On August 10, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled SunTrax, “Florida’s first and one of the nation’s most advanced centers dedicated to the research and development of emerging technologies and innovations in the field of transportation.” www.flgov.com
This 775-acre site, located along the Interstate 4 (I-4) in Polk County in the center of the state, comprises the rapidly expanding SunTrax Ground and SunTrax Air, positioning Florida as a national leader in innovative technology testing and reinforcing the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) commitment to proposing and developing next-generation transportation solutions, including flying cars.
Impact on Florida
As stated in the governor’s press release: “SunTrax AirGround will test eVTOL aircraft by the end of the year, support the deployment of autonomous vehicles statewide, and train Florida’s workforce in cutting-edge transportation technologies.” The acronym eVTOL stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing.
One of the goals of advanced aerial mobility technology is to reduce traffic congestion: “I think people would say that if air taxis were running regularly, you could get to Tampa or Orlando while completely avoiding I-4,” DeSantis said. “So that would be a good thing for those people. I don’t know how long the flight would take—not very long. It would also help ease road traffic. The network would need to expand until it reaches a certain scale.”
DeSantis noted that the FDOT will collaborate with Embry-Riddle and Polk State to better prepare Florida students for emerging careers in next-generation transportation. According to him, Florida has the ideal conditions to become a major hub for transportation technologies: policies that foster innovation, top-tier academic institutions and research centers, robust infrastructure, strategic investments, and a talent pool ready to support this development.
Waymo Accelerates Its Expansion in the Sunshine State
Meanwhile, SunTrax Air Ground is actively testing and supporting the deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles within Florida’s transportation network. Waymo, which we’ve covered in previous posts, is the leader in fully autonomous transportation and works closely with the FDOT. Residents and visitors in Miami and Orlando are already benefiting from its advanced technologies and services. Waymo has expanded its operations in the southern part of the state and is also preparing to expand to Tampa.
SunTrax: Driving Tomorrow’s Transportation
According to the DeSantis administration: “The cutting-edge research and testing conducted at SunTrax will enable our state’s transportation system to remain at the forefront of innovation, help reduce traffic congestion through new travel options, strengthen the state’s supply chain, and promote a safe and efficient travel experience for Florida residents and visitors.”
Translated by Deepl
Photo credit: Harlan Huntington @ commons.wikimedia.org
