In this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal segment, editor Alexis Muellner discusses how FDOT is focusing on wrong-way drivers, the way Tampa International Airport is preparing for spring breakers, and why Valspar extended its sponsorship of Tampa Bay's PGA tournament.
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ABC Action News has reported for months about wrong-way drivers on Tampa Bay area roads causing crashes.
The Florida Department of Transportation is making stopping wrong-way drivers the primary focus for the region.
FDOT started a pilot program where the agency is attaching flashing beacons to Wrong Way signs. There is also microwave technology that can alert officials when a vehicle is heading in the wrong direction on highways and interstates.
Alexis says it is good to see among all the issues FDOT must deal with, the problem of wrong-way drivers receiving a good bit of attention from the state agency.
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Spring break is here once again. Transportation Security Administration is predicting a 4.5 percent increase in spring break travelers for Tampa.
TSA officials predict 33,099 passengers will pass through security checkpoints at Tampa International Airport each day in March.
The TSA says they will easily handle the increase of passengers.
While some people may not enjoy dealing with spring breakers, there is a tangible benefit for the community.
"From a business point-of-view it's really good to see this kind of volume," said Muellner. "Ultimately it means that our local business is going to see more traffic, more spending."
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This week the Valspar Corporation, a Minneapolis-based paint company, announced it is extending its sponsorship of the PGA tournament held in Palm Harbor through 2020.
The original contract ran through 2017.
It was not long ago the tournament, which is held at the Innisbrook Resort, was struggling to find a sponsor.
Alexis say the contract extensions shows the sponsorship is working out well for Valspar, the PGA and the golf course.
The economic impact from the Valspar Championship is about $20 million dollars a year. That is not chump change.
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For more information on these stories, click on the video player, go to youtu.be/1XCLI1DT7Cc or pick up this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal available on newsstands or online.
