STUART — The Martin County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Oct. 27 received an update from Florida Department of Transportation officials on progress within the current five-year work program, which wraps up next year, and voted unanimously to approve FDOT’s Draft Tentative Work Program for 2027–2031.
MPO Administrator Beth Beltrand opened the discussion by recognizing District 4 Secretary Steve Braun and his staff for their continued collaboration.
“We are fortunate to have District 4 Secretary Steve Braun here with staff that are wonderful to work with,” she said. “They have done so much to support us and the MPO’s priorities.”
Braun thanked the board in return, noting his early career was shaped by major projects in the region.
“As some of you know, I cut my teeth on several key projects in this region,” he said. “It’s always great coming here and bringing back memories of collaboration over the years.”
FDOT overview
Braun provided an overview of FDOT’s responsibilities statewide and within District 4, which includes Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.
Statewide, FDOT oversees 12,000 lane miles, four commercial airports, and the three largest cruise ports in the world. Its 10,000-plus active contracts total $19 billion, generating about $47 million in daily economic output.
District 4 alone includes four million residents, 783 bridges, more than 6,000 lane miles, 92 airports and three deep-water ports.
Draft 2027–2031 Work Plan
Braun outlined the district’s proposed five-year, $5.7 billion work program. Population growth projections — 41 percent in St. Lucie County, 27 percent in Indian River County and 19 percent in Palm Beach County by 2050 — are driving many of the improvements.
The proposed allocations include:
• $126 million for safety enhancements
• $507.4 million for resurfacing
• $162.8 million for bridge repair and replacement
• $2.4 billion for roadway improvements
• $125.8 million for right-of-way acquisition
• $815.6 million for consultant support
• $846.6 million for operations and maintenance
• $784.9 million for transit and other modal programs
Current and Recent Projects
Much of the 2022–2026 work program focuses on State Road 714 (Martin Highway) and State Road 710, two of the MPO’s highest priorities.
Braun thanked residents for their patience through the SR 714 capacity improvements, which added lanes, bike facilities and sidewalks, and included widening the Turnpike bridge.
He acknowledged that funding for SR 710 has taken longer, despite a history of fatal crashes on the corridor. FDOT recently added a turn lane at Tommy Clemmons Street to enhance safety until full construction is funded.
How the process works
District Planning & Environmental Administrator Cesar Martinez explained that the draft program was developed with MPO staff over the past three months and will now move on to the central office, governor’s office, the Federal Transportation Commission and the Department of Commerce. The final work program must be approved by July 1.
Top priorities
Martinez reviewed the MPO’s 18 priorities, beginning with the long-planned SR 710 improvements.
The design phase for the full corridor between Okeechobee County and Allapattah Road is underway at $10.7 million. Right-of-way acquisition begins in 2027 at $21 million.
• Segment A, from the Martin County line to 126th Boulevard, is fully funded, with construction scheduled for 2030.
• CR 714 realignment, at $6.9 million, is planned for 2029.
• Segment D, from Van Buren to Allapattah Road, is funded for FY 2030 construction at $17.2 million.
• Segments B and C, between Allapattah Road and the FPL power plant area, are new additions this year, totaling nearly $300 million.
• Segments A and E, covering realignments extending into Okeechobee County, are funded in FY 2029 and FY 2030.
During discussion, Commissioner Stacey Hetherington urged FDOT to install a traffic signal at SR 710 and Allapattah Road, calling it one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Martinez said FDOT is analyzing the request but has not reached a determination.
Other priorities include:
• Cove Road widening, from Kanner Highway to U.S. 1 — PD&E is complete; the $4.6 million design phase is funded, and additional right-of-way funds are programmed for FY 2027.
• Bridge Road bridge replacement — determined not immediately necessary.
• Unfunded projects, including Commerce Avenue resurfacing; complete street upgrades on Southwest Palm City Road; a mid-block pedestrian crossing on East Ocean Boulevard; resurfacing on Southeast Pomeroy, Southwest Citrus Boulevard and Southwest Allapattah Road; a resiliency project on North Sewall’s Point Road; and a southbound right-turn lane from Kanner Highway onto South River Drive.
• High Meadow Avenue widening — PD&E was completed last month; design has begun at $2.3 million, and $1.5 million in right-of-way funding was added this cycle.
Final approval
Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard thanked FDOT for accelerating the SR 710 widening.
“We recognize that a great deal of funding was reallocated in District 4 for the 710 widening, and we are eternally grateful,” she said.
The MPO then voted unanimously to approve the 2027–2031 Draft Tentative Work Program.