AGP Executive Report

Miami Stadium Vote: Miami voters will decide Tuesday whether the city can partner with a private company to restore the historic Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, a Brutalist powerboat venue closed after Hurricane Andrew and now fenced off and covered in graffiti. Shipping & Ports: Dry Box says it’s expanding shipping container modification options, adding rollup doors, man doors, windows, ventilation, shelving, and security upgrades for businesses looking to repurpose containers. Cruise Industry: Disney Cruise Line unveiled new details for its 2027 ship Disney Believe (Wish class), plus plans for another new ship class debuting in 2029. Economy & Budget: Florida’s Revenue Estimating Conference raised general revenue projections by nearly $1 billion amid uncertainty tied to tariffs, inflation, and slower construction/tourism growth. Road Safety: Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a Colonial Drive hit-and-run in Orange County that left a 25-year-old woman critically injured. Marine Life: Brevard Zoo reports two loggerhead sea turtles were euthanized after “ghost gear” injuries, while a third is recovering after a flipper amputation.

Crash & Safety: A vehicle hit a pine tree moments after it fell across westbound I-10 in Gadsden County, blocking both lanes near the Chattahoochee Rest Area and snarling traffic. Pedestrian Tragedy: A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a fatal crash with a pedestrian near West Hillsborough Avenue and Ambassador Drive; the pedestrian died and the Florida Highway Patrol took over the investigation. Holmes County Hotspot: A second fatal crash in 24 hours struck the Hwy 81/Hwy 185 intersection, killing one and leaving multiple people injured; the road was later reopened. FDOT Work Zones: FDOT scheduled overnight closures tied to the Moving I-4 Forward Program, including eastbound U.S. 192 over I-4 (12–5 a.m. Monday into Tuesday) and a separate multi-night I-4 exit ramp closure to Sand Lake Road in Orange County with detours via Universal Boulevard. School Bus Staffing: Highlands County is running “all hands on deck” due to a shortage of school bus drivers, with supervisors and dispatchers filling routes while the district works to hire dozens more.

Rail Safety: Brightline train struck and killed a person in Jupiter on Aug. 15; police are investigating where the victim was on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks. Road Closures: FDOT says inner lanes on Miami Gardens Drive (NW 183rd St.) will be closed for about a year starting Aug. 16 as part of the Golden Glades Interchange widening work. Highway Crash: An 82-year-old died in a single-car crash on northbound I-95 in Port St. Lucie; the Jeep left the roadway and hit a tree in the median. Fatal Crash (Rural): A two-vehicle crash at Hwy 81 and Hwy 185 in Holmes County killed a 12-year-old and left multiple others injured, including serious injuries for adults in the SUV. Aviation Incident: A training helicopter crash in the Everglades near Miramar left an instructor and student with minor injuries; rescue required a technical hoisting operation. Port/Maritime: Miami voters will decide whether to let the city partner with a private company to revive the historic Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key. Local Infrastructure: City staff addressed tire-mark complaints on decorative crosswalks after a Linear Park trail paving job, saying asphalt tack coat and truck tire tracking caused the marks. Growth Watch: Wellen Park and Babcock Ranch ranked among the fastest-growing masterplanned communities, with Wellen Park reporting 727 new home sales in the first half of 2026.

Air Mobility Watch: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will begin testing electric air taxis/eVTOL at SunTrax in Polk County by year’s end, with possible passenger service soon—potentially “leapfrogging” I-4. Rail-Trail Vote: Bonita Springs voters decide Tuesday on a $35M bond for the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT), converting an inactive rail corridor into a multi-use path; supporters tout safety and long-term value, while opponents warn about property-tax costs. Road Safety: A cyclist was killed in Lauderhill after being struck by a driver on Inverrary Boulevard; in Kissimmee, a Turnpike crash snarled traffic with injuries reported. Enforcement & Congestion: Florida Highway Patrol arrested 18 after a street takeover near U.S. 301; separate reports note lane closures after a Turnpike crash. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy data shows E85 at $2.99 in Pasco County and lowest midgrade/premium prices in several counties, reflecting continued statewide volatility. Maritime Disruption: The Panama Canal faces higher waits and costs as water levels drop and shipping demand rises, with cruise itineraries at risk. Environment: Reuters reports oil slicks in the Gulf tied to a grounded tanker off Oman, raising spill concerns. Food Supply: USDA recalls nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef shipped to Texas and Florida after missed reinspection.

Aviation Safety: Frontier Airlines reported a medical emergency after four of five flight attendants fell ill mid-flight on an Airbus A321 into Fort Lauderdale, with two taken to hospital; the cause is still unconfirmed. Road Safety Tech: FDOT activated wrong-way detection at two I-75 interchanges in SWFL (Alico Rd and Bonita Beach Rd), using sensors and flashing warnings after recent deadly wrong-way crashes. Space & Air Mobility: NASA announced MAX POWER at Kennedy Space Center (Nov. 6-7) with the Air Force Thunderbirds, Apollo/Artemis astronauts, and demos of autonomous aerospace tech. Local Transportation & Growth: Orange County’s tourism tax panel is weighing millions for a Winter Garden children’s museum, with traffic concerns driving shuttle and parking plans. Rail/Transit Funding: The U.S. DOT is set to announce $5.3B for nationwide rail projects, including Amtrak. Logistics & Trade: UPS’ Miguel Corral won ATA National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships grand champion honors, highlighting professional driver training. Public Safety/Operations: Hillsborough’s juvenile detention center is closing end of August, moving nearly 40 youth to other counties. Property Tax: Florida AG Uthmeier rewrote Amendment 3 ballot language after a judge found the original summary misleading.

FDOT Work Zone: Northbound lane closures start tonight on Business U.S. 41 over the Edison Bridge, with lanes expected to reopen Saturday around noon. Road Safety & Crashes: A Venice man died after losing control of a motocross motorcycle near U.S. 41 and East Baffin Drive; Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Transit Tech & Privacy Clash: Flock license-plate camera systems are facing rising vandalism nationwide, as privacy concerns and backlash grow; Florida readers are also being warned about potential penalties for targeting cameras. Aviation Disruption: Frontier Airlines diverted and delayed service after four flight attendants fell ill mid-flight with headaches and nausea; the return trip was canceled. Local Infrastructure Push: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an accelerated start for a $56M Clyde Morris Boulevard safety project in Daytona Beach, plus FDOT/Embry-Riddle research ties to advanced air mobility and autonomous vehicles. Rail Funding: The FRA is awarding $5.3B in rail investments, including $356M for Florida to improve up to 910 grade crossings and major Amtrak equipment upgrades. Public Finance: Monroe County leaders will review how a proposed Amendment 3 could reduce local property tax revenue.

Aviation Safety & Disruption: A new study warns extreme space weather could expose airline passengers to higher radiation at cruising altitudes and interfere with aircraft electronics, raising fault and flight-safety concerns. Flight Incidents: Frontier Airlines reported a medical emergency after four flight attendants fell ill on a Florida-bound flight, while Delta’s A321 made an emergency return to Atlanta after a technical malfunction and smoke reports. Air Travel Risk Review: The NTSB said a Ryanair engine fan blade failure shattered a window and partially pulled a passenger outside the aircraft before he was pulled back in. Road & Freight: A tractor-trailer crash and fire shut down Florida’s Turnpike in Lauderhill after a hauler collision involving multiple vehicles, including EVs. Logistics & Trade: A White House report alleges a “transshipment scam” that could route goods through third countries to dodge U.S. tariffs, with Florida-linked trade and shipping impacts likely to follow. Local Land-Use: Orange County commissioners will review a new agricultural enclave zoning request under a state law, a move that could reshape rural-to-suburban growth near major road corridors. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy data shows Florida prices easing in late summer, with regular and diesel averages down week over week in multiple counties.

Aviation & Airports: Spirit Airlines’ “Spirit Central” Dania Beach HQ campus was auctioned for $93.25M, with DPC HoldCo LLC the winning bidder. Highway Safety: A Florida dad says conflicting Florida Highway Patrol crash reports left answers missing in his daughter Kaylee Kennedy’s 2024 US-17 death; FHP has reopened the investigation. Road Crashes: A driver died after a Dodge Ram hit a tree on U.S. 27 in Jefferson County. Everglades & Immigration Enforcement: Miami-Dade regained control of the “Alligator Alcatraz” Everglades detention site after a joint inspection, with the county documenting impacts and expecting remediation. Construction & Commuting: Hillsborough County warned of overnight lane closures Aug. 16–22 affecting I-75/I-275, US-301, US-92 and more; Naples also flagged an I-75 southbound overnight closure Aug. 18–19 near S.R. 951 for sign work. Ports & Shipping: Six state AGs, including Florida’s Ashley Moody, urged the Surface Transportation Board to block the $85B UP–Norfolk Southern merger, arguing it could reduce competition and raise costs. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest premium gas in Okeechobee County at $4.29 and diesel lows in Walton/Okaloosa at $4.89/$4.79. Policy & Tech: Central Florida Expressway Authority may expand wrong-way detection on toll roads after 2,800 detections and fewer crashes.

Aviation & Mobility: Israeli startup AIR will set up U.S. eVTOL manufacturing at Florida’s SunTrax campus near Orlando, aiming to begin production of its two aircraft models. Port & Freight: Port Everglades welcomed the MSC Vandya, using the visit to push for long-stalled navigation improvements that would let larger ships arrive with fuller loads. Roads & Construction: FDOT is lowering speeds on the Hathaway Bridge during the I-98 widening work, with lane shifts expected as crews protect workers at the project’s base. Central Florida Transit/Infrastructure: Orlando’s $34M “The Canopy” project will repurpose about 10 acres under I-4 into a connected public space with parking, trails, and event areas. Safety & Enforcement: Bradenton police say 68 drivers sped in school zones on the first day of school, prompting more speed-camera deployment. Local Planning & Growth: Leesburg residents are pushing back on a 23-home plan near County Road 44, citing flooding and traffic backup concerns. Tech & Security: A Sarasota Flock camera was damaged and taken offline, triggering questions about how license-plate readers are used locally. Labor: HCA workers in Osceola County staged a protest over pay, safety, and benefits during contract talks.

Port & Shipbuilding: Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $9M to Pensacola to expand the Port of Pensacola with two new boat-building facilities for Navy ship modules (up to 400 feet), targeting about 2,000 jobs. Traffic & Roadwork: CSX maintenance will close a stretch of Alexander Street (SR 39) in Plant City starting Aug. 17 for about five days; in Pinellas County, a dump truck rollover on I-275 to SR 690 spilled dirt and snarled traffic. Safety on Rail: A man in Hobe Sound sprinted onto train tracks to lift a trapped railroad crossing gate, helping a driver escape just in time. Local Governance & Planning: Alachua County shared updates on its Transportation Capital Improvement Program and discussed a homestead property tax amendment portal; Walton County received an engineering report covering e-bike input and crash evaluations. Health & Rural Care: DeSantis announced $188M in rural health funding, with MCR Health listed among Southwest recipients.

Surveillance & Privacy: Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader network is losing municipal contracts as cities and residents push back over data ownership, sharing, and privacy safeguards; in Florida, public records allege wildlife conservation police ran dozens of Flock lookups for immigration-related purposes. Public Safety & Community: Polk County’s K-9 Ace returned to the sheriff’s office after being shot and losing a leg while protecting three deputies during an arrest; he’s expected to retire soon. Transportation Infrastructure: FDOT is working on Edison Bridge joint maintenance with lane closures and shifting northbound restrictions for drivers. Active Mobility: Florida’s Ochlockonee Bay Bridge expansion would add a shared-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists, aiming to separate them from vehicle traffic. Aviation/Space: SpaceX launched a new batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral after delays, with the next Florida launch planned for Aug. 15. Smart City Planning: An Orlando developer proposed a “smart city” transformation for Parramore, including transportation upgrades and a proposed vertiport.

Advanced Air Mobility & Testing: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will begin testing electric vertical takeoff and landing “flying taxis” at SunTrax in Polk County by the end of 2026, with vertiports built for eVTOL trials. Passenger Rail Expansion: Cocoa’s Brightline multimodal station cleared a major hurdle with a $56.48M federal grant, moving the $90M Space Coast stop closer to construction. School Transportation Safety: Osceola County is moving toward stop-arm enforcement cameras for school buses, while Lee County continues using BusPatrol to ticket drivers who pass stopped buses. Road Safety Tragedies: A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a dump truck in Haines City, and another fatal crosswalk crash was reported involving a Winter Haven dump truck driver. Public Transit/Infrastructure: Clearwater approved a new 30-year Duke Energy contract after weighing a city-run utility option tied to a property tax referendum. Food Supply Alert: USDA/FSIS recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine raw beef distributed in Florida and Texas after missed import reinspection. Tech & Privacy Watch: Flock Safety has lost municipal contracts in multiple states as cities cite privacy and data governance concerns. Local Logistics/Operations: Osceola opened a new transportation and operations facility to reduce bus travel times and support fleet growth.

Aviation & Air Mobility: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida will become a national hub for testing ultralight electric aircraft (eVTOL “flying cars”), with a Polk County FDOT property set as a dedicated test track and companies expected to be actively testing by year’s end. Rail & Local Ballots: Bonita Springs voters will decide Aug. 18 whether to approve a $35 million bond to buy and convert the Seminole Gulf Railway corridor into the 11.4-mile Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT), a move that could reshape connectivity and recreation across Lee and Collier. Port & Shipbuilding: USACE’s newest hopper dredger, the Donnelly, is taking shape at Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City as it replaces the nearly 60-year-old McFarland. Space Coast Logistics: SpaceX scrubbed a Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral on Aug. 10; the next attempt is set for Aug. 11. Public Safety Tech: Flock Safety is losing municipal license-plate reader contracts amid privacy and data-governance concerns, with Florida records also pointing to wildlife conservation police running lookups tied to ICE. Road & Traffic: Florida Highway Patrol says a hit-and-run on I-4 in Volusia County involving three vehicles led to a DUI arrest after the suspect’s Ford F-150 flipped a car.

Advanced Mobility & Autonomy: Gov. Ron DeSantis and FDOT highlighted SunTrax in Polk County as a hub for autonomous vehicle testing and future air mobility, including new vertiports and announced eVTOL testing expected to ramp up by end of 2026. Road Construction: FDOT says the long-awaited SR 31 reconfiguration will open in May 2027, adding a new four-lane divided segment with roundabouts to improve safety and reduce congestion. Bridge Replacement: The $123M Cortez Bridge project will replace the 1956 drawbridge with a taller fixed span starting next month to end boat-opening traffic backups to Anna Maria Island. I-4 Corridor Push: Florida fast-tracked congestion relief with new I-4 express lanes in Hillsborough and a Polk truck parking facility, while also advancing an air-taxi vertiport at SunTrax. Transit Leadership: MARTA narrowed its CEO search to three finalists—interim CEO Jonathan Hunt plus candidates from Jacksonville and Washington, D.C.—with a board vote expected soon. Public Safety Tech Debate: A new report and local coverage renewed attention on Flock automated license plate readers, with residents using online maps to find cameras and debate privacy impacts. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy data showed some of the lowest reported prices for premium and diesel in multiple Florida counties during the week ending Aug. 1.

Aviation Disruption: Delta flight bound for Orlando returned to Atlanta after reports of smoke onboard; passengers were evacuated via inflatable slides and taken back to the terminal by bus while the cause remains unclear. Rail & Road Closures: CSX rail work will close the US 301 ramp to SR 20 westbound toward Gainesville starting Monday at 5 a.m., with FDOT urging drivers to detour via SR 21 and SR 26—right as school traffic ramps up. Local Safety Rules for Micromobility: Volusia County students riding e-bikes or e-scooters to school must complete a 30-minute online safety course, get a permit sticker, and keep devices out of classrooms; the deadline is Aug. 21. School-Commute Warning: AAA highlights that back-to-school traffic is more dangerous with e-bikes and scooters mixed into commutes, urging parents to teach safe riding before day one. Public Health & Environment: Inside Climate News reports residents near a massive phosphogypsum waste stack in In Progress Village, Florida, fear radioactive contamination from fertilizer byproducts. Crash Response: Jacksonville-area authorities reported a deadly crash on Lem Turner Road near I-95 with one person ejected and another deceased.

Aviation Security: NORAD scrambled F-16s to intercept two civilian aircraft that violated temporary flight restrictions over Trump’s Bedminster, NJ golf club; both were safely escorted out after pilots entered restricted airspace. Road Safety: Jacksonville reported heavy I-95 north traffic after a crash on the ramp to SR-9B left two vehicles overturned and involved injuries. Crash Updates: A Hendry County sheriff’s SUV overturned after running a stop sign in Clewiston, injuring two; and a Perry man died in a Taylor County single-vehicle rollover. Driver Alerts: Local law enforcement urged motorists to slow down and watch for students as back-to-school traffic ramps up across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Transit & Logistics (Aviation): United Airlines added new nonstop options from San Francisco, including returning daily service to Cincinnati (CVG). Industry/Shipping: Diana Shipping locked in an 18% higher capesize charter rate with Japan’s NYK, extending a stronger fixture run. Tech/Autonomy: Zoox received an NHTSA exemption to operate up to 2,500 robotaxis commercially for two years, starting Aug. 10. Environment & Public Health: A Florida community near a phosphogypsum waste stack renewed concerns about radioactive materials and health risks.