Sunrail has sold 6,500 passes in anticipation of May start up

Started by thelakelander, February 07, 2014, 09:03:18 PM

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thelakelander

#15
April 02, 2014, 11:47:41 AM
What really gets depressing is when you apply that same process timeline to Jax. It's been at least 43 years since initial planning on the Skyway got started and 14 years on BRT.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

duvaldude08

#16
April 02, 2014, 12:02:59 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on April 02, 2014, 11:47:41 AM
What really gets depressing is when you apply that same process timeline to Jax. It's been at least 43 years since initial planning on the Skyway got started and 14 years on BRT.

Thanks Lake. Now I need conuseling LOL
Jaguars 2.0

Bridges

#17
April 02, 2014, 12:08:58 PM
Was just down in orlando this past weekend.  Saw the station in Winter Park on Park Ave.  Station looks great.  Aside from that station, that part of Park Ave is amazing.  Really nice park, with shaded sidewalks (actual shade trees not palm trees) and outside dining restaurants. 
So I said to him: Arthur, Artie come on, why does the salesman have to die? Change the title; The life of a salesman. That's what people want to see.

BridgeTroll

#18
April 02, 2014, 12:21:43 PM
Quote from: Bridges on April 02, 2014, 12:08:58 PM
Was just down in orlando this past weekend.  Saw the station in Winter Park on Park Ave.  Station looks great.  Aside from that station, that part of Park Ave is amazing.  Really nice park, with shaded sidewalks (actual shade trees not palm trees) and outside dining restaurants. 

Took Amtrack to Winter Park a couple weeks ago for the HUGE art festival... I will be doing that every year from now on.  BTW... saw all the Sunrail stations between here and Winter Park... they make the amshacks look bad...
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

thelakelander

#19
April 02, 2014, 12:28:52 PM
Yeah, they do.  I'm thinking about going down there and enjoying their grand opening activities next month. It may be the closest we get to seeing a new rail system kick off within driving distance for a few years.  It will also be an good eventual comparison to the day that Jax's BRT goes live.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

BridgeTroll

#20
April 02, 2014, 12:31:31 PM
They had a train set up for tours during the art festival...  very shiny and new!   8)
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

Coolyfett

#21
April 02, 2014, 02:54:39 PM
Damn....Orlando making moves, building their brand. Lake have you ever thought about moving there?? Has it ever crossed your mind, being a Famu kid and all?
Mike Hogan Destruction Eruption!

thelakelander

#22
April 02, 2014, 03:04:38 PM
I grew up 20 minutes from Disney and split time between Jax and Central Florida for work. At this point, I'm not interested in moving back down there.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

exnewsman

#23
April 02, 2014, 06:56:16 PM
Come on now... JTA did give you a Park-n-Ride with express bus service from Clay County. That's almost the same a having rail, right? I blame James Boyle for moving to Anchorage, Alaska. He was the commuter rail guy at JTA.

The Tim

#24
April 15, 2014, 08:48:56 PM
Orlando IS OVERCROWDED! Especially in the tourist areas. I hope the Sunrail makes traffic in O-Town much much better.

thelakelander

#25
April 16, 2014, 11:51:35 AM
FDOT press release:

QuoteSunRail announces free service for passengers starting May 1

Sanford – SunRail, Central Florida's new commuter rail system, will provide free rides for passengers for two weeks beginning the first day of service on May 1st.

The free service will last through May 16, with regular revenue service for paying passengers scheduled to begin on May 19. The free service is designed to allow passengers to experience the comfort and ease of commuting on SunRail, and become familiar with SunRail schedules and cost-savings prior to purchasing or activating more than 12,000 pre-sold passes on May 19.

During the free trial period, SunRail ambassadors will be available at each station and on board trains to answer any questions that SunRail riders might have. The Ambassadors will also be available on May 19, and for several weeks thereafter, to assist customers with pass purchases at Ticket Vending Machines located on each platform, and to remind riders to "Tap On" at ticket validators before boarding SunRail, and to "Tap Off" at their final destination. The SunRail
Ambassadors will be easy to spot in black polos with the bright SunRail logo, and black pants.

As a reminder, motorists and pedestrians are urged to use caution, obey all railroad and traffic signals, and look both ways before approaching a railroad crossing and accessing SunRail platforms. The Florida Department of Transportation cares about your safety. Around railroad tracks, please be smart, and stay safe.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

ProjectMaximus

#26
April 16, 2014, 03:40:32 PM
I've got to be in Tampa the first week of May. Perhaps I'll head down a day early to do a little rail riding...

spuwho

#27
April 16, 2014, 04:33:44 PM
Quote from: The Tim on April 15, 2014, 08:48:56 PM
Orlando IS OVERCROWDED! Especially in the tourist areas. I hope the Sunrail makes traffic in O-Town much much better.

Agreed, it is crowded. But the new SunRail service provides no value to either the Disney or Universal properties or I-Drive. (unless they provide direct shuttle services from a station)

You will still see the nightly traffic jams on I-4 from Vineland-Apopka to Sand Lake as people in their rental mini-vans leave the parks.

Just my 2 cents, but none of the parks really have any material interest in creating easier access to their properties because there is a significant revenue source in the paid parking they provide. Any kind of public (or even private) alternate forms of arrival or departure would take that revenue right out of their pocket.

As an example I have tried to use the Disney "drop off" zone which you cannot reach until after you go through the parking admission stand. It's an honor system when you tell them and good luck finding it. There is only 1 sign saying what exit it is and there are no signs after showing you where it is. If you miss it, you end up in the employee parking lot. (I had to get a flat tire fixed while the clan went in)

We finally found it in the middle of a remote lot. Since you didn't pay to be there, you have to hoof it to reach the gate, no courtesy shuttles here.

So I drove up to the Disney bus zone farther up the road (and much closer to the gate by about 400-500 yards) and attempted the drop off and the reaction was swift by Disney Security.  I wasn't asked, I was demanded to leave the bus zone immediately and if anyone attempted to exit the vehicle we would be banned from the park.

So we drove just outside the bus zone and completed the drop off.

The inconvenient placement and security reaction tells me that parking revenue is a protected activity. There was plenty of vacant land right next to the bus zone to create a dedicated drop off zone for non-buses, but why? Why would Disney want to deal with cabs, hired vans, private shuttles or even worse, private buses.

I think having some sort of transit access would be great for all the properties, but the park owners have a dramatically different opinion on it.


thelakelander

#28
May 01, 2014, 06:31:05 AM
Sunrail is now operational. A few images from the Orlando Sentinel:


First #sunrail train leaves on time from #sanford http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmilQBwIYAE_TME.jpg


Sharief McDaniel, the first passenger on #SunRail with a bike. Rail will shave 2+ hours off his Lynx commute.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/sunrail/os-sunrail-live-coverage-20140430,0,2327245.htmlpage
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Scrub Palmetto

#29
May 02, 2014, 12:19:20 AM
^That must have been pretty cool to be the first passengers on the first train, with that new train smell. :)

Am I ridiculous for being excited that there's actually an urban rail system within 100 miles of Jacksonville now? I know I'm crazy for hoping it could be relatively hard for Jax to ignore. Did any Jacksonville news agencies even report on its debut today?
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