Florida House Rep. James Grant doesn't fit the mold of a typical politician.

That's because he's not. He's a young entrepreneur who has some fresh ideas about solving Tampa Bay's traffic problems. Those ideas start by involving some of the most innovative minds in our area.

"So, how can we create an invitation to entrepreneurs and innovative companies to solve stated problems, like congestion and the traffic we experience here?" said Grant, who represents District 64.

That is why he and Sen. Dana Young of Tampa have co-sponsored bills to create a statewide alternative transportation authority.

"I think why you should care is that it would represent a radical transformation in how we procure innovation," Grant said.

"And so, to a single mom in Odessa or a working professional in Keystone, areas of my community that are quite frankly not transportation focused but often house people who work downtown or work in St. Pete, what does our community look like when it's truly an organism that allows somebody to get where they're trying to go faster, cheaper and more enjoyably?"

If passed, the bill provides $25 million to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Money can only be used after local or private matching funds are provided.

If a company wants to invest in autonomous vehicle technology or to improve the way we design roadways, matching money may be able to support those projects. It cannot involve adding more lanes, something that has failed in cities like Atlanta.

There isn't a silver bullet to solving Tampa Bay's traffic problems. Grant hopes this new approach is the next best thing.