It was good the state Chamber of Commerce made sure Florida didn't forget all about former Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad.
It's true, with Gov. Rick Scott's announcement of $9.9 billion in his budget for transportation, neither Prasad nor Jim Boxold, his successor, were exactly top of the billing at Thursday's Florida Transportation Summit.
Still, Prasad deserved the recognition he got when the chamber presented him with a Champion for Floridas Future award. And in turn, he returned the compliment.
I can tell you, when I look back to the last 21 years of public service, the last four years have been the best in the sense of, as an agency, I think we realized that its not roads, bridges, turn lanes or potholes, it is truly about economic development, said Prasad. I cant thank Mark [Wilson] and his team, and the [Florida] Chamber Foundation enough for their support.
"These sorts of summits are really important to laying that agenda. When we talk about the transportation trust fund and sweeping the trust fund it is not to benefit the road builder or engineering firm, its to benefit Floridians and all the businesses that work in Florida. Its much bigger than asphalt, concrete or engineering. It is truly economic development. I will continue to work with the Florida Chamber and continue to advance this great state.
Ananth has not only been a good friend to Florida but a pro-business, pro-Florida partner as well. He has set a standard for leadership. ... said Tony Carvajal, executive vice president of the Florida Chamber Foundation,
New Transportation Secretary Boxold is likely to continue the mission. On Thursday he encouraged Floridas business community to remain focused on Floridas global competitiveness.
The summit is an event where the state's transportation challenges and opportunities take center stage, where leaders seek solutions to meet the needs of the 19.9 million residents of Florida.
In more than 20 years of work with FDOT, Prasad was an integral part of major projects, including Floridas record investment in ports, roads, and rail, as well as innovations in safety and public-private partnerships. Those projects created countless jobs and helped Florida become a leader in both economic development and quality of life.
Florida's aggressive highway improvement program started in 2000 when Gov. Jeb Bush signed a $4 billion road plan called Mobility 2000. It accelerated dozens of highway projects that had been scheduled to start 15 to 20 years down the line.
What I will remember of Prasad is that he did more than anyone else I knew to instill a culture of pride and greater purpose in what already was a good department. He took it to greater heights.
The goal for most states is to have 75 percent of major roads in good condition. In Florida under Prasad, that percentage climbed to 95.2 percent, one of the highest in the nation.Florida's bridges? Ranked among the soundest and best-maintained.
Not just chamber hierarchy, but many in the state who observe transportation issues -- the good and the bad -- have only high praise for Prasad.
I dont use this term loosely, but he is the best secretary of transportation we have had, and Ive been part of the process for over 25 years, Bob Burleson, president of the Florida Transportation Builders Association, told Saint Petersblog.
Howard Glassman, executive director of the Florida MPO Advisory Council, praises Prasads complete streets initiative" -- that's the one that promotes alternative transportation systems and pedestrian safety. Glassman said it "recognizes Floridas demographic change and supports livable and walkable communities.
Among the $10 billion in funds attributed to Prasads leadership are Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, including a $20 million grant awarded last September for replacing Floridas Tamiami Trail with a 2.6-mile elevated bridge. What that does is help restore natural stormwater flows into the Everglades National Park and Northeast Shark River, while preserving a critical transportation link between Southwest Florida and Miami.
In 2013, Florida International University got more than $11 million in TIGER funding for transit improvements; the year before that, the city of Tampa raked in more than $10 million to support bike and pedestrian connections.
The Sunshine State has grown-up ambitions and nothing says "We're No. 1" quite like a transportation infrastructure with attitude. Find fault here and there with local roads and construction headaches if you will, but compared to other states -- and not just the ones nearby and less affluent -- Florida's highway system is a dream for its residents, tourists, and aspirations.
Prasad left the department last month to work in the Tallahassee office of the Missouri-based consulting firm HNTB Corp. His service, with all its successes, nevertheless deserves recognition.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423.
