ORLANDO, Fla. — Local municipalities are now paying for SunRail operations after the Florida Department of Transportation announced they would discontinue funding last year.

At a Technical Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, members announced all partners came up with the funds, and on Dec. 31, they transferred the money needed to operate the commuter train for 2025.

“I was not that hopeful at certain times of last year but we were able to overcome that obstacle,” said John Booker, a SunRail Technical Advisory Committee member.

Vice Chair for the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Amy Lockhart says everything will stay the same and the FDOT will continue operating it, while the local governments fund it.

“We knew that there would have to be a transition from the state funding and operating SunRail to the local communities. And so, we’re in the first phase of that transition, which is estimated to take somewhere around three years,” said Lockhart. “So for right now, what is happening is basically your local governments are writing the check, and Florida Department of Transportation is continuing to operate the trains as they have.”

The SunRail system currently operates over 61 miles, with 17 stations through Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties.

Seminole County resident Melissa Foxx rides the train twice a month to go from Sanford to the Advent Health Hospital and says she enjoys the convenience of it.

“It’s kind of cool. Honestly, it’s neat that I can get right into the hospital right there,” said Foxx. “I just walk a few feet and I’m in the building.”

Committee members said that 2024 was SunRail’s best year since pre-COVID.

With 1.2 million people using SunRail, which represents a 12% increase in ridership over 2023.

They plan to continue working on ways to improve ridership.