Tampa Tribune: Tampa airport's master plan to include space for rail lines

Tampa International Airport officials will study the best use for airport real estate in a master plan update to be launched next month that includes prospects for linking a bus transfer center with light- and high-speed rail lines.

Other plan elements will include space on the airport's east side for new firms that could refurbish landing gear and aircraft seats from airliners flown in for heavy maintenance at two hangars where Pemco employs 600 aircraft technicians.

That could create additional Tampa jobs for work currently shipped out of state, airport chief executive Joe Lopano said today in a briefing for Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority board members.

It's one of an ongoing series of sessions with local groups that will evolve into gathering broad input early next year to lead to the master plan update by December 2012.

"Tampa International Airport needs to be the gateway for Tampa Bay, not just Tampa," Lopano said.

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