'Moving Florida Forward' credited with advancing $78B in projects; officials outline multi-year pipeline

State officials used the Venice ceremony to place the River Road ribbon‑cutting in the context of a broader infrastructure push officials called "Moving Florida Forward." The governor said the program accelerated projects that otherwise would have been scheduled 10–20 years out and estimated the initiative ultimately totaled about $78 billion in advanced projects.

The transportation secretary said the state used general revenue surplus to advance 20 projects worth billions and that an ongoing annual program already delivered $15 billion per year. "Using general revenue surplus, we advanced these projects," the secretary said, adding that many would not have been funded for another 15 to 20 years without the acceleration. Officials said roughly $70 billion in additional projects are planned over the next five years, funded through similar mechanisms.

Officials framed the approach as a mix of the state's current fiscal position and targeted transfers of county assets to the state to enable expedited construction, citing the transfer of River Road to state ownership in 2020 as an example. The ceremony included no new appropriations or legislative votes; presenters described the funding approach and expected timelines.