Lots of people are excited the SunRail is in the pipeline
to get money to extend service south to Osceola County, but there are serious
concerns that federal dollars have not been allocated to extend the train north
to DeLand.
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| Osceola Commissioner Viviana Janer |
However, SunRail bosses are applying for a federal Tiger
grant to extend train service to DeLand. Tiger grants were created to connect
communities to help improve economic, employment and other opportunities. Those
Tiger grants are very competitive, but Deland’s chances have been boosted by
Osceola County Commissioner Viviana Janer. Keep in mind, DeLand is in Volusia
County, not Osceola County.
There had been plan to seek a Tiger grant for a circulator
bus -- similar to the LYMMO bus in Orlando -- with dedicated lanes and priority
traffic signals for the busy tourist corridor on U.S. 192 in Osceola County.
However, that ask has been put on the shelf by Janer who responsibilities
include representing Osceola County on the boards of Lynx and SunRail.
In a
note to us, Janer wrote: “In the spirit of being
good regional partners, I requested it be removed from Lynx agenda earlier
(last) week so that SunRail Phase 2 North (to DeLand) would be the only
application from our region, it was approved for removal by the (Lynx) board.
“In addition to removing it from the agenda the Lynx board
agreed to giving a letter of support for Phase 2 North.”
It’s not as though the bus circulator isn’t needed on US 192 in
Osceola, because it is. But Janer also understands what a big difference
SunRail can make for the DeLand area.
Imagine if our elected officials in Washington demonstrated that
same big-picture thinking to make life better for all of us.
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