DELAND, Fla. – The SunRail station has been up and running for over a month now in DeLand and those working in the downtown area tell News 6 they’re starting to see new faces and business come to town.
“We will say ‘where are you from? Are you Visiting?’ A lot of the people here coming in on Votran, are coming from Orlando, I think the Winter Park, maybe Windemere area, because it’s really east to get on and get off,” said Christa Yates, owner of Ms. Preppy Pants consignment shop.
SunRail started rolling in and out of DeLand on Aug. 12 with a free Votran shuttle service taking people from the train station to downtown four miles away.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Yates said summer is technically downtown DeLand’s “slow season,” but ever since the SunRail station opened, her shop has seen an average of about 20 new customers a day coming from the train. She believes that number is going to go up even more now that fall, “the busy season” is here.
“We have to many events coming up for the fall and winter,” she said. “Friday night markets are always fun and I think they’re talking about expanding the hours for SunRail and Votran so you can get a ride from the station to downtown.”
The DeLand Mainstreet Association also said most of the downtown businesses have also adjusted their hours to accommodate those SunRail riders wanting to come into town a little bit later in the day.
“There’s been a nice bump. It shows us people are interested,” said Stephanie Garcia-Mullins, the association’s Assistant Director.
Garcia-Mullins said it’s still early to get data on how much revenue is going up for the business but said they are working with Volusia County to expand the Votran shuttle service to other areas of DeLand based on the interest they’ve seen so far.
“In January, the option is going to be expanding to take it up to International Speedway Boulevard and on the south side of downtown to the intermodal bus stop,” she said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: