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Cities in Central Florida plan for the coming of SunRail.

November 29, 2011

There was an article in this weekend's Orlando Sentinel about SunRail, Central Florida's new commuter railroad that will one day run north and south through the Orlando metro area. The focus of the article was how cities along the route could benefit from construction around the SunRail stops. Since SunRail will run on existing tracks, there won't be much say in where the line itself will go. Therefore, some cities will be better positioned than others to take advantage of SunRail's proximity.

For example, the suburban cities of Maitland, Altamonte Springs, and Sanford all have large business centers, made up of corporate parks and malls, several miles east of the SunRail stops. But these cities, including Longwood, Lake Mary, DeBary, and parts of Orlando are planning transit-oriented development, walkable communities around the stops that will feature offices, and residences, along with ground floor shops, restaurants, and other services. It's a telling sign that more people are beginning to appreciate the benefit that Main Street style developments can bring to an area.

But what about the existing Destination Main Streets in the area? Sanford's SunRail stop will be about a mile to the east of its historic downtown. A shuttle will be set up on a trial program to run between the historic downtown, the SunRail stop, and Seminole Towne Center, a large mall further to the east. Despite this, businesses in downtown Sanford may not see much benefit from having SunRail nearby.

On the other hand, Winter Park's Main Street is perhaps the best equipped to take advantage of SunRail. Winter Park's SunRail stop is in the heart of its historic downtown, not far from the shops and restaurants on Park Avenue and Hannibal Square. Maps, signs, and even volunteers will help direct SunRail passengers from the train to Winter Park's businesses, all a short stroll away.

It will be interesting to see how each city in Central Florida handles the coming of SunRail. No matter what though, mass transit is an excellent ingredient to any Destination Main Street.