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What makes up Southeast Florida’s landscape

Southeast Florida is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States with over six million people. Known as the “Gateway to the Americas,” the region is ideally located for importing and exporting. Its tropical climate and location make it a major tourist destination, drawing visitors from around the world. 

  • Southeast Florida is a national leader in trade and tourism. It is home to three international airports (Miami, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood, and Palm Beach) and seaports (PortMiami, Port Everglades, and Port of Palm Beach). All are major centers and significant economic engines for the region.


    Southeast Florida’s location makes it a prime destination for tourism, conventions, national events, and other travel. From Major League Baseball spring training in Palm Beach County to Miami Beach’s Art Basel, which brings tens of thousands of art lovers every year, Southeast Florida hosts a broad array of cultural events of local, national, and international significance.


    On average, more than 99.6 million passengers arrived via Southeast Florida’s main airports in 2024 alone. With a record-breaking 142.9 million visitors in 2024, Florida continues to be a top destination for travelers from all over the world. This is a 1.6% increase over the previous year.¹

    Close to 30 percent of all US exports to Central and South America pass through Southeast Florida, making our freight routes and ports crucial elements of our transportation system.² 

  • Southeast Florida is home to over sixteen universities and colleges, including but not limited to Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and the University of Miami. The region also has three community colleges: Broward College, Miami-Dade College, and Palm Beach State College. These institutions attract students from all around the country and the world.

     

    Our region contains the fourth (Miami-Dade County), sixth (Broward County) and tenth (Palm Beach County) largest public school districts in the United States.³ Many private/charter schools exist throughout the region as well.

  • The financial sector in Southeast Florida contributes approximately $51.1 billion to the region's gross domestic product, and Miami is the seventh largest financial hub in the U.S. As the gateway to Latin America, the region has the nation’s highest concentration of international banks, with more than 60 multinational banks and numerous private equity and hedge fund organizations. Southeast Florida’s financial industry has maintained positive growth even in the face of economic downturns.⁴ ⁵

  • The Southeast Florida Region is home to a mix of environmental and natural resources not found anywhere else in the world. Perhaps best known are the Florida Everglades, which are the native habitat of rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida Panther.⁶

     

    Southeast Florida’s beaches are also known worldwide and draw tourists and residents alike. They also provide valuable natural habitat for sea turtles and shore birds. 

     

    Other environmental resources include Biscayne Bay, the Lake Worth Lagoon, and Lake Okeechobee. As we continue to develop our transportation system, it is important that we protect these important resources and ensure they are accessible for future generations to appreciate.

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    SE FL by the Numbers-07.png

Who lives here and where do they work

Southeast Florida’s population is forecasted to increase by 22% by 2050. Although the median age is around 43, there are high proportions of youth throughout the region. With K–8 enrollment expected to grow by 13% and grade 9–12 enrollment by 12%, more families with children are expected to make Southeast Florida their home in coming years. College enrollment is expected to rise even more rapidly than the overall population, at 24%.

 
One in four residents will be over 65 by 2050 according to projections, with the largest clusters of older adults in central and western Palm Beach County and coastal retirement enclaves from Delray Beach to Aventura. 


Employment will rise 23% by 2050, concentrated in downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, airport logistics zones, and the seaports that anchor the region’s global trade.


The regional median household income is about $44,900, but disparities are stark: coastal and downtown areas often exceed $90,000, while many inland neighborhoods sit below $35,000. Investments in mobility such as frequent bus service, fare integration, and safe multimodal routes are critical for the 42% of households classified as low to moderate income.

How people travel today

The region’s transportation system is auto-oriented and close to reaching capacity. Congestion-induced delays are no longer limited to morning and afternoon rush hours but extend throughout the day. Simultaneously, we are running out of room to build more roads. The future of our region depends on managing congestion by developing and encouraging use of infrastructure that supports other transportation modes. 


While most households in the region have access to a car, approximately 8% do not, and that number is expected to rise by 1% by 2050.⁸ The number of residents traveling on foot and by transit, bike, and other modes is increasing.⁹ These trends are expected to continue nationwide, and we must develop and maintain the infrastructure needed to support all transportation modes to set our region up for success.

  • This figure shows the percentage of commuters who stay within their county of residence for work, and the percentage of commuters who travel to a neighboring county for work.

    Source: Southeast Florida Regional Planning Model - SERPM9.0, 2019 Base Year

  • Based on the region's travel demand model's 2019 base year, the lengthiest trips taken in the region are work trips, followed by shopping trips. In general, the model showed trip distances have decreased across the board since the last RTP.

    Source: Southeast Florida Regional Planning Model - SERPM9.0

  • How commuters traveled in 2019 based on the region’s travel demand model data. Not shown, school bus trips making up approximately 4% of trips. All percentages shown are rounded.

    Source: Southeast Florida Regional Planning Model - SERPM9.0, 2019 Base Year

Challenges and opportunities

As SEFTC and its partners look toward 2050, we face a complex set of challenges and opportunities for innovation and improvement. Through data-driven planning, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and fostering durability and vibrancy, we can address safety risks, population growth, environmental impacts, and the rapid evolution of technology, delivering a transportation network that meets the needs of a growing and dynamic region.

  • With 6.2 million residents and over 140 million annual visitors, congestion is a major concern for Southeast Florida.¹⁰ Congestion in the region is responsible for billions of dollars in lost time, business productivity, and fuel waste every year.¹¹ Community members who responded to outreach surveys from all three of SEFTC’s member MPOs cited addressing congestion and broadening travel options as their top transportation priorities. 


    Each MPO has programs and projects planned or underway to address congestion. Efforts include improving transit availability and reliability, exploring emerging technologies, identifying alternative funding sources for projects to improve safety, comfort, and access for pedestrians and bicyclists, and addressing roadway capacity and operations.

  • In 2024, an estimated 39,345 people died across the U.S. due to motor vehicle crashes. Florida is the third-ranked state for most deaths in the country and 15th for deaths per thousand vehicle miles traveled.¹² The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metropolitan area has the 14th highest rate of pedestrian and bicyclist traffic deaths—of the 346 fatal crashes in 2023, 35% involved pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities.¹³ Considering the disproportionately small percentage these users make up of the mode share, it’s clear they are our system’s most vulnerable users.


    Digging deeper, Florida represents eight of the top 20 metropolitan areas throughout the country with the highest pedestrian danger index. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area ranks 14th overall.¹⁴

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    Florida shares the national traffic safety vision, “Toward Zero Deaths,” and formally adopted their own version of the national vision, “Driving Down Fatalities,” in 2012. FDOT currently has a Target Zero mission of eliminating fatalities and reducing serious injuries on all public roads and maintains a statewide Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) that guides industry professionals on how to accomplish the mission. 


    In addition to FDOT’s SHSP, each MPO and their transportation partners throughout the region have developed Vision Zero plans, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plans, Complete Streets policies, and more to improve transportation safety throughout the region.

  • Underlying the guiding goals in the LRTPs of all three regional MPOs are accessibility and connectivity. This means giving people dependable options to help them get where they’re going, regardless of age, ability, or car ownership. Expanding transit service, enhancing accessibility to transit stops, improving first- and last-mile connectivity to and from destinations, and building sidewalks and separated bike facilities are all part of creating a more accessible, connected regional transportation system. The MPOs are also investigating connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and other emerging technologies to enhance regional transportation connections. 


    Today, there are a number of transit agencies providing service in the region, both public and private. These include Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works, Broward County Transit, Palm Tran, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail, Brightline, Amtrak, Greyhound, and dozens of local shuttles and trolleys. Regional trips that cross county boundaries are facilitated by Tri-Rail along the South Florida Rail Corridor and Brightline along the Florida East Coast rail line. Additionally, there are bus routes that cross county lines throughout the three-county region.

     
    Based on connectivity, access to jobs, and frequency of service metrics for MPOs serving populations of one million or more, AllTransitᵀᴹ ranked Miami-Dade TPO fourth in the nation, Broward MPO 13th, and Palm Beach TPA 29th. 


    The strength and durability of infrastructure is another critical aspect of access and connectivity. Evaluating infrastructure vulnerability and incorporating infrastructure hardening designs can help the transportation network withstand environmental challenges such as extreme weather events and rising sea levels. This proactive approach helps safeguard the infrastructure and maintain reliable transportation services for all under changing climatic conditions.

  • Today, fuel taxes make up about 63% of state revenue sources¹⁵ for transportation projects and programs.¹⁶ Increasing fuel efficiency and the growing number of the electric (EV) and natural gas vehicles on the road are expected to result in fuel tax losses of $85.4 million in state fiscal year (SFY) 2027-2028.¹⁷ 

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    The federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF), funded by the federal gas tax, also faces growing challenges. HTF funds made up nearly $2.8 billion of Florida’s transportation revenue in 2024. States received $62.1 billion in all from the HTF that year.¹⁸ The fund is projected to collect between $38 and $42 billion each year between 2023 and 2033, but yearly spending in that time frame is projected to increase from $48 to $72 billion. The federal gas tax has remained at 18.4¢ per gallon since it was last increased in 1993.¹⁹ The fund is expected to be insolvent starting in 2027. The shortfall starts at $18 billion in 2027 but increases to $180 billion in 2033. Additional revenue sources will need to be developed to support the HTF after 2027.²⁰

  • Each county and MPO in the region have Complete Streets Guidelines. These guidelines are the DNA of streets. They help determine how walkable and bicycle-friendly neighborhoods and communities are, how conducive cities are to transit use, and how livable communities become.

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    The guidelines prepared across the Southeast Florida region are based on universal complete streets principles that aim to design streets for people of all ages and physical abilities using all travel modes. The end result is more connected, livable neighborhoods with expanded, improved walking, bicycling, and public transportation facilities.

    “Complete Streets means putting the right road in the right place.” 
    FDOT Context Classification Guide
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Future changes in how we get around section with the following:

Rapidly evolving technologies have the potential to improve safety and mobility as traffic volumes increase and the need for expanded, high-capacity transportation options arise. Technologies like Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), CAVs, and EVs can provide solutions that address the challenges of congestion and enhance overall transportation experiences.


ITS can provide real time information to drivers and transportation agencies which will optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety. CAVs are part of this, as they communicate with each other and share data on traffic conditions, accidents, and hazards. They use artificial intelligence to make split second decisions, reducing the likelihood of human error and accidents.²¹ 


CAVs could reshape the transportation system and urban landscape by influencing vehicle ownership, land development patterns, and travel patterns. While CAV technologies will likely improve safety, increase network efficiency, and reduce congestion, they also pose potential risks and challenges, such as data security and increased miles of travel for single- and even zero-occupancy vehicles.²²


The support for EVs continues to grow, which will help significantly reduce emissions and improve air quality. Also, EV use can benefit from improved battery technology, allowing further driving ranges and faster charging times, which then encourages their adoption. Implementation of these technologies will require collaboration, and potential challenges like cybersecurity and infrastructure adaptation will need to be considered. 

 

Southeast Florida is embracing the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) concept that is revolutionizing package delivery by enabling drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to bypass ground traffic, significantly reducing delivery times. These aerial systems are especially effective in reaching remote or congested urban areas where traditional vehicles face delays. As UAM technology advances, it is reshaping logistics networks to be faster, more sustainable, and less dependent on road infrastructure.


The region’s MPOs are at the forefront of embracing these technologies into the future for the benefit of our transportation network. In concert with these, ongoing trends such as telecommuting and developing more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods will help reduce congestion and improve livability and the visitor experience. 

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Southeast Florida: People and Places

To plan for the future, we must first understand the landscape and challenges in the region today. Numerous trends are poised to shape our region’s future sustainability, mobility, economy, and quality of life. Below are some of the ones we expect to be most relevant to people who depend on Southeast Florida’s transportation system.

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