DELAND, Fla. — SunRail is celebrating the start of construction for a new station in DeLand — one officials hope will help connect more of Volusia County to the rail system across Central Florida.

The new stop is part of a $34 million project to provide better commuter access to and from Volusia County.

Once the station in DeBary is connected to the newest station in DeLand, it will add about 12 miles of service, which officials say will open of possibilities for those looking to catch a train.

Wanda Alford says she loves getting out to explore. On the SunRail, she's visited Winter Park and Kissimmee. Now the the best part of her day is deciding where she’ll go next.

“I am going to historic downtown Sanford today to explore and see what that has to offer,” said Alford, arriving at the station in DeBary. 

She recently started taking the SunRail after having a craniotomy, as a way to get out and get some fresh air.

“Since I have been placed in a situation where right now I can not work, it just makes it easy for me to get out and follow doctors orders and exercise and do what I need to do to truly embrace life,” said Alford.

Living in downtown DeLand, she has to travel about 30 minutes to get to the DeBary, which is the closest station to her. But that won’t be the case for long thanks to the new station being built in DeLand.  

“I am excited that it is opening up in DeLand and I am sure everybody else in DeLand will be just as excited,” said Alford.

With a simple tap of her pass, Alford says a whole new realm of experiences open up to her thanks to the SunRail. Something she thinks more Volusia County residents will take advantage of.

“Some days I just don't feel like driving but I want to get out of the house and explore and eat at restaurants and go do things, and it makes it wonderful," she said. "And, I mean, I can’t wait to share this with my family when they come and visit."

On board the train, she says she can’t wait to dream of where she’ll be able to visit next.

“I’m ready," said Alford, in her seat. “I am looking forward to it expanding even further.”

Officials will announce more details about the new route before the project reaches its expected completion in 2024.

Monday’s groundbreaking marks the beginning of the construction of about 12 miles of track connecting DeLand to the rest of the service operating in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties.

Spectrum News Real-time Traffic Expert Jerry Hume spoke to one DeLand resident earlier this year about the project. She said she would prefer to take the new rail service over driving on Interstate 4.

“If the SunRail was here, I could have taken the SunRail down to Longwood and my girlfriend could have picked me up,” said Jean Bailey, a DeLand resident. “We’re going to meet anyways, and she would have picked me up and drove me around.”