Ever seen a swarm of hornets go on attack?
If not, one lunch time this week drop by a restaurant on Woodland
Boulevard in DeLand and tell a server or a fellow diner you heard a rumor that the
state decided NOT to extend SunRail to DeLand.
Within hours DeLand residents and leaders would go after
state officials like a swarm of furious hornets … and we don’t blame them
because we’re passionate supporters of plans to extend SunRail service to
DeLand. That SunRail expansion can’t happen soon enough.
Last month there that was an ugly rumor that SunRail service
wouldn’t be extended to DeLand because there was not enough ridership to make
it worthwhile. Fortunately
Florida Department of Transportation officials up took the podium during a
public meeting in DeLand and assured residents that SunRail is coming to DeLand. Thank
goodness!
No one can afford to rest easy until the first SunRail commuter
train arrives at the DeLand train station in 2017. The existing DeLand station,
shown in the accompanying photo, currently serves 4 Amtrak trains daily.
DeLand’s existing train station is in the middle of nowhere
– miles from downtown. That’s why naysayers insist that few DeLand residents
will ride SunRail. We believe the naysayers are wrong because many DeLand
residents currently travel miles from home, through Orange City to DeBary to
use SunRail. That’s one of the reasons why DeBary is currently one of SunRail’s
busiest stations.
Contrary to yapping from naysayers the Old New York Avenue
location of the DeLand train station isn’t a curse – it’s an opportunity for
Deland and Volusia County. Currently Volusia has only one station in DeBary,
which is barely 5 minutes from the Seminole County line.
Expanded SunRail service will give DeLand residents and
other neighbors in western Volusia hassle-free access to downtown Orlando –
Central Florida’s economic powerhouse.
There are some long-range planners who are thinking of
Deland SunRail service as a possible launching pad to connect commuter train
service to Daytona Beach. Wouldn’t that be sweet?
SunRail service to DeLand makes lots of sense for so many
reasons, such as greater opportunities for employment, education and
entertainment. Let’s not forget that DeLand is also the home of Stetson
University. Imagine Stetson students riding the train to attend symposiums with
their counterparts at Rollins College in Winter Park and at the University of
Central Florida’s downtown campus and vice versa.
DeLand has a robust downtown and we bet that day trippers
from Orange, Seminole, and Osceola County would enjoy checking out dining and
shopping on Woodland Boulevard.
Woodland Boulevard, hmmm, that’s one of the challenges
because Woodland Boulevard in DeLand and Park Avenue in Winter Park are
completely different situations. Woodland is far from the DeLand train station.
A problem? Yes, but it’s not insurmountable.
Sanford faced a similar situation, and solved it by running
a free shuttle van from its SunRail station to its historic downtown business
district.
DeLand can go one better. Imagine a vintage streetcar
linking the train station to downtown. Now is the time to start lobbying local,
state and federal leaders to find money for streetcar service.
It’s also a good bet that developers see future SunRail
service as a draw to construct housing and businesses in the corridor between
downtown and the train station. The best part is that DeLand has the gift of
time – two years to work out thoughtful development and transportation plans to
support SunRail service.
We can’t wait to see what DeLand comes up with.
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