Riders willing to pay extra for weekend SunRail

Many SunRail riders are willing to pay more on Saturday and Sunday for weekend train service.

That’s the result of a Facebook poll that SunRailRiders recently conducted.

Ever since SunRail launched five years ago, riders and the general public have been angry and frustrated that SunRail doesn’t provide weekend service.

For the Facebook poll we asked the question: Would you pay an extra $1 on a Saturday or Sunday for weekend SunRail service?

Of the nearly 400 who responded, 93% voted yes.

“I would be happy to get to downtown Sanford on weekends from SoDo without the I-4 nightmare,” John wrote on Facebook.

Many respondents said they would be willing to pay $5 or $10 more on the weekends for service because it was cheaper than taxis and ride-share.

There is a bone of contention, though.

People who have monthly or annual SunCards say it would be unfair to force them to pay more for weekend service.

“Why should I pay an extra dollar to ride on the weekend when I currently have a 30-day (SunRail) pass? I pay monthly and therefore I should not have to pay extra…A SunRail pass shortchanges the user at least 8 days,” Jeff wrote.

Those objecting to a weekend upcharge are right.

People with monthly and annual SunCards are SunRail’s ridership backbone.

They shouldn’t have to pay one penny more.

SunRail service isn’t cheap. An upcharge for those who use the train only on the weekends makes sense to help offset some of the operating costs.

SunRail is at a critical crossroad. In less than two years the Florida Department of Transportation will pass the management and financial responsibility for SunRail to the local funding partners – Orlando, Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.

We posed the Facebook poll question to make sure that local leaders know what kind of service the community expects and deserves.

Weekend service should be basic.

Many people in Central Florida do not work a traditional Monday to Friday bankers’ hours' schedule. The caregivers at local hospitals, airport workers and those employed in the service industry need a full-time train service, especially on the weekends.

On the few occasions when SunRail offered weekend service, the trains were slammed with passengers.

Weekend service is great for business – especially small businesses, recreation activities, such as theaters, sports venues and cultural activities.

See you on The Rail!

Riders vote for Saturday SunRail, but that's only half the answer

If SunRail could only run on one weekend day, SunRailRiders unanimously voted for Saturday.

That was the response to a recent poll we conducted on Facebook.

Nearly 400 riders responded to the question: “If SunRail could only run either Saturday or Sunday, which would you prefer?”

Of those respondents, 93 percent voted for Saturday.

Comments left by respondents included:

Dale: “Saturday would make the most sense. More businesses and events are on Saturday than Sunday.”

However, most of the comments were like this:

Lisa: “For the love of God, please do both.”

Ilene: “Here’s a thought – the WHOLE WEEKEND.”

Diane: “Why is both not an option?”

Support for weekend service is especially strong among people who work at Orlando International Airport; the service industry and hospital caregivers. (There are a half dozen hospitals that are either at SunRail stations, or very close the SunRail stops.)

In less than 2 years, the Florida Department of Transportation will transfer the financial and operational responsibility to local governments. That creates a huge opportunity to improve SunRail service.

We want to ensure that local elected leaders clearly understand the level of SunRail service this community expects and needs.

SunRail service that is available only on weekdays, with a schedule focused on bankers’ hours, has been a major disappointment to everyone. Thousands of people who want to use the train have never been able to ride because the service is not available on the weekends.

The people have spoken.

Are local-elected officials listening?

See you on The Rail.