From Roads to Roots: A Review of Florida’s Highway Landscape Spending

Florida's growing population places increasing demands on its roadways, and with each new transportation project comes a significant investment in highway landscaping. Florida law mandates that at least 1.5% of all transportation construction funding be dedicated to purchasing plant materials for highway beautification. In fiscal year 2023-24 alone, this amounted to more than $200 million. While highway landscaping provides essential benefits such as reducing erosion, enhancing safety, and supporting local ecosystems, questions remain about the lack of an upper limit on landscaping expenditures.

Florida TaxWatch's latest report delves into the Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) spending on landscaping, examining how these funds are allocated and whether current policies maximize taxpayer value. The report also explores potential legislative changes, such as implementing a tiered spending approach or setting a maximum threshold, to ensure that public funds are used efficiently.

Download the full report to learn more about how your tax dollars are being spent and Florida TaxWatch's recommendations for improving highway landscaping policies.