Cone & Graham, Inc. successfully completed a districtwide design-build push button contract for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7, delivering rapid-response safety improvements across the Tampa Bay region. This innovative task work order (TWO)-driven contract was developed in partnership with FDOT and WSP to accelerate the implementation of low-cost, high-impact roadway safety enhancements while maintaining compliance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines.

Traditionally, FDOT’s Work Program Process delivered federally funded safety improvements over a 3-to-5-year timeline. Through the introduction of the push button framework—approved by FHWA Division and Headquarters—District 7 shortened the delivery window to as little as 3 to 9 months from concept to construction. Cone & Graham, Inc. played a central role in this expedited process, managing and constructing 55 individual TWOs during the contract period, with each completed in under 365 calendar days.

The project scope included a wide range of improvements, such as milling and resurfacing, intersection widening, signal installations, lighting upgrades, ADA-compliant pedestrian treatments, guardrail installations, and intelligent transportation system (ITS) enhancements. High-emphasis crosswalks, Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), overhead sign structures, and high-friction surface treatments were among the many features implemented to improve safety and visibility for all road users.

Cone & Graham, Inc. collaborated closely with WSP to develop detailed temporary traffic control plans, carefully designed to navigate stringent lane closure restrictions and minimize impacts to the traveling public. Innovative design approaches—such as curb ramp modifications and sidewalk realignments—were employed to mitigate right-of-way constraints and streamline permitting.

The successful execution of this contract marked a shift in FDOT’s project delivery model, reducing project costs, improving Net Present Value (NPV), and significantly advancing crash reduction goals aligned with FHWA’s Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative. Cone & Graham’s contributions to this contract helped establish a blueprint for future districtwide safety deployments across the state of Florida.