For former Florida Senator Jeff Brandes, transportation has been a consistent focus in both his legislative work and personal endeavors. 

Last month, the Center for Urban Transportation Research announced that Brandes will be inducted into Florida’s Transportation Hall of Fame during the 2026 CUTR Transportation Achievement Awards. The event, scheduled for November, will take place at the University of South Florida’s Marshall Student Center in Tampa. 

“It’s a recognition that the community of Florida is now a leader in the country in mobility and we’ll play an important role in the conversation going forward,” Brandes said. “I’m honored to have played some small part in the discussions at least on the policy front.” 

Prior to Brandes’ legislative career, he was a military transportation officer, and served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996 to 2007. Between 2003 and 2004, Brandes was stationed in Iraq. Tasked with moving personnel, equipment and supplies, he developed a firsthand understanding of transportation’s importance to public safety. 

Brandes would serve 12 years in the Florida legislature, representing areas in Pinellas County. He spent time in both the state House of Representatives and Senate. 

In 2012, Brandes sponsored legislation that made Florida one of the first states to permit autonomous vehicle testing on public roads.

He argued that autonomous driving is “the single largest fundamental shift that we will be able to see in the transportation space.” Many modern cars have some sort of lane assistance feature. This is only a start. 

“Now, we have a number of companies that are either testing or deploying including Waymo, Tesla (Cybercab) and Zoox,” Brandes said. “The regulatory system in California was incredibly restrictive. I think Florida showed that you can responsibly deploy these vehicles without California-type regulations.” 

Additionally, he helped the state government develop a regulatory framework for ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft.  

“It was a four year battle that required us to rethink what was previously taxi and limo law,” Brandes explained. “Before, it was county by county and frankly, city by city. There were certain vehicles that weren’t allowed in certain cities. In fact, the public transportation commission in Hillsborough County issued fines to Uber and Lyft drivers who were dropping off and picking up from the airport early on.” 

He emphasized that rideshare services can help save lives and the “model is expanding and growing.” 

One of the biggest challenges throughout Brandes’ career has been “fighting legacy ideas.” To exemplify, he explained that it was mainly the taxi and limo companies that were opposed to rideshare options. They “saw this changing business model and were threatened.” 

Brandes argued that in the future, people “are going to have radically more choices” at a variety of price points. Currently, transportation “probably costs $1 to $1.25 a mile if you have a personal vehicle.” Brandes hopes that new technologies can help decrease that cost to 25 cents per mile. 

The impact can extend beyond people. These innovations can also play a critical role in the transportation of goods. “We’ll be able to get better products and fresher products at a lower price point,” he said. “That is revolutionary.” 

After leaving the Florida legislature, Brandes created the Florida Policy Project. According to the nonpartisan research organization’s website, the think tank “brings together leaders, researchers, innovators and communities to advance practical, evidence-based solutions for the state’s biggest challenges.” 

He believes that Florida should be “a best practice-focused state.” It is important for governments to “focus on those systems that maximize your options.” Municipalities shouldn’t “stick to a static choice” that doesn’t allow for innovation and growth. 

“Senator Jeff Brandes has been one of Florida’s most visionary transportation leaders,” said CUTR Advisory Board member Ram Kancharla in a prepared statement. “His willingness to embrace innovation, challenge conventional thinking and champion emerging technologies has transformed the way we approach mobility in our state. His leadership has left a lasting legacy, making him truly deserving of this recognition.”