FDOT suffers blowback on DeLand SunRail fail

The Florida Department of Transportation experienced some serious blowback on Thursday from its decision to withdraw an application for a federal grant to extend SunRail service to DeLand.

The incoming fire came from the SunRail Commission of local elected officials charged with overseeing Central Florida’s commuter train.

Relations between the SunRail Commission and FDOT are normally affable. Things took a turn when Volusia County Council Member Pat Patterson expressed frustration that the TIGER grant application was pulled at the last minute. Patterson said he didn’t clearly understand the reason the application was pulled. Neither do we.

Earlier this year FDOT officials spoke glowingly about the TIGER grant application that was being prepared. This was to be the second year an application was submitted and FDOT officials said they thought there was a great chance for it to be approved. At the last minute, though, it wasn’t submitted to the feds.

Many people in Volusia County are understandably upset there is no timetable for doing the work needed to extend SunRail service north from DeBary to DeLand.

Patterson was not alone in his unhappiness. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who chairs the SunRail Commission; Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari and Osceola County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer all said FDOT should have notified them there was a problem so they could work together to solve it.

This hot potato landed in the lap of SunRail new CEO Nicola Liquori who had not joined SunRail when FDOT promised to submit the application. Ms. Liquori has already pledged to find the federal dollars needed for the project.

We’ll see what happens.

#SaturdaySunRail starts next week

#SaturdaySunRail starts Oct.8, just in time to provide easy transportation to the Come Out With Pride Festival at downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola.

During the big reveal on Thursday morning officials explained that between October and February SunRail will run Saturdays -- generally between 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Expect the schedule to change on a weekly basis to support large-scale events.

Stakeholders ranging from the Orlando Magic to Florida Hospital raised $250,000 to get #SaturdaySunRail started, but more money is needed. There’s even an opportunity for average people to put their money where their mouths are to help with sponsorships of $35 or more. To help sponsor #SaturdaySunRail, please click here.

Two years ago SunRailRiders led the petition campaign to get weekend service so we were happy to attend the official announcement of #SaturdaySunRail.

This new service is not perfect. The #SaturdaySunRail schedule supports leisure events, but it does little for the people who need SunRail to get to work in the hospitality industry, hospitals and Orlando International Airport.

Right now it’s critical that people take advantage of this Saturday service to encourage the political will necessary to expand Saturday service hours and begin Sunday service.

See you on The Rail.

Will SunRail be running for Come Out With Pride?

Will I be able to take SunRail to the Come Out With Pride Festival at Lake Eola?

SunRailRiders has been campaigning for weekend SunRail service for more than 2 years. We’re the guys who launched the petition drive to get weekend train service.

Just this past weekend we got word that a group of local stakeholders was launching an effort to raise private money to pay for weekend SunRail service. They said they hoped to begin service on October.

Come Out With Pride is on Oct. 8. Our sources tell us that the stakeholders plan to have #SaturdaySunRail service started in time for Come Out With Pride. The exact schedule for that Saturday and other Saturdays will be announced this Thursday.

For the latest details follow us at www.SunrailRiders.com, www.Facebook.com/SunRailRiders and www.Twitter.com/SunRailRiders

Saturday SunRail details coming this Thursday

The official #SaturdaySunRailannouncement will be made this coming Thursday morning.

Since this past weekend when www.SunRailRiders.com broke the latest details about plans to launch SunRail service on Saturday, people have been asking us:

• ·         When will #SaturdaySunRail start?

• ·         How can individuals help by donating $25 or more to join the crowd-sourcing effort to support the train's Saturday operations?

• ·         How late will the train run on Saturdays?

That information will be spelled out on Thursday before the regular SunRail Commission meeting.

One thing we can tell you is our sources say they expect the train to start rolling in October, probably in time to support the massive Come Out With Pride Festival on Saturday, Oct. 8 in Orlando’s Lake Eola.

See you on The Rail.

Saturday SunRail sponsor information

Platinum Engineer Sponsor - $25,000

• Six opportunities available
• Tax deductible non-profit contribution
• Recognition at announcement event with Mayor Buddy Dyer
• Recognition in all press releases
• Recognition at associated earned media events
• Recognition during City Hall meeting with proclamation
• Logo placement on letterhead
• Logo placement on Team SunRail website
• Logo placement on event emails and announcements
• Logo placement on SunRail on Saturdays outdoor billboards
• On-train advertising with logo placement
• Special feature on website for Saturday service promotion
• Social media spotlights on Downtown Orlando Partnership outlets
• Individualized social media promotion on SunRail outlets
• 20 round-trip SunRail tickets

Gold Conductor Sponsor - $2,500

• Logo placement on Team SunRail website and print marketing pieces
• 10 round-trip SunRail tickets
• Pair of event tickets to the following events:

Come Out With Pride Festival
Orlando Magic basketball game
Orlando Solar Bears hockey game
Dr. Phillips Center show (tbd)
Downtown Orlando Tours

Commuter Enthusiast - $25 plus donation

• Individual recognition on social media outlets
• Participation in grassroots, crowd-funding project
• 2 round-trip SunRail tickets
• 1-of-a-kind Orlando/SunRail themed T-shirt

Mayor Dyer's Saturday SunRail letter

Dear Friend,

The number one question we hear about SunRail is, “When is our train going to run on the weekends?” This illustrates both the enthusiasm people have for our young mass transit system, as well as their desire to see SunRail’s operating hours expand beyond those that primarily serve daily commuters. 

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

As you may know, SunRail was designed to be a commuter rail system that would immediately give residents an alternative to I-‐4 and their vehicles during daily commuting hours – while also serving as the backbone of a future multi-modal transit system that connects with and enhances other forms of transit. That future includes the weekend service so many of our Central Florida residents desire.

At this moment, SunRail is not in a position to expand service to weekends. We knew this was going to be the case for the first several years of SunRail’s existence. That said, accepting the status quo and letting challenges stand in our way is not what we do in Orlando. When we see opportunities to make our community stronger and increase the quality of life for our residents, we work together to craft creative, partnership-‐driven solutions to turn good ideas into reality. That’s precisely what some of our major businesses and community organizations are doing… through a pilot project that will fund SATURDAY SERVICE ON SUNRAIL FROM OCTOBER THROUGH JANUARY.

Through a unique nonprofit partnership, the Downtown Orlando Partnership, The Downtown Orlando Foundation, The Downtown Development Board, some of Orlando’s major businesses and key community stakeholders are working together to fund and lead this exciting effort.

This project is important for a number of reasons. First, by offering leisure service, we create opportunities for residents to “try out” SunRail. This will, in turn, lead to more people adopting the train as their commuting method of choice and building long‐term ridership on the system. Second, this community-‐driven project puts us in a position to showcase the demand for expanded service and, thus, helps permanent weekend service become a reality more rapidly. Third, this project represents an important shared commitment by our businesses and civic community to the success of mass transit options throughout our region.

Additionally, the October ‐ January window features major events occurring virtually every Saturday in Downtown Orlando, as well as near station stops up and down the SunRail line. SunRail service on Saturdays will drive attendance to these events and give attendees a new transportation option. The SunRail On Saturdays project is an important endeavor for our community and I strongly encourage you to get involved and become a funding partner. We cannot do this without you. Accompanying this letter is a document that outlines the various levels for nonprofit contributions.

If you would like to learn more about the project or have questions, please contact Bridget Keefe at the Downtown Orlando Partnership at (407) 595-0897.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer

Open letter to SunRail's new CEO

Dear Ms. Nicola Liquori,

Congratulations on your new role as SunRail CEO. We wish you every success!

Some riders were dismayed that you don’t have a passenger-rail background. We appreciate their concern, but we’re not overly worried because strong leadership can be as important as detailed technical knowledge and experience. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower led Allied forces to victory in World War II even though he never personally commanded soldiers on a battlefield.

The areas of focus that you detailed at the September Technical Advisory Committee meeting make sense. However, we were disappointed that customer satisfaction was not listed among your priorities.

SunRail ridership continues to sag because customer satisfaction is not -- and has not been -- a top priority.

Specifically, we call your attention to the train schedule. SunRail is almost completely useless unless you’re going to a traditional Monday through Friday 9 to 5 job.

What about the caregivers at Orlando Health (ORMC) and Florida Hospital? They don’t work a traditional schedule limited to weekdays.

How about the thousands of people who work at Orlando International Airport and in the hospitality and tourism industry? That’s a pool of thousands of prospective riders who want to use SunRail, but they can’t because of the train’s awful schedule.

We’ve been waiting two years for a real leader. We hope that’s you.

Please pay attention to what current riders -- and would-be riders -- are saying (especially the hospital caregivers). Don’t be misled by SunRail’s high-priced consultants. If they knew what they were talking about SunRail’s problems would have been solved long ago.

No service on weekends and holidays; no late-night service, 2 ½-hour service gaps during off-peak hours just don’t cut it. Those deficiencies are huge customer dis-satisfiers. You don’t need a Madison Avenue marketing guru to figure that out.

The schedule needs to be fixed now, not in five years. Waiting any longer will guarantee SunRail’s failure.

Fix SunRail’s schedule, extend service to DeLand, and your success will be guaranteed.

Sincerely

SunRail riders