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LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
MARCH 16, 2016
Traffic jams likely with U.S. 41 closure By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Thousands of motorists who normally travel along U.S. 41 through Lutz can expect longer drive times, as the highway is closed until March 27 for a railroad crossing project. CSX will be replacing the rails and the railroad crossing north of Crenshaw Lake Road. See TRAFFIC, page 13A
KEVIN WEISS/STAFF PHOTO
To get around the U.S. 41 closure in Lutz, motorists heading from Pasco County can go south on North Dale Mabry Highway to Bearss Avenue and then east on Bearss Avenue to U.S. 41. Motorists who want to go north past the detour need to go west on Bearss Avenue and then north on North Dale Mabry Highway. Some internal roads will be open during the closure.
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IMAGES COURTESY OF TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Tampa International Airport is in the midst of a three-phase $2.5 billion project to make the airport a ‘people mover’ for the 21st century. In the first phase, the airport will expand the main terminal by 55,000 square feet, build a new rental car center, and add 65 shops and restaurants including Hard Rock Café and P.F. Chang’s.
Pasco looks to TIA for tourism boost By Kathy Steele
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Traffic is increasing at Tampa International Airport, and that has piqued the interest of Pasco County officials. More than 18 million passengers passed through Tampa International Airport in 2015, nearly 7 percent more than the year before. Of those travelers, about 8 percent, or 1.6 million, were from Pasco County. Pasco County commissioners are interested in finding out how to tap into the stream of visitors who arrive in Tampa Bay every year. On March 8, commissioners heard an update from Joe Lopano, TIA’s chief executive officer, on the master plan to upgrade and expand TIA. The first phase of a three-phase plan is slated for completion in fall of 2017. That phase, estimated at $980
million, includes a new rental car center, a new 1.4-mile automated people mover that will connect the rental car facility to the main terminal, and construction of a runway bridge over the George J. Bean Parkway. In addition, the main terminal is being expanded by 55,000 square feet, and 65 shops and restaurants, including Hard Rock Café and P.F. Chang’s, will be upgraded or added to the airport’s amenities. The total cost of TIA’s upgrades are estimated at about $2.5 billion, with a completion date of 2028. Phase one is on budget and on schedule, Lopano said. Construction isn’t all that is driving TIA’s makeover. A more personal touch also is highlighting the airport’s progress, and its amenities. About 160 volunteers – some retired airline employees – serve as airport ambassadors who greet and assist passengers. See TIA, page 13A
The master plan for Tampa International Airport includes construction of a 1.4-mile automated people mover to transport passengers between the main terminal and a new rental car center.
Tampa International Airport is the first airport in the country that will have a Hard Rock Café on-site.
A new rental car center is under construction south of the airport.
Pasco launches new housing initiative
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By Kathy Steele
said. For instance, a single mother with children who loses her job and is evicted has a hard time finding a place to live. Pasco County is jumping into the af“There are no longer cheap rents in fordable housing market in an initiative Pasco. And, what can be found is not aimed at helping its homeless populasafe, or cheap,” Romagnoli said. tion. Properties would be acquired Pasco County commissioners authorthrough foreclosures, tax deed sales or ized a program that will rehabilitate other ways. foreclosed houses or, in some cases, Currently, such properties can end build new houses. up with the Pasco Opportunity Under the program, area nonprofits Program, or POP, for rehabilitation and would become partners to manage the resale to homeowners.With the adopcounty’s efforts to provide houses for tion of the new housing program, homeless individuals and families with COURTESY OF PASCO COUNTY properties will be evaluated before “extremely low income.” being assigned either to POP or to the George Romagnoli is Pasco County’s community “This is really new.This is not being development director. homeless initiative. done anywhere else,” said George It is estimated that Pasco has about Romagnoli, the county’s community develThe goal is to complete about 20 houses 900 chronically homeless people who live opment director. a year that can help homeless individuals on the streets or in the woods. Proposals will be sought from nonprofits and families get back on their feet. Most of In a separate initiative, the county is partinterested in participating. the houses would be rehabbed for less than nering with Catholic Charities Diocese of Pasco County commissioners then $20,000. St. Petersburg Inc., on a pilot program for would select several agencies to work with Also, small houses — of about 600 chronically homeless individuals. the program. Romagnoli said there could be some square feet to 800 square feet — could be Currently, about $500,000 is available built, or mobile homes could be placed on overlap in the two programs, with homeless from the State Housing Initiative vacant lots for about $40,000 each. individuals relocated to newly acquired Partnership, or SHIP program. “We’re very confident we can do this,” housing. In coming years, county officials antici- Romagnoli said. “Any time we can use transitional houspate up to $2 million could be allocated to People with low incomes are finding it in- ing, instead of shelters, is beneficial,” said the program from federal grants. creasingly difficult to find affordable rents, he Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.
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