Sunrail ridership Up, Looks like an Epic Success!! (Orlando, Seminole: renting, move to)

[Bellamouse]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Doesn't take away from the fact that it's a poor and extremely dangerous design.

Chicago needs a commuter rail, whereas Orlando doesn't particularly. Therefore, Orlando should not have rushed to put this thing into operation. The city had plenty of time to develop a cohesive, functional system. They didn't.

Well having lived in both places, I can tell you the Sunrail here is a non-issue in terms of traffic and waiting. I have barely waited at all at any Sunrail crossing compared to the lengthy waits and crazy snarled traffic I was used to back home.

Yes, Chicago needs it, but I disagree that the Sunrail is not a "functional" system. Just because it doesn't serve everyone or as many as you think it should does not mean it's not functional. I have used it many times already since we moved here 5 months ago. Granted I am not the intended user, nor the user who will keep the system financially afloat (I use it only once or twice a month) but it certainly is functional. I think part of it is mindset - if you're not used to taking the train, it doesn't enter your mind as a possibility. Even I didn't think to use it until someone at my DH's work suggested it for a car trip I was going to take (I needed to go down the I4 and it was going to take me forever - the coworker overheard DH and I talking on the phone about it and shouted out, why don't you take the Sunrail?) and I was like, "Oh yeah!" So now every time I need to make that trip I always take the Sunrail.

[Bobdreamz]

These tracks were in place way before SunRail so why are they dangerous now? Stupid drivers.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

These tracks were in place way before SunRail so why are they dangerous now? Stupid drivers.

Trains weren't running back and forth every 30 minutes before SunRail. Yes, they are more dangerous now than they were prior. Very much so.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Bellamouse

Well having lived in both places, I can tell you the Sunrail here is a non-issue in terms of traffic and waiting. I have barely waited at all at any Sunrail crossing compared to the lengthy waits and crazy snarled traffic I was used to back home.

I wouldn't say it's so much the waiting times that are the issue, but rather the cacophony that results from its positioning, coupled with inattentive drivers in the area.

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by Bellamouse

Yes, Chicago needs it, but I disagree that the Sunrail is not a "functional" system. Just because it doesn't serve everyone or as many as you think it should does not mean it's not functional.

At some point you have to decide what a rails function is.

If it is to transport a fair populous of commuters, or speed up traffic in Orlando then SunRail is not functional.

As it continues to grow into it's planned phases it may impact development and growth among areas that SunRail services. That in many regards may be it's function.

As a public project though, it's worth questioning what the worth of SunRail is.


There isn't a 'doesen't serve as many as I (or anyone) think it should'. There are hard numbers. SunRail lost 27 Million Dollars last year in Operations alone.

I believe at 5% actual farebox recovery, SunRail is quite possibly the least successful railroad in the country at being self-sufficient.

Perhaps the ridership will swell this year. Observations do not seem to imply this to be the case.

[MrKnight]

Originally Posted by WithDisp

At some point you have to decide what a rails function is.

If it is to transport a fair populous of commuters, or speed up traffic in Orlando then SunRail is not functional.

As it continues to grow into it's planned phases it may impact development and growth among areas that SunRail services. That in many regards may be it's function.

As a public project though, it's worth questioning what the worth of SunRail is.


There isn't a 'doesen't serve as many as I (or anyone) think it should'. There are hard numbers. SunRail lost 27 Million Dollars last year in Operations alone.

I believe at 5% actual farebox recovery, SunRail is quite possibly the least successful railroad in the country at being self-sufficient.

Perhaps the ridership will swell this year. Observations do not seem to imply this to be the case.

Keep in mind SunRail is a NEW system, to expect immediate success with only one full year of operation under its belt is unreasonable and unrealistic... Only time will tell, we have no choice but to be optimistic as it has always been clear that Central Florida NEEDED a rail-based transportation system, and now we finally have it, it may not be perfect but we have to embrace it as it goes through its growing pains..

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by MrKnight

Keep in mind SunRail is a NEW system, to expect immediate success with only one full year of operation under its belt is unreasonable and unrealistic... Only time will tell, we have no choice but to be optimistic as it has always been clear that Central Florida NEEDED a rail-based transportation system, and now we finally have it, it may not be perfect but we have to embrace it as it goes through its growing pains..

Almost all the rail systems built in this country in the last 15 years have been quite unsuccessful. This can be accounted for the fact they weren't really needed- but popular among politicians as the Fed has been loose with giving out money for rail projects since 9/11. Of course it seems proactive to build- but is it a wise investment?


I'm not sure why you'd state we, first of NEED a rail-based system, as the result is an abysmally low number of daily riders. Also, being 'optimistic' and silent to the growing pains is counterproductive. Why has the agency not addressed why nearly all the major population hubs of Orlando were not considered when making this train?


I didn't expect immediate success one full year after operation, but as I see it- the thing will continue to see slim, slim ridership growth as costs to operate just increase considerably as the system grows in size to places that, once again, aren't densely populated enough to need a commuter rail.

[Bobdreamz]

Originally Posted by WithDisp

Almost all the rail systems built in this country in the last 15 years have been quite unsuccessful. This can be accounted for the fact they weren't really needed- but popular among politicians as the Fed has been loose with giving out money for rail projects since 9/11. Of course it seems proactive to build- but is it a wise investment?


I'm not sure why you'd state we, first of NEED a rail-based system, as the result is an abysmally low number of daily riders. Also, being 'optimistic' and silent to the growing pains is counterproductive. Why has the agency not addressed why nearly all the major population hubs of Orlando were not considered when making this train?


I didn't expect immediate success one full year after operation, but as I see it- the thing will continue to see slim, slim ridership growth as costs to operate just increase considerably as the system grows in size to places that, once again, aren't densely populated enough to need a commuter rail.

As to your first point SunRail is a commuter rail system so it based on existing CSX railroad tracks that were available. That means it had to follow were the freight tracks were first established even before Orlando sprawled itself to where the tracks didn't go.
We are not talking about building a entirely new system from scratch such as a Light-Rail system which would have addressed all the major population hubs of Orlando to begin with. Eventually the Orlando metro is going to need some metro wide Light Rail system in terms of public transport. It failed over 15 years ago when voted upon in the late 1990's.

As to your second point If you limit any system of transport, ridership or use of it will be slim. Imagine if you could only use I-4 only during the weekdays during rush hours & were denied access to I-4 after 8 pm & Weekends as well to get anywhere in the metro area?

Wouldn't be useful would it?

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

As to your first point SunRail is a commuter rail system so it based on existing CSX railroad tracks that were available. That means it had to follow were the freight tracks were first established even before Orlando sprawled itself to where the tracks didn't go.
We are not talking about building a entirely new system from scratch such as a Light-Rail system which would have addressed all the major population hubs of Orlando to begin with. Eventually the Orlando metro is going to need some metro wide Light Rail system in terms of public transport. It failed over 15 years ago when voted upon in the late 1990's.

As to your second point If you limit any system of transport, ridership or use of it will be slim. Imagine if you could only use I-4 only during the weekdays during rush hours & were denied access to I-4 after 8 pm & Weekends as well to get anywhere in the metro area?

Wouldn't be useful would it?

Which is another reason why the system is ridiculous.

Imagine the amount of riders the train would have if it stayed active later and on weekends.
I can think of plenty of times when I'm out and about with the kids on weekends and we go from Lake Mary to Lake Eola to SoDo. The train would be ideal for us (and fun/relaxing) but it doesn't operate.

Magic games and any other venue at the Amway? Wouldn't it make sense for the train to be an option to head out there?

Nightlife downtown?

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Which is another reason why the system is ridiculous.

Imagine the amount of riders the train would have if it stayed active later and on weekends.
I can think of plenty of times when I'm out and about with the kids on weekends and we go from Lake Mary to Lake Eola to SoDo. The train would be ideal for us (and fun/relaxing) but it doesn't operate.

Magic games and any other venue at the Amway? Wouldn't it make sense for the train to be an option to head out there?

Nightlife downtown?

Freight travels during those times.
The whole purpose of the line being built was for freight- utilizing it for passenger service was an afterthought.

Public Transit would be valuable for Central Florida. SunRail was hardly the solution.
Some on here claim it's just a starting point- but it's moreso a bad example that will make an government hesitant of such spending in the future.

The second Orange gets slapped with the operational bills, the whole attitude will change.