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John Tyler is convinced that SunRail’s new DeLand station will form the “backbone” for the future expansion of the commuter rail system.

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On August 9, local leaders celebrated the completion of the 12-mile, $42.8 million station in DeLand, which will begin full service to commuters on August 12. The station – the 17th in the decade-old operation – is the last in the originally planned 61.5-mile configuration, but is not expected to be the last.

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Tyler, the secretary of the 5th District of the Florida Department of Transportation, said Orlando Business Journal Now that the DeLand station is complete and negotiations with local government partners – including Volusia, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties and the city of Orlando – to take over funding and operation of the system from FDOT are complete, the focus can turn fully to expansion.

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