Transportation Events Coincide with State of Downtown Address
Thursday, October 10, 2013
By: Nicole Creston

October 10, 2013 | WMFE- Potential SunRail customers will get a first look at the new commuter train at downtown Orlando's Church Street Station Thursday.

[When it's fully built in 2016, SunRail will extend 61 miles, connecting DeLand in Volusia County to Poinciana in Osceloa County, with 17 stations along the way. Photo by Brendan Byrne / WMFE]

The lunchtime display of a new SunRail locomotive and two passenger cab cars is one of two transportation-related events set to coincide with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s annual “State of Downtown” address at the Amway Center.

There will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new downtown Orlando carsharing program put together by the Florida Department of Transportation and Hertz Rental Car company.

Orlando-based Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Olson says SunRail riders will be able to disembark at a downtown stop and rent a car by the hour.

"These things are tied together to transportation," says Olson. 

"They’re very much tied to downtown Orlando, and while the mayor will be doing his State of Downtown, we’re looking at this as a great opportunity to showcase some of the things that will help downtown commuters get here and there." 

SunRail is expected to be operational by Spring 2014.