The Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority (NFTCA) is legislatively charged with planning and developing transportation improvements to relieve congestion on the US98 Corridor throughout Northwest Florida, including not only the east-west corridor, but also north- south reliever routes from US 98 to Interstate 10.

On January 5, 2012, the Authority approved the preparation of a major update to the NFTCA Master Plan originally developed in 2007. 

This Update will focus the master planning process on extensive outreach to and participation by stakeholders throughout the region.  Transportation planning agencies and bodies, elected and appointed officials, resource agencies, and the general public will be included in the process.  The Update will be prepared in coordination with the most recently adopted Long Range Transportation Plans of the local Transportation Planning Organizations (TPOs).  Prior to updating the Master Plan, the Authority will conduct a business case analysis, which will involve a series of steps aimed at identifying the social and economic challenges of the region and an assessment of how those challenges can be met through investments in transportation infrastructure.  The analysis will result in a unified strategy for the region and a transportation investment approach that can be used to update the Master Plan.

Preparation of the Master Plan and Business Case Analysis will begin immediately and will involve immediate outreach to stakeholders to assure involvement throughout development of the updated master plan.  Kickoff presentations are being conducted with stakeholders in coming weeks, and a series of workshops will be held over the next six months for developing the business case analysis.

Local officials from cities and counties throughout the coastal counties along which US98 traverses, as well as the Florida-Alabama, Okaloosa –Walton, and Bay County Transportation Planning Organizations and the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency will be included.

The purpose of the major update and extensive outreach is to reassess the needs of the region, promote transparency in the process and enable buy in from major stakeholders.
 The NFTCA is seeking to foster economic development in Northwest Florida through strategic transportation investments.  To this end, the Authority’s Master Plan is being refocused to identify a business case for transportation infrastructure to be developed cooperatively with state, regional, and local agencies.

For additional information on the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority, please visit http://www.nwftca.com.  You may post comments and questions for immediate follow-up.

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