SunRail is dead if Congressman Ron DeSantis gets elected governor of Florida.
DeSantis hates SunRail! Click here to see his position. (Paragraph 12)
We hate to jump into partisan politics because we’re sure it will upset some of our fans. But if you support SunRail, you deserve the cold, hard truth.
There’s no reason for SunRail to become a victim of partisan politics. SunRail’s existence is a shining example of bipartisan cooperation that worked.
Consider that SunRail’s father is former Congressman John Mica, a conservative Republican.
For almost 20 years, Mr. Mica rallied a coalition of Democrat and Republican local, state and federal elected officials across Central Florida to support SunRail.
Departing Gov. Rick Scott was never a friend of Florida passenger rail. SunRail was reluctantly approved on his watch. But if you think Scott was bad; DeSantis is worse.
DeSantis, who represents a portion of Volusia County in Congress, has always been a Debbie Downer when it comes to SunRail.
One reason why SunRail service still has not been extended to DeLand is that DeSantis refused to support the initiative.
It’s easy for DeSantis and other naysayers to dismiss SunRail as a “boondoggle”.
Isn’t “boondoggle” the same label that was stuck on the airplane, the telephone, the radio, television, the space program, and other new ideas?
We’ll be the first to admit that SunRail in its current state – no weekend or late-night service, no direct rail connection to the airport – leaves a lot to be desired.
But you must start somewhere.
SunRail 2018 is a start. We need to build on what we have, not tear it down, or let it die.
Maybe Mr. DeSantis has been so busy campaigning across the state that he has not had the opportunity to drive around and see how bad traffic congestion has become in Central Florida.
This is not just a problem limited to downtown Orlando. Try 17-92 in DeBary and DeLand, Lake Mary Boulevard, State Road 436 and so on and see how you like it. Traffic is horrible on those main thoroughfares and the feeder streets.
Anyone naïve enough to think the I-4 Ultimate project can fix our traffic crisis will be staying up late at night waiting for the Easter Bunny and Santa.
No one claims SunRail will eliminate traffic congestion, but it can prevent things from getting worse by offering commuters the option to leave their cars home.
Already millions of dollars of new developments – homes and businesses have been built on the SunRail corridor. That’s called Transit Oriented Development – and it helps to hold down traffic congestion.
Small businesses from Sanford to Kissimmee have seen their sales increase thanks to new customers who have been arriving by SunRail. Travelers have used SunRail to reach the airport through a bus connection.
We’re certain SunRail usage will skyrocket if we can ever get a direct SunRail train connection to Orlando International.
Why doesn’t DeSantis seem to be aware of the benefits of SunRail? Imagine all the prosperity that could be flowing into DeLand – the county seat -- if DeSantis joined other Central Florida leaders to support that project.
Does DeSantis know Central Florida got kicked out of the competition for thousands of good-paying jobs and a second Amazon headquarters because our public transit system – Lynx and SunRail – sucks?
The Florida Department of Transportation is footing the operating costs for SunRail through 2021. Then local jurisdictions – Orlando, Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties -- are supposed to pick up the operating expenses. Considering that SunRail serves a four-county region on the I-4 corridor, the state’s support of SunRail will still be needed -- both with legislation and money.
Even as you are reading this article, a recent story in the Orlando Sentinel reported that state officials seem to be dragging their feet to address changes needed in legal documents that are key to the local takeover of SunRail.
For a moment, imagine a Gov. DeSantis… What if he decided to cut SunRail out of the state budget 2 years early. Can’t happen? Don’t bet on it.
We need a new governor who has the vision to understand and support improved public transit – SunRail and Lynx – in Central Florida.
Elections have consequences, and SunRail will be a goner if DeSantis becomes governor.
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