Why commuter rail?

Population growth equals more traffic delays

• Population of Central Florida is expected to more than double in less than five decades (1)
• More than 100,000 additional vehicles were registered in Central Florida between 2004 and 2008 (2)
• Vehicle miles traveled in Central Florida have almost tripled since 1982 (3)
• Gasoline consumption has increased an average of 34 percent in the last decade (3)
• More than 88 percent of Central Floridians polled by the University of Central Florida believe that the region needs a more balanced transportation system -- including increased transit options such as passenger rail and buses (4)
• SunRail provides new opportunities to focus growth in urban areas and improve job opportunities
• SunRail provides reliable mobility service during peak travel times

Tourism

• Tourism is the leading industry in Central Florida, employing nearly one-quarter of the workforce (5)
• An estimated 48.9 million people visited Central Florida in 2008 (5)
• The number of tourists is expected to grow by 77 percent by the year 2030, adding to the region's congested road network (5)
• SunRail will provide an alternative travel mode for tourists

Traffic congestion

• Orlando drivers lost $850 in time and gasoline while creeping along in rush hour traffic in 2007, up from $510 in 2003 (6)
• The $850 cost to each Orlando driver is expected to grow with traffic congestion and increased gasoline prices
• SunRail is expected to move as many people as one lane of Interstate 4 during peak travel times (about 2,000 cars per hour) at a cost less than building a single lane of I-4 (cost for 30 miles along I-4 is $2.3 billion vs. 61.5 miles of SunRail at $1.05 billion for right-of-way and construction) 
• Rush hour delays have increased by 3.2 hours since 1982 (3)
• SunRail service will start in early 2013, before major reconstruction of Interstate 4 begins
• Freight rail traffic in urban areas will be mitigated during peak travel times
• Operations of SunRail and regional bus systems will be coordinated to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of our mass transit system
• SunRail could be the start of rail connections throughout the region