The Challenge:
The United States is lagging behind the rest of the developed world in innovative transportation solutions. China, South Korea, and Japan all have widely used MagLev trains, offered at affordable fares. While Americans hail the rise of the self-driving car, there are few mass transit projects on the horizon that aren’t getting major pushback from governments. Americans are accustomed to driving their cars – it fits well into the individualism of our society. Oil industry lobbyists won’t go down without a fight, but there are myriad benefits to affordable, efficient public transportation.
One of the least connected states in the U.S is Florida.
Florida is the third largest state in the Union, which houses one of the top ten mega regions in the world (Tampa, Orlando, and Miami). Florida is an anomaly, whereas it is an economic powerhouse without any connectivity. However, this is a very fickle phenomenon.
Yet, Florida is so far behind that it can be ahead.
Since there is no major connectivity or investment in connectivity, it is a blank canvas for introducing new technology. Our aim is to create a statewide Hyperloop system in the State of Florida.
The Future of Transportation:
Hyperloop technology is a new technology with regulations yet to be defined. The aim of the statewide Public Affairs team led by Omni Public was to create a favorable policy environment within the areas where Hyperloop stations will be built and Hyperloop lines will travel through. The team was tasked to produce favorable regulatory environments that may include passing resolutions, public endorsements of elected officials of Hyperloop technology, and the integration of Hyperloop technology advancement within existing policy objectives of government agencies.
Our Approach:
TARGETED GOVERNMENT RELATIONS:
We partnered and built a team of policy experts around the state of Florida (Capital City Consulting, Capitol Alliance, and RSA). Then, we met with staff from Florida stakeholders and lawmakers at the Federal level (coordinated by G2G) such as Representatives Kathy Castor and Mario Diaz Balart, and Former Senator Bill Nelson. The policy team began to develop positive rapport among key credible actors across local, regional, state, and federal policy entrepreneurs to discuss the idea of a Hyperloop Feasibility Study within the state of Florida.
With the support of then Florida Senate President, Bill Galvano, and Leadership within the Florida House, in 2019, the State Legislature appropriated funds to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) to study non-traditional and emerging transportation technologies such as Hyperloop. TBARTA’s local General Consulting Services provider, WSP, has been tasked with producing a pre-feasibility study on Hyperloop technology in the region by mid-2020.
TARGETED PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Omni Public launched a public outreach campaign by introducing HyperloopTT to key community leaders and key members of the media. This led to positive press in Florida and nationally.
Our Outcomes:
MAKING HISTORY:
The Florida public affairs team made Florida transportation history, whereas the team delivered the first ever government resolutions supporting Hyperloop technology. Additionally, through advocacy efforts, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) delivered the state’s first ever advanced mobility study dubbed the Innovative Transit Technologies Study. The study concluded that a statewide steering committee is to be formed to advance Hyperloop technology across the state of Florida.
The team is currently continuing the implementation of a Hyperloop system.
For any questions on this project, please email Sheridan Sundstrom at ss@omnipublic.global.
