June 03, 2008 (Return to News)

Visit Florida Unveils State’s First Ever Large Print Transportation Map

[TALAHASSEE, FL] - VISIT FLORIDA® the state's official tourism marketing corporation in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Media, Inc. have produced Florida’s first large print transportation map.

Designed to accommodate travelers who need a little relief from squinting, the map is 36 percent larger than its regular size counterpart. The large print map provides larger and clearer destinations and highway numbers. The map also provides a list of toll roads, a directory of trails as well as a listing of recreational vehicle parks.

A total of 100,000 copies of the map have been produced and printed at no cost to Florida tax payers. Map distribution will begin this month at all five Florida Welcome Centers and serve as an official State of Florida Transportation Map. The colorful maps are free of charge and are not for resale.

“This large print tactile map will provide easy reading for those of us who find reading the regular size map challenging,” said Nicki E. Grossman, VISIT FLORIDA’s board chairman and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Now people will have to come up with a better excuse for not being able to follow directions.”

The front of the map features a photo of the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville. When travelers unfold the map they will find a message from Governor Charlie Crist encouraging everyone to explore the Sunshine State.

Florida Media, Inc will produce two large print maps annually. One map will be distributed for the period of January through June and another map will be disseminated for the July through December period. These are in addition to the regular state map. Florida's Welcome Centers and Florida Department of Transportation will start distributing 1,300,000 copies of the regular map in January.

Maps will be available at VISIT FLORIDA’s five official Welcome Centers at I-10, U.S. 231, I-75, I-95 and the Capitol.