using AI to make split-second decisions that reduce likelihood of human error and accidents.

The support for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow, which will help to significantly reduce emissions and improve air quality. Implementation of these technologies will require collaboration, and potential challenges like cybersecurity and infrastructure adaptation will need to be considered.

Population Growth Map 2020–2050 Dot density map of Palm Beach County showing population distribution and growth from 2020 to 2050. Each dot represents 250 persons. Population is concentrated along the eastern urbanized coast, with dots clustered densely in the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens corridors. Growth dots show expansion westward along major corridors. The Glades inset shows the western communities around Lake Okeechobee (Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay), which remain less densely populated.

Population and Growth Projections

1.801M
Palm Beach County people by 2050
4,120
Additional housing units needed per year
6.142M
People in South Florida by 2050
169 days
Above 90°F projected in 2050 (vs. 84 days 1976–2005)

Vehicle Travel Projections (Existing to 2050)

Vehicle travel projections — Palm Beach County and Tri-County Region
MeasureExisting2050% Change
Vehicle Miles Traveled — Palm Beach County33,000,00042,000,000+27%
Vehicle Miles Traveled — Tri-County Region124,000,000157,000,000+27%
Vehicle Hours Traveled — Palm Beach County900,0001,300,000+44%
Vehicle Hours Traveled — Tri-County Region3,600,0006,900,000+92%

Congested Speed Projections

Average congested speeds (miles per hour) — existing vs. 2050
GeographyExisting2050% Change
Palm Beach County37 mph32 mph−12%
Tri-County Region34 mph23 mph−34%

Transit Ridership Projections

25,000+
Additional average weekly Tri-Rail riders 2023–2050
29,000+
Additional average weekly Palm Tran riders 2023–2050
415,000
Projected tri-county unlinked passenger trips by 2050

Climate and Sea Level

By 2040, sea level is projected to rise 10 to 17 inches above the 2000 mean sea level. The consequences include direct physical impacts such as coastal inundation of inland areas, increased frequency of flooding in vulnerable coastal areas, and increased flooding in interior areas due to impairment of the region's stormwater infrastructure.

Scenario Planning

SERPM 9 Network — Scenario Planning Map Map of Palm Beach County showing the Southeast Florida Regional Planning Model version 9 (SERPM9) transportation network used for scenario planning. The full roadway and transit network is displayed in green lines covering the entire county, from the Glades region in the west (Lake Okeechobee area) to the Atlantic coast in the east. The network represents the comprehensive model used to forecast 2050 transportation demand under different growth and technology scenarios.

The TPA 2050 LRTP team modeled three scenarios using SERPM9:

  • Commute scenario: Models a 31% work-from-home rate by 2050 (up from 14% pre-pandemic). Results show that even with higher telecommuting, the reduction in vehicle trips will be small because commute travel represents only 14% of all regional travel.
  • AV/CV Technology — Alternative 1: 50% capacity increase on expressways and 33% on other roadways. Results: 2050 congestion similar to 2019 levels despite continued growth.
  • AV/CV Technology — Alternative 2: 25% capacity increase on expressways and 15% on other roadways. Results: 2050 congestion similar to 2019 levels despite continued growth.

The Transit Desires Plan modeled using FTA STOPS software projects ridership increases with implementation of premium 561 Plan corridors, new express buses, new local routes, improved frequencies, and commuter rail expansion including Tri-Rail VA Hospital extension and Tri-Rail Coastal Link along the Florida East Coast Railroad.

Section 3

Public Participation and Community Priorities

The TPA completed a public opinion survey of 502 randomly-selected registered voters in Palm Beach County to gauge countywide citizen priorities and transportation needs. The purpose was to understand preferences and priorities for the average citizen who may not directly engage with the Palm Beach TPA. A supplemental survey posted on the TPA website gained 186 additional participants. Full survey results and public comments are included in Appendix C.

Top Priorities — Average Citizen (502 respondents)

  1. More housing that is affordable — 26%
  2. Managing the county's growth and development — 11%

Top Priorities — TPA Website Visitors (186 respondents)

  1. Managing the county's growth — 28%
  2. More housing that is affordable — 24%

Highest Transportation System Priorities

  1. Addressing traffic congestion
  2. Expanding service for people who are economically disadvantaged
  3. Improving traffic safety

Future Plans and Services Desired by the Public

  • Invest in emerging technology to reduce the impact that transportation has on the environment and improve air and water quality
  • Make improvements to streets and roads so they are safer and more enjoyable for pedestrians and bicyclists
Section 4

Goals, Objectives, and Performance

Goals and Objectives give direction to the planning and prioritization decisions to reach the Vision. Performance-Based Planning, including the use of federally required Performance Measures, allows the TPA to track the progress towards achieving the Vision with the limited financial resources available in the LRTP.

Goal 1

Safe

The TPA is committed to Vision Zero — the principle that any death or serious injury on a roadway is unacceptable. In 2019, the TPA formally adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan, and fourteen municipalities have also committed to Vision Zero.

  • S.1: Eliminate transportation-related serious injuries and fatalities
  • S.2: Support regional adoption of safety policies and plans
  • S.3: Support emergency management including evacuation and post-disaster recovery
  • S.4: Enhance the safety and security of transit, rail, and multimodal facilities

Federal Performance Measures

  • Fatalities and fatal crash rate
  • Serious injuries and serious injury rate
  • Non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries
  • Palm Tran fixed route and paratransit safety
Goal 2

Efficient

The TPA has shifted from measuring system efficiency by vehicle travel time and roadway congestion to a more people-focused objective that integrates efficiency of all modes and non-motorized users.

  • E.1: Provide more efficient use and operation of the transportation system
  • E.2: Address capacity constraints of the existing system
  • E.3: Improve public transit, micromobility, and transportation service reliability and convenience
  • E.4: Address the economic barrier of automobile ownership with transportation options
  • E.5: Incentivize reduced travel demand during peak periods

Federal Performance Measures

  • Percent of reliable person-miles on the Interstate system
  • Percent of reliable person-miles on the non-Interstate NHS
  • Truck travel time reliability on the Interstate system
Goal 3

Connected

The TPA strives to provide infrastructure that allows citizens to safely, efficiently, and comfortably connect to the places they live, work, play, and learn. The TPA's Complete Streets Design Guidelines encourage separated bicycle facilities and wider sidewalks for non-motorized users of all ages and abilities.

  • C.1: Provide interconnected transportation options for all residents, workers, and visitors
  • C.2: Fill gaps in multimodal transportation facilities
  • C.3: Deploy connected technology to enhance traffic operations
  • C.4: Increase availability of transportation information for trip decision-making
  • C.5: Improve intermodal links that support freight and tourism
Goal 4

Multimodal

The TPA works to provide low-stress transportation options to help reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicle trips, reducing congestion, preserving the environment, and promoting community health. Improving connectivity between freight routes, rail, ports, and distribution centers increases the ability to provide goods inside and outside the region.

  • M.1: Develop a transportation system that improves regional accessibility and mobility for all users, including movement of goods
  • M.2: Accommodate low-stress travel by sustainable modes
  • M.3: Enhance multimodal options in urban centers with persistent congestion
Goal 5

Resilient

The TPA integrates the preservation of Palm Beach County's infrastructure, environment, and quality of life into the planning process. Without significant planning and investment to mitigate climate change impacts, the transportation system will be less secure, poorer quality, and become more costly.

  • R.1: Protect critical infrastructure from future disruptions due to climate impacts
  • R.2: Promote compact, walkable, mixed-use development that encourages a range of transportation options and improved public health
  • R.3: Ensure equity is factored into programming, planning, and design
  • R.4: Reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation system

Federal Performance Measures

  • Interstate and non-Interstate NHS pavement and bridge condition
  • Palm Tran transit assets exceeding useful life
  • Tri-Rail rolling stock exceeding useful life
Section 5

System Performance and Targets

Federal transportation law requires state DOTs and MPOs to implement Transportation Performance Management (TPM) — a strategic approach to making investment and policy decisions to achieve performance goals. TPM uses past performance and forecasted conditions to measure progress toward strategic goals. An interactive dashboard is available at PalmBeachTPA.org/PM. Additional details are in Appendix D.

All Roads Safety Targets (PM1) — Target Year 2024

All Roads Safety (PM1) Performance Targets, Target Year 2024
MeasureTarget
Fatalities0
Rate of Fatalities per 100M VMT0
Serious Injuries0
Rate of Serious Injuries per 100M VMT0
Nonmotorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries0

System Performance and Freight Targets (PM3) — Target Year 2025

System Performance and Freight (PM3) Targets, Target Year 2025
MeasureTarget
Person-miles on the Interstate highway system that are reliable75%
Person-miles on the non-Interstate NHS that are reliable60%
Truck travel time reliability index on the Interstate highway system2.00

Pavement and Bridge Condition Targets (PM2) — Target Year 2025

Pavement and Bridge Condition (PM2) Targets, Target Year 2025
MeasureTarget
NHS bridges in Good Condition (by deck area)50%
NHS bridges in Poor Condition (by deck area)5%
Interstate pavements in Good Condition60%
Interstate pavements in Poor Condition5%
Non-Interstate NHS pavements in Good Condition40%
Non-Interstate NHS pavements in Poor Condition5%

Transit Safety Performance Targets — Target Year 2025

Palm Tran Transit Safety Performance Targets, Target Year 2025
MeasureFixed Route BusParatransit
Number of Fatalities00
Fatality Rate per 100k VRM00
Number of Injuries6334
Injury Rate per 100k VRM0.90.4
Number of Safety Events4332
Safety Event Rate per 100k VRM0.60.3
Mean distance between mechanical failures7,700 mi14,000 mi

Transit Asset Management Targets (select)

Palm Tran Transit Asset Management Targets — percentage of assets meeting or exceeding useful life
Asset TypeTarget
Vehicles — Articulated Bus≤10%
Vehicles — Fixed Route Bus≤10%
Vehicles — Paratransit Bus≤10%
Vehicles — Paratransit Van≤0%
Equipment — Automobiles≤20%
Equipment — Trucks≤20%
Facilities≤0%

South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA/Tri-Rail) targets include rolling stock at ≤25% exceeding useful life, support vehicles at ≤56%, passenger terminals and maintenance facilities at ≤5% below 2.5 on a 5-point scale, and rail fixed-guideway track performance restrictions at ≤3.5%.

Section 6

Transportation Planning Process

The LRTP coordinates local and regional transportation priorities by prioritizing funding for projects. It creates the fiscally constrained gameplan to implement projects from 2025 out to 2050.

Framework for Performance Based Planning and Programming Circular diagram showing the continuous planning cycle: Planning phase (Strategic Direction → Goals and Objectives → Performance Measures → Identity Trends and Targets → Identity Strategies and Analyze Alternatives → Develop Investment Priorities) feeds into Programming phase (Investment Plan → Resource Allocation → Program of Projects) which feeds into Implementation and Evaluation phase (Monitoring → Evaluation → Reporting), which connects back to Planning. Data and public involvement flow throughout the entire cycle.
  1. Identify a Current or Future Need

    Multimodal needs originate from: LRTP Needs Analysis; Citizen and Stakeholder Ideas; Mobility or Safety Studies; Local Capital Improvement Plans; and Walk Bike Safety Audits. Consideration is given to alignment with goals, transportation facility owner, community support, competing needs, and high-level social and environmental impacts.

  2. Study Options and Find a Solution

    Once needs are established, studies are undertaken through a Feasibility Study or Project Development and Environment Study (PD&E). Studies address social and environmental impacts, right-of-way acquisition, cost, construction responsibility, community support, facility owner support, and ongoing operations and maintenance responsibility.

  3. TPA Support and Determining a Funding Source

    Once a proposed solution is established, the TPA determines eligible federal and state funding — through direct TPA prioritization or through discretionary grants. If a need does not align with the TPA's vision, or if project scope is not well defined, the TPA may keep the project as a "Local Desire," meaning the TPA does not support pursuit of federal or state funding.

  4. Programming Projects in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

    The TIP is the current five-year programming of federal and state funds. Project phases that are supported by the TPA (adopted into the LRTP) begin to be programmed into the TIP annually. Programming depends on available funding and the production schedule of the project.

Guiding Plans and Legislation

Federal

  • Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), 2021
  • FHWA and FTA Planning Emphasis Areas, 2021

State

  • FDOT Planning Emphasis Areas, 2021
  • Florida Transportation Plan (FTP)
  • Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Policy Plan
  • Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
  • Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
  • Transportation Asset Management Plan, 2022

Regional

  • 2045 Southeast Florida Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
  • Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Action Plan
  • Tri-Rail Transit Asset Management Plan

Local

  • Palm Beach County and local municipalities Comprehensive Plans
  • Palm Tran Transit Development Plan (TDP)
  • Palm Tran Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
  • Palm Tran Transit Asset Management Plan
Section 7

Multimodal Needs

The transportation system in Palm Beach County has been predominantly developed for the motor vehicle. However, the system must account for all users — whether retrieving goods through delivery services, providing safe routes to school, or creating a business environment for all to succeed.

An assessment of multimodal needs was conducted as part of the LRTP process, drawing from analysis conducted in the LRTP process, studies completed by the TPA or partner agencies, and general public and partner agency input. The following outlines existing conditions, current usage, and projects needed to achieve transportation goals by 2050. Additional information is in Appendix B and the detailed Multimodal Needs Report in Appendix E.

Multimodal Needs Categories

Active Transportation
Transit
Road Capacity
Freight
Electric and Alternative Fuel
Emerging Technology and Intelligent Transportation
Operations and Maintenance
Resilience

Active Transportation

Active Transportation is the use of the transportation system by any mode where the user transports by their own power — historically walking, cycling, or a similar wheeled device. The increase of micromobility devices such as electrified bikes, scooters, and skateboards have begun to transform the affordability and utility of active transportation, allowing people to travel further with limited exertion.

Palm Beach County's active transportation network is limited and needs improvement to be future-ready. Access to destinations by safe, comfortable, and convenient active transportation modes encourages more people to travel by means other than driving alone.

Low-stress is defined as a place where the intended design user is able to comfortably and conveniently access destinations, regardless of skill, ability, or demographic background. Projects identified in the Vision 2050 plan must provide low-stress facilities to accommodate a wide range of users, with additional attention to intersections, traffic control, clear paths, and reduced conflict points.

Level of Traffic Stress (LTS)

LTS scoring is based on roadway separation from vehicles, traffic volumes, number of lanes, and speed limits. Lower LTS scores indicate higher comfort and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

  • LTS 1: Further separation from vehicles, lower traffic volumes, fewer lanes, lower speed limits — highest comfort
  • LTS 2–3: Intermediate levels — moderate comfort
  • LTS 4: Less separation, higher volumes, more lanes, higher speeds — lowest comfort for active users

Low-stress streets are designed with adaptability for evolving micromobility forms, incorporating protected bike lanes, wide sidewalks, traffic calming measures, and clearly defined spaces for different speed users. As cities adapt to electric-powered micromobility, autonomous personal vehicles, and hybrid forms of transportation, low-stress streets will remain the foundation for future-proof urban design. For detailed LTS scoring tables by facility type, speed limit, and volume, see Appendix E.

Emerging Technology and Intelligent Transportation Systems

ITS improvements addressing congestion and travel time reliability are prioritized for the National Highway System, Emergency Evacuation Routes, major transit corridors, and other routes identified in the FDOT District 4 TSM&O Master Plan. The Five-Year TIP has programmed intersection hardening and signal upgrades for Boca Raton and Palm Beach County, Okeechobee Blvd smart traffic systems from I-95 into downtown West Palm Beach, and Transit Signal Priority along US-1, Okeechobee Blvd, and Lake Worth Rd.

Road Capacity

Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) roadway widenings with managed lanes on I-95 are currently under construction and will continue to be built out to 2050. The County will widen and extend thoroughfares identified in the Thoroughfare Right of Way Identification Map, paid for predominantly with local funding including gas taxes and impact fees.

Freight

The SIS facilities being expanded are major freight routes. Additional freight corridors will be further studied in the coming years, including a US-27 connector bypass in the Glades Region and freight rail capacity expansion along US-27 — a collaborative study prioritized by all Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC) partners.

Electric and Alternative Fuel

The federal government has provided funding to substantially advance alternative fuel investment. Key priority fuel corridors are designated for implementation. Although not specifically referenced as line-item projects within the Cost Feasible Plan, the TPA supports the implementation of these corridors and will seek to add projects to the LRTP once specifically identified.

Resilience

FDOT continues to identify and integrate resilience and adaptation strategies through planning for the transportation system, project development, and operation and maintenance of FDOT facilities. The FDOT Resilience Action Plan provides an initial framework for studying state roads and bridges at risk of flooding. Specific projects from the plan are included in the LRTP project lists. Examples of adaptation approaches include stormwater and drainage improvements, roadway elevation, and stabilization. Traffic signal hardening is programmed for both Palm Beach County and Boca Raton.

Section 8

Financial Resources

Federal and state law require the LRTP to include a financial plan that indicates how projects will be built using reasonably expected available revenues. The federal and state revenue projections are consistent with FDOT's 2050 Revenue Forecast Handbook. Local funding sources are included for informational purposes. A full breakdown of funding projections is provided in Appendix H.

Federal Funding

Federal funds are dependent on transportation legislation passed by Congress. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, 2021) is estimated to allocate approximately $13.5 billion to the State of Florida over fiscal years 2022 through 2026. Federal funding is collected primarily through federal fuel taxes and truck-related taxes on tires, sales of vehicles, and heavy vehicle use. The following federal funding sources were considered: TPA Program Estimates, Discretionary Programs, FDOT Program Estimates, and FDOT Operations and Maintenance.

State Funding

State Transportation Trust Fund revenue sources include: State Highway Motor Fuel Taxes; Motor Vehicle License Related Fees; Tourism-Based Taxes (Rental Car Surcharges); and Documentary Stamp Taxes. As the state transitions to alternative fuel sources and EVs, revenue from fuel taxes will likely diminish over time.

Local Funding

Local funding sources include: Gas Taxes; General Fund; and Impact Fees. Local funds were projected based on historic trends and documents obtained from local governments and agencies related to budgeting, impact fees, and other local taxes.

SIS and Turnpike Funds

Projected SIS revenues are based on specific projects in the FDOT Strategic Intermodal System Long Range Cost Feasible Plan, FY 2035 to 2050. Turnpike funds are based on the Turnpike's Major Project List for Palm Beach County, including widening projects north of Atlantic Ave/SR-806 to Boynton Beach Blvd/SR-804 and the interchange improvement at Glades Road/SR-808.

TPA Program Funding Projections (in millions)

TPA Program Estimates — select categories (in millions of dollars)
Program FY 25–29 FY 30–35 FY 36–40 FY 41–50 FY 30–50 Total
Surface Transportation Block Grant — Urbanized Area (SU)$120.01M$111.07M$92.21M$184.41M$387.69M
Transportation Alternatives — Urbanized (TALU)$15.60M$20.20M$16.84M$33.69M$70.73M
Transportation Alternatives — Any Area (TALT)$30.24M$36.85M$30.75M$61.50M$129.10M
State Highway System (Non-SIS)$162.97M$67.79M$60.49M$123.14M$251.42M
TPA Program Total$314.62M$227.44M$194.09M$390.80M$812.33M

FDOT Operations and Maintenance (in millions)

FDOT District SHS Operations and Maintenance — Palm Beach County estimated allocation (in millions)
CategoryFY 25–29FY 30–35FY 36–40FY 41–50Total
District SHS Resurfacing, Bridge, and O&M — Palm Beach County estimated allocation$625.33M$662.26M$561.88M$1,142.06M$2,366.20M
SIS/Turnpike$2,214.70M$690.73M$1,308.86M$621.50M$2,621.09M

State and regional discretionary programs including State New Starts (statewide total $1,254.91M over FY 30–50), Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail ($525.00M), Transportation Regional Incentive Program ($201.17M), and Highway Safety Improvement Program ($383.09M) are included. Detailed projections per program are available in the full financial resources report (Appendix H).

Section 9

Cost Feasible Plan & TPA Priorities

Vision 2050 is required to include a financial plan that establishes "Cost Feasible" transportation priorities — those projects that can reasonably be expected to be completed based on available revenues through the horizon year of 2050. This Cost Feasible Plan reflects the TPA's priorities for expenditures of federal and state funds in Palm Beach County.

Additional transportation priorities that are supported by the TPA but cannot be completed based on available financial resources may be included for "Illustrative" purposes. Those that are fully planned and supported may require discretionary funding to advance to implementation.

Programming Time Bands

  • FY 25–29 (the TPA's currently adopted Transportation Improvement Program)
  • FY 30–35
  • FY 36–40
  • FY 41–50

Financial Summary

Cost Feasible TPA Table Summary (in thousands)
CategoryFY 25–29FY 30–35FY 36–40FY 41–50TotalUnfunded (incl. Illustrative)
TPA Revenues$434,499$244,230$208,080$418,770$1,305,579—
TPA Prioritized Expenditures$410,062$162,333$148,734$298,030$1,019,158$5,178,304
TA Set-Aside$24,437$33,674$28,080$5,616$91,807—
Balance—$48,223$31,266$115,124$194,614—
Cost Feasible SIS Table Summary (in thousands)
CategoryFY 25–29FY 30–35FY 36–40FY 41–50TotalUnfunded (incl. Illustrative)
FDOT Expenditures$433,384$282,509$286,143$2,847,432$3,849,468$10,055,690
Turnpike Expenditures$1,195,700$745,041$—$—$1,940,741$4,007

Project Tables

The following tables contain the full project-level detail for each funding category with LRTP reference numbers, FM numbers, project descriptions, and costs broken down by phase (PDE, PE, ROW, CST) and time band. All costs are in thousands of dollars.

TPA Priorities — Cost Feasible

197

Projects supported for federal and state funding within available revenues through 2050.

View accessible HTML table ↗

TPA Priorities — Illustrative

92

TPA-supported projects aligned with Goals and Objectives but without cost-feasible funding available.

View accessible HTML table ↗

Maintenance Projects

33

Ongoing operations and maintenance, including larger-scale maintenance funded by federal and state sources.

View accessible HTML table ↗

Airports & Seaports

104

Projects carried out by seaport and airport partner agencies, supported by the TPA for discretionary grants.

View accessible HTML table ↗
Section 10

Implementation Plan

Implementing transportation projects through 2050 must focus on creating adaptable, multimodal systems that enhance safety for non-motorists while providing flexible options for all travelers. The rapid growth of micromobility — e-scooters, e-bikes, alongside traditional walking and bicycling — calls for an infrastructure that prioritizes safety above all other priorities. Protected bike lanes, pedestrian-focused street design, and smart intersections are crucial to reducing conflicts between motorists and vulnerable road users.

The future of transportation also hinges on coordinated efforts to provide a range of travel options that reduce congestion while maintaining personal choice. Simply expanding roadways is not a sustainable solution to congestion; instead, robust public transit systems must evolve to offer viable alternatives — high-frequency bus routes, light rail, and innovative solutions like autonomous shuttles and smart transit systems that dynamically adjust to rider demand.

The Vision 2050 LRTP serves as the guiding document and pipeline for implementing the 5-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Each year, projects are vetted for inclusion in the List of Priority Projects (LOPP), formally reviewed by advisory committees and approved by the Governing Board.

Project Readiness Criteria

Projects make it into the LOPP based on alignment with LRTP Goals and Objectives and "project readiness," which includes:

  • Agency constructing the project
  • Facility owner support
  • Engineering-level cost estimate
  • Funding for ongoing operations and maintenance
  • Community support

Getting Projects Built with TPA Funding

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program annually prioritizes smaller-scale non-motorized projects submitted by local agencies. These minor projects typically last 3–5 years from project submittal to final construction. For example, a stormwater project could seek funding through the TPA to expand sidewalks, bike lanes, or shared-use paths, saving communities from mobilizing traffic construction operations twice while combining capital projects.

Major transformative projects — such as lane repurposing, major capacity increases, and complete streets — are facilitated through major initiatives with multiple project partners. These generally have at least a 5-year timeframe for implementation and are identified as line-item projects within the LRTP.

Getting Projects Built with Discretionary Funding

Projects in the Cost Feasible Plan and Illustrative List are supported by the TPA for both federal and state discretionary funding. Federal grant information is available at transportation.gov/grants. In addition to discretionary grants listed in this LRTP, millions of dollars are available through competitive state and federal transportation grants.

Active Transportation — Corridor Based Implementation

The TPA has identified three tiers of priority for the Federal Aid Eligible Roadway Network for people walking and bicycling. Tier 1 projects may be suitable for major project funding and typically involve multiple partners, such as FDOT and a city, or the County and many partners.

TPA resources for implementing active transportation and complete streets include:

Policy Resources

  • Complete Streets Model Policy — identifies the context and appropriate steps for addressing street improvements and complementary land use and transportation
  • Complete Streets Design Guidelines — identifies appropriate transportation systems based on surrounding context
  • Vision Zero — resources for implementing Vision Zero areas including policy, media information, crash data, and action plan development

Funding Resources

  • TPA funding programs — approximately $50M annually distributed through the Priority Projects List
  • Funding program reviews — TPA staff frequently discuss available funding with FDOT, federal, and private partners
  • Support letters — TPA documents support for projects pursuing federal and state funding

Technical Resources

  • Roadway Safety Audits — the TPA facilitates walking and bicycling safety audits to identify capital projects
  • Planning support — TPA provides planning support for project concept development on the Federal Aid Eligible network
  • Public engagement — TPA assistance with safety materials and information at events held by partner agencies

Transit — Long Term Implementation

Vision 2050 builds upon the initial 561 vision from the 2045 Plan. With implementation of just a few corridors and minor implementation projects, transit ridership grew by at least 25% on corridors — equating to thousands of new daily riders across the Palm Tran system. Express train pilots by SFRTA Tri-Rail have brought over 200 daily riders on an express train to Miami Intermodal Center from the region daily.

The existing 561 network serves 1,179,120 people and 725,650 jobs. Short-term implementation steps to build ridership on the core 561 network include:

  • Improve bus frequency on high ridership fixed routes or congested corridors through dedicated funding
  • Construct new and replace old transit shelters
  • Implement transit signal priority and queue jumps
  • Connect express bus services for longer distance commuters to existing local routes
  • Pilot Mobility-On-Demand zones along lower ridership routes and reinvest savings into nearby higher-performing fixed routes
  • Begin implementation of dedicated space for buses or trains on key corridors
  • Connect transit services across county boundaries to move the region
  • Begin implementation of contextually appropriate Transportation Demand Management

Long-term implementation envisions new regional commuter rail on the Florida East Coast Railway, Light Rail, Streetcar, Express Bus, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and countywide BRT lite services connecting residents to jobs, services, and recreational areas.

Supporting Documents

Appendices

The following appendices accompany the Vision 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan. The project data tables from Appendices B, E, F, and J are available as accessible HTML in the companion Vision 2050 Project Data Tables file. All other appendices are available in the full adopted plan document at PalmBeachTPA.org.

  • Appendix A — LRTP Checklist
  • Appendix B — Existing Conditions
  • Appendix C — Public Involvement (including PIP, Survey and Involvement Summary)
  • Appendix D — Goals and Objectives, Performance Measures, and Targets
  • Appendix E — Multimodal Needs Development
  • Appendix F — Call for Projects
  • Appendix G — Scenario Development
  • Appendix H — Financial Resources
  • Appendix I — Revenue Forecast Handbook
  • Appendix J — Archived Project Records
  • Appendix K — Other Local Projects Submitted during the Call for Projects
  • Appendix L — Environmental Review and Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM)