(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3248616998_9MMs2R9-M.jpg)
QuoteThe SunRail commuter train finished its first year of operation $27.2 million in the red, bringing in $7.2 million while spending $34.4 million.
The shortfall was covered by taxpayers through the state Department of Transportation, which oversees the system running from DeBary in Volusia County through downtown Orlando to south Orange County.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, chairman of the SunRail board, called the performance "good for a first year."
He predicted SunRail's losses would fall in coming years because the train would carry more passengers and advertising income would increase.
"We should be able to grow that [revenue] over time," he said.
But chances are slim of SunRail breaking even, much less making money. Virtually all mass transit systems are subsidized.
A 2014 survey by the U.S. DOT found that the so-called fare box recovery rate — revenue from fares — across the country ranges from about 27 percent for bus systems to 48.5 percent for commuter-rail operations.
In South Florida, the Tri-Rail commuter train, which has been running since 1987, covered just more than 21 percent of its $75.3 million budget with fares. Lynx, which runs buses in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, brought in 30 percent of its $126.4 million budget with fares.
SunRail completed its inaugural year May 1, carrying just short of 900,000 fare-paying customers. The daily ridership average was almost 3,700, about 600 short of the 4,300 passenger goal.
Full article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/sunrail/os-sunrail-fares-low-20150510-story.html
On highways, the article says...Gas taxes, he said, cover less than half the cost of construction and maintenance nationwide and will pay for even less in coming years because people are buying more fuel-efficient cars and cutting back on driving.
If they reach 48% out of the fare box, then they are doing fantastic.
It doesn't say how much of the $34M was unique for a startup and not something they will see year over year. DeLand extension is a dead end right now, but the Osceola extension is totally viable. If Disney runs shuttles over to the station, you can stay farther away (cheaper).
There is also this:
http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2015/04/exclusive-7-details-on-new-airport-to-i-drive.html?page=all
Quote
EMMI LLC, the entity building the privately funded magnetic-levitation train system, is targeting July of this year to start construction along the 13.7-mile corridor between Orlando International Airport and Orlando's International Drive corridor.
That is in addition to All Aboard Florida's high speed rail to Miami. Central Florida could very soon have one of the most advanced transportation networks in the South, if not the country. And it all started with SunRail.
Subsidized to the hilt, huh? Imagine that.
Quote from: stephendare on May 13, 2015, 12:22:00 PM
Quote from: RattlerGator on May 13, 2015, 12:10:37 PM
Subsidized to the hilt, huh? Imagine that.
yeah, and compared to the 100% subsidized highways its a bargain.
Well, at least the rail is bringing in some revenue to less the subsidies. Not much, but some.
Quote from: stephendare on May 13, 2015, 12:22:00 PM
yeah, and compared to the 100% subsidized highways its a bargain.
+100
Quote from: Adam12 on May 12, 2015, 09:46:09 PM
There is also this:
http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2015/04/exclusive-7-details-on-new-airport-to-i-drive.html?page=all
Quote
EMMI LLC, the entity building the privately funded magnetic-levitation train system, is targeting July of this year to start construction along the 13.7-mile corridor between Orlando International Airport and Orlando's International Drive corridor.
That is in addition to All Aboard Florida's high speed rail to Miami. Central Florida could very soon have one of the most advanced transportation networks in the South, if not the country. And it all started with SunRail.
The EMMI maglev project is Lakelanders favorite. :)
I agree that all this new transit going into Central Florida is a good thing, but until that 100 pound gorilla called Disney allows public high density transit onto the property, all these new rail forms will simply be feeding more rental car and express buses.
For Disney, parking is a revenue source. Their monorail only adds value to them. Allowing a 3rd party to bring a mass transit option inside the property is heresy. Also the government makes alot of money off rental car taxes. To get all parties involved to agree on an approach is a huge challenge.
Quote from: stephendare on May 13, 2015, 12:22:00 PM
Quote from: RattlerGator on May 13, 2015, 12:10:37 PM
Subsidized to the hilt, huh? Imagine that.
yeah, and compared to the 100% subsidized highways its a bargain.
+ another 100. We subsidize roads every bit as much as transit, if not more.
Quote from: spuwho on May 13, 2015, 02:16:06 PM
Quote from: Adam12 on May 12, 2015, 09:46:09 PM
There is also this:
http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2015/04/exclusive-7-details-on-new-airport-to-i-drive.html?page=all
Quote
EMMI LLC, the entity building the privately funded magnetic-levitation train system, is targeting July of this year to start construction along the 13.7-mile corridor between Orlando International Airport and Orlando's International Drive corridor.
That is in addition to All Aboard Florida's high speed rail to Miami. Central Florida could very soon have one of the most advanced transportation networks in the South, if not the country. And it all started with SunRail.
The EMMI maglev project is Lakelanders favorite. :)
I agree that all this new transit going into Central Florida is a good thing, but until that 100 pound gorilla called Disney allows public high density transit onto the property, all these new rail forms will simply be feeding more rental car and express buses.
For Disney, parking is a revenue source. Their monorail only adds value to them. Allowing a 3rd party to bring a mass transit option inside the property is heresy. Also the government makes alot of money off rental car taxes. To get all parties involved to agree on an approach is a huge challenge.
Yeah I am jealous. It seems like Orlando and Miami are allowed to move themselves forward but everywhere else in the state gets smacked down if we so much as mention the word "rail." So I mention it every chance I get. lol
And Busch Gardens is the same as Disney - they don't want any form of transit service because it would cut into their parking revenues. Very frustrating. I don't have to go there though.
I'll believe that maglev when I see it. Anyway, good for Orlando and Miami. I wish both the best with their investments. Those two progressive metro areas will eventually pull Jax and Tampa, kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
I agree, and that is my genuine hope - that we will get there eventually. As long as our kids and grandkids still want to live in Florida in 50 years, this will probably all have been worth it.
Quote from: Adam12 on May 13, 2015, 07:40:11 PM
+ another 100. We subsidize roads every bit as much as transit, if not more.
I agree with this completely, it's just that some folks so rarely acknowledge what you just did -- subsidies exist everywhere, and even when they do acknowledge it, they go to the crazy extreme (cough *stephendare* cough) and insist highways don't grow a taxbase or build access to communities that taxpaying Americans actually want, so they are 100% subsidized.
You can play with the mathematics but these mass transit alternatives are almost all close to 100% subsidized:
QuoteIn South Florida, the Tri-Rail commuter train, which has been running since 1987, covered just more than 21 percent of its $75.3 million budget with fares. Lynx, which runs buses in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, brought in 30 percent of its $126.4 million budget with fares.
So, 80% for Tri-Rail and 70% for Lynx. And that's just what they admit via accounting most favorable to them.
I think everyone already knows this. I know for a fact we've been saying this since our launch back in 2006. Like the FCE, every individual project's ROI needs to evaluated on its own merits. Do that and you'll find good and bad transit, road projects, etc. I have no problems saying you'll find dogs with both modes.....especially in Jax.