If it were easy...

It wouldn't be worth it....

Let's face it, commuter rail isn't easy. It's always a difficult sell in the first few years, and the cost of rail can be pretty daunting. Recently several negative incidents have started to create a few rough waves in the future of Sunrail. Are these legitimate problems, or the same old harping and cheapshots that any public works project runs into?

It depends...

1. Not enough ridership...

Currently just over 2000 people a day are using Sunrail on average. The low ridership has caused some to feel that rail might not work in this area, the ease of access to I-4 they argue, and the car culture is so deeply ingrained so as to make rail projects of any size problematic at best. These critics have a point, but it's not as simple as their arguments make it seem. Many things affect ridership, station location, and pricing, economy etc... 

Solution? Time... and advertising.

ALL ABOARD!

Sunrail is still less then a year old since operations began, judging long term growth on less then a year is shortsighted, and doesn't allow for changes in peoples travel dynamics. Also advertising is minimal. There have been almost no commercials run for Sunrail save the odd negative news story (accidents, train delays, ticket problems. more on this later) With more/better advertising, and patience with a fledgling service, ridership can and will increase.


2. No weekend/night service...

Want to do a pub crawl on Saturday night? No such luck... how bout come home late from a club, or Concert? Nope.

This is a legitimate problem, as Sunrail was meant initially for day workers, not for events and partying. This was a strategic blunder. Travel should be for everybody, not just 9-5 folks.

Solution? ... We'll have to wait and see if demand and ridership are enough to expand train service.... They have begun to change, adding trains for special occasions, and free service to special events, but these have thier own problems (not enough trains, overcrowding, bad scheduling). 

3. Stations not close enough to urban/suburban areas. 

Deland's planned station is under fire for not being close enough to downtown. Sanford and Debary are also at issue. Lack of population density worries those who believe ridership from these stops are too low.

Solution? Relocate the Deland station closer to the city. Patience with the other stops.

Deland has several tracks that could be utilized to bring a station closer to the city. One set of tracks even ends close to Stetson University. Planners need to be flexible, and adjust to local concerns. Sunrail cannot be tunnel visioned, and moving station closer to downtown while expensive would go a long way to show the commitment of Sunrail, FDOT and the various controlling entities to make the system work. The other stops are already built and already construction on apartments has begun near them, so additional potential riders are coming.
 
4. Bad press...

Sunrail hits car! Sunrail Train delayed! New Sunrail link won't be built!?

This is the worst. Wether by design or accident, the Sunrail system has been consistently getting bad press. First off, there doesn't appear to be any spokesperson to represent Sunrail for people to turn to when things go wrong. "Sunrail officials say" is the only refrain when people hear in response. 

We'll be changing things as of today...

Solution? There needs to be a more visible and vocal pushback from Sunrail, a better public face to calm fears and squash rumors. An articulate spokesperson, and straight forward facts will go a long way to improve the image of Sunrail.It doesn't matter how quickly you move to fix and correct a problem, if there is no one telling the public directly whats being done, and apologizing for the mistake in the first place. Perception is 90% of the reality in these high-stakes times of social media.


Final judgment-
Sunrail has a lot of growing to do. It will take patience, political will and commitment to public transportation that will make Sunrail success. Lack of any of these in sufficient amounts will lead to Sunrail being a bust. But if it's flexible and willing to adjust to the needs of the community, Sunrail will be a success.

Good Fences Make for More Privacy...

Nice to find a little place on-line to get more details about each station, along with a schedule. The local Orlando Sentinel has a small section on their website they've just opened up.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/sunrail/

Much Todo About a Fence

In other news, a local homeowner has a little problem with the Sunrail double decked train. Apparently the train is tall enough to see over a 8 foot privacy fence, and they're worried that they're losing their privacy.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/sanford-residents-upset-say-sunrail-invading-their/nfc32/

Now, fences may give the illusion of privacy but most people know that fences don't provide 100% privacy. If you want to live in an exclusive 'your-eyes-only' resort, then your going to need to move to a private island, or at least your own compound in Ocala. I'm sympathetic that they didn't know the full height of the train, but I find the sudden outrage a bit late to the party. These trains have been tested almost nightly and daily for almost 6 months now, so feigning outrage at two weeks until opening day is a bit much.


There is simply no guarantee of privacy when you purchase a property, and the fact that there are railroad tracks directly behind your house is something you might want to think about before buying.


"Our privacy is being invaded by this train and I need to call Channel 9."

The constructed fence was obviously done without Sunrail in mind. With that said, there are a few things that can be done to make everyone happy. These trains aren't going anywhere, so we need to find a compromise.

• Add an addition to the fence. 

• This could be financed by Sunrail, or the HOA of the local subdivision.A taller fence, or just a small addition to the old fence with a privacy screen would solve the whole issue

• Add light shields to any direct light sources
• A secondary expense that may not be needed if step one solves it.

• Add Fence along Sunail Corridor
• A bit expensive, and undoubtedly not in the budget. 

There's no need for a hyperbolic argument, or any sort of public relations nightmare. A little courtesy, and respect for the homeowners plight would go a long way to show that Sunrail isn't a giant corporation bent on crushing everything before it.

Where did the Rail Go?

A long time ago, trains, trolleys, and light rail ruled the transportation world. Between 1860 and 1920 more trains were built in this country then any other country in world. That was until the 1920's and 30's when trains began to disappear from the landscape. Why? Historically there were several reasons.

GM Comes a-knocking...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy

The first and most voracious was a targeted campaign by GM and other car/tire manufacturers. Car companies created dummy corporations, and bought out local rail companies, along with their tracks. Then a few years later they would close down the rail line, and sell off the equipment, and make a profit off of the former right-of-way. That and other factors resulted in a dramatic increase in sales of vehicles. This corruption made some politicians rich, and robbed everyday people. A court case was even brought against the car companies in the 1940's and 50's. They were found partially guilty, but ended up paying a very small fine for their actions.

Robert Moses...

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses

 This gigantic figure of New York City and it's outlying burrows was responsible for the highway system we have today. He championed the idea of building mega highways to accommodate traffic. Instead of sensible planning, Moses pushed the idea of demolishing large portions of cities and urban environments to accommodate those traveling by car. His ideas were big... and if was up to him he would have leveled half of New York in favor of more highways. While he was a giant, he favored vehicles over people, and progress over practicality.

This had a ripple effect. Engineers who worked with Moses went on to other posts in other places, and city planners ran with Moses' model, and began working on other cities, ramrodding massive highways through downtown areas, building ever wider roads. The national highway system gave massive amounts of money to states with new Highways construction, so of course the incentive for public rail systems all but disappeared.

Economic Change. 

The 40's and 50's saw the rise of advertising. The median income rose dramatically. For the first time, people had more money to spend on transportation. Meaning they could afford cars, and not the small 4 bangers like the model t. No, the cars of the 50's and 60's were larger, heavier, and needed a lot of parking space. Add to that mix low gas prices, and the flight from the problems of the inner city.

People began using trains less and less. So Sub-urban sprawl kicked in, placing people further and further from the city center, in massive outlying developments. 100 percent dependent upon cars. This system seemed to work well.. for a while...

 

 

What changed?

Congestion... traffic jams... construction...more congestion. Roads have become over stuffed, over traveled, and under maintained. Most major cities in the US suffer from a growing traffic nightmare. The fact is traffic has become unbearable in certain cities. A city the size of Orlando should not have the traffic of a city like New York. However the lack of travel options only encourages more traffic jams. Building more road's alone creates an unsustainable model. In a state like Florida, growing out means destroying the local environment, deforestation, and a drop in property values. Gas dependence made certain countries rich, and rising gas prices makes it increasingly difficult to make ends meet for everyone.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/02/the-american-commuter-spends-38-hours-a-year-stuck-in-traffic/272905/


But then engineers took a look back. Trains allowed for maximization of transit routes. You can fit thousands of commuters through a train artery for every dozen cars. Allowing consumers a variety of commute options lessens' traffic, increases density and reduces the strain on already strained roads. Ultimately they help to move more people faster and for less, and help to build a tax base. People move to where the stations are, and businesses follow them.

 That's why local commuter rail makes sense... and why its resurrection in Central Florida just might work.

What to Say When You Hear the Naysayers....

The nattering nay bobs of negativity can be a real downer. Thankfully these people represent a very small fraction of the people who generally like the idea of mass transit. It reminds me of those guys who railed against an expansion of the federal highway system, or the same people that said that the internet would never catch on. So how to reply to them when they spout off about how bad the train is/will be?

Sunrail has it's fair share of these guys...

"With the exception of a few hippies who can ride their bicycles (LOL) to their low-income jobs, no one will use this colossal waste of money." - Professional Naysayer

Trains as whole aren't about making money. Rather they bring economic development and mobility to urban and suburban areas. They facilitate growth, and help to create more sustainable development over the long term. They reduce traffic, and give job opportunities to a wider array of workers. They get the people to where the jobs and activities are.

Sunrail is here, and its about to open some huge economic opportunities to everyone democrats, republicans, and independents alike. If you're in the engineering, construction, real estate, marketing, or advertising fields, you're about to see a real boost to you're business if you're anywhere near one of the stations.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2014/03/785m-worth-of-construction-underway-near-sunrail.html

Hippies aren't the only ones who ride bikes. It's a healthy lifestyle especially as you get older, and Florida has one of the best environments for biking in the country. Besides that there will be other options than just bikes. Ride shares, Buses, Corporate Vans, Taxi's, pedicabs and of course walking, are all on the table as options for people looking to get where they need to go as I've covered previously.

Welcome to the I-4 Warzone...

The rail was designed and built for hard working people. These people didn't have any real options before, and now they do.

This train is big business... and if you do any research you learn just how many developments this project is bringing to Central Florida. So, let the naysayers yell insults and barbs from their cars jammed on I-4 in LA style traffic jams during rush hour come January 2015.
http://www.moving-4-ward.com/about-the-project/project-location/

You won't be able to hear them as you cruise to work on a clean, well maintained, smooth ride. Your car will still be waiting for you on the weekends, and it'll have less wear and tear from a daily commute, saving both gas and maintenance costs.

One more note: you can be confident in Sunrail's staying power not just because of past success of similar rail systems, but also because this project is fully funded by FDOT for the next 7 years no matter what the naysayers say.

Still have questions?

There are still a few questions that people have about what to expect with Sunrail. Here is a nice little montage of what to expect in a recent Bizjournal article.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/gallery/12461?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Forlando%2Fblog%2F2014%2F03%2F7-things-to-expect-when-riding-sunrail.html

Time to get some goodies...

SunRail has been hosting community events and tours ahead of thier opening in May. Here one such tour date few dates...

April 5
SunRail Community Train Tour event will take place Saturday,  from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sanford’s new SunRail station.

Click the link for more...

http://www.sunrail.com/?about/news.aspx

In Search of a Bike...

I'm in, I'm commited, I'm ready...
Maybe.

If you're going to take on the challenge of adopting to the new mass transit future your going to need a few realizations.

- Sunrail will only get you close to your destination.
- You're going to need alternative transportation to finish the journey.

- Weather can and will ruin your day.

My Sunrail journey will drop me within about a mile and a half from my job in Sanford, FL. More then likely I'll need a bike to get to and from the station, as I doubt any of my coworkers will want to stop and pick me up. Now there are ride share programs for some of the bigger companies, rented vans with some corporations, and even rental cars for some of the stops downtown are planned. But for little old Sanford such plans aren't in the works.

Here are the few of the options available to most commuters:

• Road Bike

• Bike's run between 100 for the cheapest and over $1000 dollars for some of the high end models.


• A simple solution, an elegant mode of transportation for a more civilized time. 
• Need a good smooth path like pavement, and preferably a straight route to avoid time delays.
• Run between 9-15 mph's on average. So be sure to calculate your timing and schedule accordingly. 

• Bus

• Slower on average because of the many stops, and there is no guarantee that a bus will be waiting to whisk you away to your intended stop because of scheduling conflicts.
• Good for longer distances, and downtown if you don't want to bike.

• Taxi
• Fast and reliable if called ahead of time.
• Expensive, but not an issue for well monied travelers.  

So biking it is. I guess this also means I'll need a helmet. Also I need to watch the weather channel more often in the morning. Or maybe a good weather app for my phone.