Alternative Text Description for SIS Waterway

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Waterway network throughout Florida and portions of neighboring states. The SIS Waterway represents a continuous system of navigable water routes designated as strategically important for intermodal transportation. The map shows a single blue line tracing the waterway route along Florida's coastline and extending into adjacent waters and inland areas, providing a comprehensive view of this critical maritime transportation corridor.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map encompasses the entire state of Florida and portions of southern Georgia and southern Alabama. Major cities labeled on the map include Pensacola in the western panhandle, Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west-central coast, Cape Coral on the southwest coast, and Miami in the southeastern corner. Other cities shown include Albany, Dothan, Valdosta, and Tallahassee in the northern region, and Gainesville, Lakeland, Palm Coast, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Coral Springs throughout the peninsula. The map extends southward to include the Straits of Florida at the bottom. The waterway traces along both the Gulf of America coast to the west and the Atlantic Ocean coast to the east.

KEY INSIGHTS

The SIS Waterway forms a nearly complete circumnavigation of the Florida peninsula, following the coastline with remarkable continuity. The route reveals Florida's strategic position as a maritime transportation hub with access to both the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean. A notable concentration of the waterway occurs along the entire Gulf of America coast from Pensacola eastward and southward around the peninsula, continuing up the Atlantic coast to Jacksonville. The waterway system demonstrates significant connectivity, linking major port cities and forming an integrated coastal transportation network. The route includes portions that extend into offshore waters, particularly visible in the southern region near the Straits of Florida and in the Florida Keys area south of Miami.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

SIS Waterway

The Strategic Intermodal System Waterway is represented as a continuous transportation route designated for strategic intermodal connectivity.

SIS Waterway Route (blue line)

Appearance:

Solid blue line of consistent width throughout the map

Distribution:

The waterway extends along Florida's entire Gulf of America coastline from Pensacola through the panhandle, curves around the peninsula past Tampa and Cape Coral, continues through the southern waters including the Keys region, and proceeds northward along the Atlantic coast past Miami, Palm Bay, and Jacksonville

Notable locations:

Major concentrations occur at all significant coastal cities including Pensacola, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Miami, and Jacksonville

Spatial patterns:

The waterway forms a continuous coastal corridor, closely following the shoreline with some deviations into offshore waters and inland waterway connections

Overlapping Patterns

The waterway system connects multiple major metropolitan areas, creating a linear transportation network that links Florida's primary coastal urban centers and port facilities.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map focuses exclusively on the SIS Waterway thematic layer, showing the designated strategic waterway routes without additional detail about port facilities, channel depths, or specific waterway characteristics. The Strategic Intermodal System is Florida's network of high-priority transportation facilities, and the waterway component represents the maritime element of this integrated transportation system. The map provides a statewide perspective suitable for understanding the overall extent and connectivity of the strategic waterway network. Users should note that the waterway designation indicates strategic importance for intermodal transportation rather than depicting all navigable waters in Florida.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data represents the Strategic Intermodal System Waterway as designated by Florida's transportation planning authorities. Data source layer name: SIS_WATERWAY_JAN25

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied. The map displays the complete SIS Waterway network.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a statewide scale appropriate for viewing the entire SIS Waterway system across Florida and portions of neighboring states.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data is current as of January 2025, as indicated by the data source layer name.

Limitations:

The map shows only the designated SIS Waterway routes and does not represent all navigable waterways in Florida. Specific waterway characteristics such as channel depths, width restrictions, or navigational hazards are not depicted. The map does not show the locations of specific port facilities, locks, or other waterway infrastructure.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from Pensacola in the northwest to Miami and the Florida Keys in the southeast, with additional coverage extending into southern portions of Georgia and Alabama to provide geographic context. The southern extent includes waters of the Straits of Florida.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.