Fla. Stat. § 334.066 — Florida Code / Title XXVI / Chapter 334 / Section 334.066
334.066 Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluating Emerging Technologies Living Lab.
Status: in_force

(1) The Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluating Emerging Technologies Living Lab (I-STREET) is established within the University of Florida.

(2) At a minimum, I-STREET shall: (a) Conduct and facilitate research on issues related to innovative transportation mobility and safety technology development and deployment in this state and serve as an information exchange and depository for the most current information pertaining to transportation research, education, workforce development, and related issues. (b) Be a continuing resource for the Legislature, the department, local governments, the nation’s metropolitan regions, and the private sector in the area of transportation and related research. (c) 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. (d) Provide by July 1, 2024, 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 its clearly defined goals and its efforts and progress on reaching those goals.

(3) An advisory board shall be created to periodically review and advise I-STREET concerning its research program. The board shall consist of nine members with expertise in transportation-related areas, as follows: (a) A member appointed by the President of the Senate. (b) A member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (c) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee. (d) The Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee. (e) A member of the Florida Transportation Commission. (f) Four members nominated by the University of Florida’s College of Engineering and approved by the university’s president. The College of Engineering’s nominees may include representatives of the University of Florida, other academic and research institutions, or private entities.

(4) By January 1, 2025, I-STREET must deliver a comprehensive report on technology and training improvements to better support persons with disabilities using paratransit services, including services administered by the federal, state, or local government, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the department. The report must, at a minimum, include recommendations on technology improvements for paratransit providers serving persons with disabilities, including through local, state, and federal funding sources. At a minimum, the report shall include a review of and recommendations on: (a) Technology systems to ensure the safety of individuals, including the use of in-cabin camera systems and other technologies to monitor the safety and well-being of individuals using fixed routes. (b) Best practices for data retention, including protection of personally identifiable information, length of retention, and location of retained files. (c) State-of-the-industry on hardware and software, including camera providers, product specifications, and human-machine interfaces. (d) Safety standards of professional engineering organizations on camera-mounting best practices. (e) Costs of installation and maintenance of camera systems to paratransit providers. (f) The use of Internet, mobile, and application-based interfaces to book, monitor, and seek transportation services. The review must also consider accessibility needs. (g) The use of Internet, mobile, and application-based interfaces to track the location, in real time, of an individual using paratransit services.

History: s. 6, ch. 2023-197; s. 101, ch. 2024-6; s. 6, ch. 2024-171.