Central Florida Representative Darren Soto wants to use funding from the infrastructure law to expand SunRail weekend service. Rep. Soto called SunRail weekend service “elusive and long-awaited.” Indeed, many have wanted weekend service since SunRail trains started running, but it was designed to be a commuter rail. Also, the local governments who will soon take over costs would surely need federal assistance to add weekends, especially with such low ridership on the Orlando trains.
Earlier this year, Rep. Soto sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking for “full and fair consideration to conduct a federal ridership survey to potentially expand SunRail services to include weekends.” But the current SunRail ridership remains pathetically low despite local politicians touting success.
While Rep. Soto thinks the infrastructure law potentially has the money to expand SunRail service, he admits it will come down to ridership saying, “we only get the money if the ridership is there.” He added they will only utilize taxpayer dollars if the rail is going to work.
“As you are undoubtetdly aware, Florida has seen massive growth over the past decade,” Rep. Soto’s letter said. “According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Central Florida is the state’s fastest growing region. Unsurprisingly, this growth places a strain on our existing infrastructure.”
He added that federal investment into SunRail would help Floridians with better paying jobs, alleviate traffic for commuters, and improve the quality of life for residents in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties.
The other problem for SunRail – the I-4 Express lanes just opened, providing commuters another option that allows them to stay in their cars.
