TIA asks public to help name new people movers

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Tampa International Airport unveiled Thursday a faster way for passengers to get from their flight to their ride home - and airport officials are asking for help naming the new system.

On Thursday, TIA unveiled the design for its new "people mover" rail system. The $417 million project is the latest phase in the airport's billion dollar expansion plan.

The train will travel on a 1.4 mile track from the main terminal to the economy parking garage and the newly constructed rental car center.

"We were the first airport in the world to have a people mover system at an airport, and now we're taking that to a new level," said Joe Lopano, CEO of TIA. "We won't have these long buses with steps that you've got to climb up your luggage. This will be a train that arrives right at [the terminal], departs and takes you directly to the rental car center."

Each of the 12 train cars will be adorned with an image of a bird that inhabits Tampa Bay. Inside the cars will be educational information about the birds.

"People who come here to visit will immediately get the sense of what of beautiful place Florida is by seeing the natural beauty of our birds," said Lopano.

TIA is giving passengers the option to name the new people mover in a two-week campaign. The name options include: Gulf Glider, SkyConnect, JetStream and Florida Flyer.

To vote, passengers can go to www.TampaAirport.com.

The new people mover cars are currently being constructed in Japan, according to airport officials. They are expected to launch in late 2017.