nder the leadership of Governor Chiles and Lt. Governor MacKay, the Florida Department of Transportation has become a model agency — increasing services, cutting government costs and reaching out to Floridians.

The Chiles/MacKay administration followed through on its commitment to improve and expand public roadways — more than doubling the dollars spent on transportation work projects. Transportation spending now tops $1 billion dollars a year.

Public highway safety also improved. While more people than ever are traveling Florida's roadways, highway fatalities and alcohol-related injuries and deaths are down. And in keeping with the Chiles/MacKay philosophy of building communities, the department has constructed sidewalks, paved shoulders and bicycle paths — safety improvements that have contributed to a reduction of bicycle and pedestrian deaths.

As Florida's growth pushed highways to the maximum load, the Chiles/MacKay administration took visionary steps to meet the state's future transportation needs.

Believing that high-speed rail will be a key component of Florida's transportation systems in the 21st century, the state launched an important public-private partnership with Florida Overland Express (FOX) to develop a high speed rail system connecting Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Traveling at speeds of up to 320 mph, the train will be a safe and fast way for tourists and business people to reach their destinations.