In Florida, local governments are required to develop and adopt comprehensive plans, including a transportation element, to guide overall development. The FDOT districts review these plans to ensure that their transportation planning provisions are consistent with the State Comprehensive Plan and the Florida Transportation Plan. These reviews are coordinated by the districts with Florida's land planning agency, known as the Department of Community Affairs. FDOT is also a key player in the consultation process of developing a statewide strategy for increasing economic opportunities in Florida's rural communities and incorporating those strategies into the transportation planning processes. All such efforts involve coordinating and communicating with non-metropolitan local government officials.
Local jurisdictions hold public hearings to identify and prioritize transportation needs.
Project priorities are established by county commissioners in non-metropolitan areas. Each FDOT district has a liaison who meets with county commissioners and other county officials throughout the year to address transportation project priorities. Through the consultation and review process, local priorities are incorporated into district work programs. FDOT also requires a priority listing from all public transportation entities. These priorities are coordinated with other district priorities and included, as appropriate, into the centrally developed work program.