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.

About that Ad...

Okay we've all seen it... the new Sunrail ad airing on local stations.

Watch it here...

It's great, and terrible. It's good press... it's bad press. It's both for different reasons.


Let's break it down shall we?

The Good

1. It let's people know Sunrail is coming: There is a startlingly high rate of misinformation and simple ignorance regarding what Sunrail is and and what it isn't. This ad lets people know where to get the info, and inspires them check out the website.
2. It shows the spacious cabins and tables, the wifi, and the ample chair space.
3. The annoying girl gets peoples attention...

The Bad

1.  Cheese sticks? Really? Not funny in the slightest. Was this ad written in 2011? (insert G6 song reference here.)
2. It gives little practical information, like the cities it goes through, and the exact dates or times of when everything will actually be running. 
3. The annoying girl might make some people worry about noise intrusion into their own private spaces while riding.

Let's hope the advertising firm does better with their second ad. The message should be simple... here is an alternative from the UK, granted its a high speed train but the principals are the same.

Right here...

See that's how you do it, contrast, subtlety, nice music... no cheese sticks. Come on guys get it together.