“We will get it done”: Hundreds Board SunRail in Winter Park

Hundreds of ‘commuters’ stood in line briefly to board and take a tour of the new SunRail cab cars, at Central Park in Winter Park on Saturday.

Potential riders, including elected officials, of SunRail, expected to be operational by May 1, 2014, expressed their satisfaction with the new vehicles that can comfortably seat up to 150 passengers.

Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley, who spoke briefly before the official ribbon-cutting ceremony reminded that, the city which celebrates its 127th anniversary in October, was founded around the train.

“I think that it is only appropriate as we get ready to celebrate 127 years, that the train comes back to our city and the entire region,” he said. “It will bring jobs, as it currently has already and it will help us all get to our jobs and those who need to get to their workplaces.”

At a cost of $1.2 billion, the first phase of SunRail will connect DeBary in Volusia County to Sand Lake Road in Orange County, stretching some 32 miles and featuring 12 stations. Construction of Phase two, expected to begin in the Spring of 2014, will link Sand Lake Road in Orange County to Poinciana in Osceola County, and DeBary to DeLand in Volusia County. This 29-mile segment will feature five stations and is anticipated to be up and running by 2016.

Florida Department of Transportation (District 5) Secretary Noranne Downs described the approaching 7-month timeline to the opening of SunRail as “very, very exciting,” while conscious of the tremendous amount of work still to be undertaken.  “We will get it done,” Downs confidently expressed.

“It is a needed, additional mode of transportation that people will choose to go on or not go on,” she said. “This will be a choice that should be relaxing, cost-effective and high-tech.”

Asked about outreach efforts and feed back from the public, Downs said, this was proceeding well with teams sensitizing CEOs of large and small businesses, as well as their employees, on the benefits of leaving the commute to SunRail. “Some people are already talking about extending train schedules on week-ends,” she said.

Projected to create 10,000 to 15,000 jobs annually over the next four years, future development around SunRail’s 17 station stops has the potential to create an additional 250,000 jobs.

Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Chairman Frank Attkisson, noting the ease of connectivity between cities like Kissimmee and St. Cloud, on the one hand and Winter Park on the other, once SunRail becomes fully operational said, “It’s a great thing to have here in Central Florida; SunRail will be working, SunRail will connect the community, SunRail will connect the region.”

And the cost to ride SunRail?

“There is a base fare of $2 within a single county and an additional $1 for travel across each county line,” said Steve Olson, Public Information Officer, FDOT.  “You could ride the 61-mile rail system when it is built out for $5 or less, depending on the type of pass you buy.”

Olson added that, there would be free parking at the suburban lots at the Maitland and Sand Lake Road train stations.

But Saturday’s first public unveiling of SunRail cab cars also had young kids in mind as future riders. The Commission teamed up with Radio Disney to feature Radio Disney stars Elle Winter and Jack Skuller who hosted a meet and greet. Radio Disney also handed out numerous prizes and giveaways to the winners of kids’ contests, including ‘Fashion Wrap’ and ‘My cell phone challenge.’

“Safety is always our number one priority. Trains can’t stop quickly, but you can,” Downs reminded.