What a difference 5 years make!
We clearly remember the predawn darkness of May
1, 2014 when we boarded the first regularly scheduled northbound train
departing from the Sand Lake Road SunRail station.
You would have thought it was a moon launch from Cape
Canaveral. The station and the train were packed with reporters, railfans and
some genuine commuters seeking a less stressful way of getting to work.
The first few days of SunRail service were amazing – almost
overwhelming. So many people tried SunRail during the first weeks that extra
trains were added to accommodate the overflow crowds.
The excitement was understandable because local train
service for the Orlando metro area – an idea that had been dreamed about and
debated for decades – opened a new era for Central Florida. SunRail created a
new transportation corridor along the I-4 corridor, one of the nation’s fastest
growing areas.
From its first day, SunRail connected three counties and
most of this region’s major employers, including downtown Orlando, Orlando
Health and Advent Health (formerly Florida Hospital) downtown Orlando and the Sand
Lake Road station, which has a quick bus connection to Orlando International
Airport. It’s noteworthy that SunRail also attracts riders from neighboring
Lake and Polk counties. They would rather ride the train that fight congestion
on I-4 and other highways.
Last summer SunRail grew by 4 stations – to a total of 16 –
thanks to the Southern Expansion into Osceola County (and connected a fourth
county). That expansion nearly doubled SunRail’s daily ridership to the point
that on many mornings and afternoons there is standing-room only at some train
stations.
Looking out the train window during the past 5 years it’s
easy to see how SunRail has super-charged growth in Central Florida. Take
Maitland station, for example. Five years ago, there was nothing at that
station. Today, there’s an attractive apartment complex next to the station.
Apartment complexes have also been built at the Lake Mary, Longwood, and Lynx
Central Station. More Transportation-Oriented Developments are under
construction at Tupperware and Sand Lake Road. Plans are also in the works for
DeBary and Kissimmee.
The billions in new construction have meant more
real-estate tax money to improve the quality of life in the counties where
SunRail operates.
Though SunRail was launched mainly to serve commuters, it
has also developed a strong following of leisure riders heading to lunch in
Winter, Sanford, and Kissimmee; the museums and theaters at Loch Haven Park, and
sporting, cultural events and date nights in downtown Orlando and other
destinations along the SunRail corridor.
While the launch of SunRail may not be quite as big a deal
as the opening of the Magic Kingdom, it has changed Central Florida. SunRail at
five years old shows a bright and promising future. As Central Florida leaders
work to embrace the opportunities ahead, SunRail has the potential to connect
the region even more.
Sunrail had potential, but most people don't want to give up control of the wheel. While the I-4 project was ongoing there were riders on SunRail but when the I-4 project was complete people went back to driving. And then covid also happened and took more people off Sunrail. There's not near as many people riding the sunrail as there was. Except for perhaps the joyriders who generally ride from 9:00 a.m. till maybe 3:00 or 4:00 p.m..
ReplyDeleteThere are problems that could be solved by having ambassadors at the stations the entire time the train is running and not ambassadors who are meek and mild. They need to be assertive and forceful.
No bicycle riding on the platform or the sidewalk towards the platform (people tend to get run over by bicycles being riden on the platform and the sidewalk to it); everybody needs to tap on and off (not just some); wearing masks when it is mandatory not just a few people (the covid is still around because people won't wear masks)!; People not getting using the machines to correctly turn a Lynx transfer into a SunRail ticket; people standing on the yellow line; parents not controlling their children properly (I'm always afraid a child is going to fall on the tracks, playing so close). Ambassadors need to be more assertive and be in control instead of being meek and letting people do what they want to. People need to stop breaking SunRail laws/rules. Most ambassadors are useless in the way they do nothing! They might as well not be there and let the passengers ride free all the time!