The TEAMFL Transportation Strategies 2021 took place at the Grand Hyatt, in Tampa Bay and it was an amazing opportunity for reuniting people from the Transportation industry, an important pillar in the economy in Florida.
The face-to-face networking was back and the business environment simply returned as usual as everybody was expecting.
The attendees were looking for updates on budgets and projects, ways to reconnect and be part of the recovery moment in the State of Florida. Panelists shared lists of current and future projects, particularly FDOT, Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority THEA, Lee County. Also, specialists explained through numbers the real impact on the roads during the peak of the Pandemic in the State of Florida. Studies show the maximum impact that happened in April of 2020 showed a 54% decrease in traffic. After a year, in April 2021 the decreasing rate reaches zero. Florida was back on track. The US is facing the K-shaped recovery, meaning that different sectors recover at different times, rates and intensities. It was exactly what happened with Delivery Services started compensating other categories which were negative yet, such as Work Commute, Shopping, Tourism, and School. Business Delivery decreased 10% in April 2020, and it took three months to start recovering. Meanwhile, Work Commute showed a decrease of 38% and it took more time to start recovering. Trucks represent 5% of the volume on the road and 18% of revenue.
As expected, the difficulties for working with forecasts in times never lived before were evident.
The specialists in the sector analyzed roads weekly to understand where the flow took place to conclude what was going on and its reason.
The TEAMFL also included on its agenda the comments about the activities for Transportation in Florida Senate.
All of the content, budget updates, projects and opportunities, the current status of Autonomous Vehicle testing helped give evidence of the hard work corresponding to a full recovery.
People are living better with a feeling of relief. The evidence showed the worst stayed in the past.
The full recovery is coming and there are opportunities. The goal now is to keep moving to make Transportation in Florida even better.
Author: Degoncir Goncalves
Source: TEAMFL Transportation Strategies 2021.