"I am thankful for having three great kids. Two of them are serving our country, and I couldn't be more proud of them."

-Felicia Pulliam

"It's great being a native, and I am so thankful for the beautiful Hillsborough River that runs through the heart of Tampa."

"I am thankful for the many civic-minded citizens of Hillsborough County who give of themselves by serving on a committee, volunteering to help better our community, and just taking the time to make their voices heard at a workshop or hearing."

- Rich Clarendon

  

"I am grateful for my two wonderful boys and (of course) my wife, Cheryl."  

- David Hey 

 

 

"The improvements on
56th Street, with the newly

completed streetscaping,
have really been a great
thing for the entire Temple Terrace community." 

- Tony LaColla

"I am forever thankful for all my friends and family!"

- Greg Colangelo

"I am thankful for the beautiful places I can
share with my son, like
Bayshore Boulevard.
It's nicer than ever

cleaned up with the

new landscaping." 

-Terry Eagan

"I am thankful for all
of my great friends
and neighbors. 

I love the optimism
in this community."

- Rose Petrucha

"My kids and I have ridden our bicycles on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. I am so thankful that we now have federal funding to link to the Suncoast Trail, connecting Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties with more than 50 miles of continuous, safe bicycle and pedestrian trailway!"

- Gena Torres

"I am so blessed with all of the color filling my life! And, I am very thankful for the variety of great public parks we have in Hillsborough County, where I take my girls to wear them out." 

Carpet's coming up and tile's going down as Tampa International Airport (TIA) begins work on the second phase of its Main Terminal Modernization Project. Phase 1 of the $30 million project, including renovations of half of the terminal's restrooms and the addition of Visitor Information Centers and video walls in the baggage claim area, was completed in late August in time for the Republican National Convention. Phase 2, expected to be completed by October 2013, will include new functional furniture on the Transfer Level with plenty of outlets and work surfaces. The walls surrounding the escalators will be replaced with a clear glass to give a brighter and more open feel to the building. Most notably, the walls around the elevators throughout the main terminal will be resurfaced with colored-glass, covering the original brick that's been in place since the terminal was built.

"The people who built this airport over 40 years ago came up with a brilliant design that makes Tampa International amazingly easy to use," said airport CEO Joe Lopano. "At the time, it also had what was considered a highly modern interior design. We're going back to the future with this project, and once again creating a sleek, modern look for the terminal."  

Looking further into the future, TIA is in the process of updating its master plan. Based on passenger growth projects approved by the FAA, the plan will provide a blueprint for development at the airport for the next 20 years. As of this point in the process, the airport is considering a consolidated rental car center near the airport entrance, connected to the main terminal by an automated people mover. This property on the south side of the airport campus would also include some commercial development. A full proposal for changes to the
terminal will be released later this year. Tampa International
Airport will share details of this plan with the Planning Commission at the December 10 meeting.