New station completes original vision for 17 stations across Central Florida counties
DELAND, Fla. – The bold vision for a SunRail commuter rail line to connect four Central Florida counties through 17 stations, over 61 miles, was realized today, Friday, August 9, with the opening of the DeLand SunRail Station in Volusia County.
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E., District Five Secretary John E. Tyler, P.E., the partners of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, elected officials from Volusia County, the City of DeLand, and counties and cities across Central Florida, representatives from the railroad industry and civic organizations, and community partners from along the SunRail line held a Grand Opening Celebration with SunRail’s traditional bell-ringing, confetti cannons, and banners representing each of the three phases of SunRail’s development since the first stations opened in 2014.
“Today marks an exciting day where we can officially welcome DeLand and the surrounding community to the SunRail system,” said FDOT Secretary Perdue. “I’m extremely proud of the efforts of all our partners and FDOT team members who have made this final leg of the corridor a reality, accomplishing the original vision laid out for the SunRail system.”
The first train is scheduled to leave at 5:15 a.m. Monday, August 12, from the new station, the northernmost stop on the SunRail commuter rail system. The station is located at 2491 Old New York Avenue, DeLand.
“We are proud of how SunRail connects our communities,” said FDOT District Five Secretary Tyler. “SunRail serves thousands of commuters every week through work, education, and leisure travel opportunities. It has attracted new development and economic opportunity near the stations and empowered us to reimagine and reinvent what it means to live and work in Central Florida.”
“Each train that stops at the DeLand Station brings with it the potential for economic growth, more jobs, and more prosperity for the people of Volusia County,” said Volusia County Chair and Chairman of the SunRail commission Jeff Brower. “It also gives the residents of Volusia County another option for making their lives less stressful and more convenient. This is another path forward to a more interconnected and economically robust community.”
SunRail operates 40 trains Monday through Friday, connecting communities from DeLand to Poinciana. The Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission is a partnership between Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando, and they work with FDOT to operate the SunRail system.
The new DeLand Station, constructed adjacent to the existing Amtrak Station, extends service from the DeBary Station up to DeLand, a distance of 12.2 miles. The design for the new station reflects DeLand’s historic and natural beauty and features a unique center platform.
Fares start as low as $2, with discounts available for seniors, youth, and individuals with disabilities. All trains and stations are fully accessible; station parking is free, and trains feature onboard restrooms, comfortable work-station seating, and free WiFi. Passengers can purchase tickets via the SunRail Mobile app, available in the App Store and Google Play, or at ticket vending machines located on station platforms.
Upon arrival at the new DeLand SunRail Station, passengers have multiple options for reaching their final destination, including the VoRide rideshare service, https://www.votran.org/take-a-trip/voride.stml. Through a partnership with Votran, the City of DeLand, and MainStreet DeLand, SunRail is also in the final stages of making arrangements for a free, dedicated shuttle between the station and points of interest in downtown DeLand. Bicycles are welcome on SunRail trains, and bicyclists will be able to easily travel to downtown DeLand and connect to trails near the DeLand Station.
SunRail works closely with community partners for special events, to serve new residences near the rails, for career building with employers who promote employees’ use of mass transit, for educational opportunities for students, and supports mixed-use and new business for Transit-Oriented Development.
Over the last 10 years, 41 Transit-Oriented Development projects have been completed or started near stations with a construction value of $1.8 billion. The first 16 stations have experienced $2.4 billion in cumulative property value growth. DeBary is now adding its Main Street project, and new housing plans adjacent to the DeLand Station are already moving forward.
To learn more about SunRail, including train schedules, fares, station locations, and suggestions for things to do, please visit www.SunRail.com and download the SunRail Mobile and SunRail Alerts apps. Please be careful around trains, railroad crossings, and while at station platforms. Be smart. Be safe.
Las consultas de los medios deben dirigirse a la Oficina de Información Pública del Distrito Cinco del FDOT en FDOT-D5COMM@dot.state.fl.us o por teléfono al 386-943-5593.