More than 56,000
commuters live in
Volusia
County
and work in Brevard, Orange and Seminole counties. Votran, Volusia
County's public transit system, offers four Commuter
Assistance Programs (CAP) which can benefit both employers
and employees. These include:
I-4
Express
Votran's
Volusia/downtown Orlando I-4 Express Service operates Monday-Friday
between the Saxon Boulevard Park and Ride lot in Orange City and
downtown Orlando. Three morning trips depart Orange City each half hour,
6:00, 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. and three afternoon return trips depart
downtown Orlando at 4:00, 4:45 and 5:30 p.m. The I-4 Express enables
commuters to
eliminate 14,400 miles
annually on their personal vehicle and avoid parking fees.
For added convenience,
Express riders can
purchase 10 tokens
at a ten percent discount from the LYNX downtown terminal
and at Votran. Several employers offer tokens for sale at their place of
business. To learn how you and/or your employer can shelter income from
federal tax, examine
transit commuter benefits.
In a recent survey, Orlando
Express riders were enthusiastic about the service, listing positive benefits:
"reduced stress, not having to drive on I-4,
saving
money/mileage on their car, saving up to ten percent on their auto
insurance, no parking headaches/expense, convenience, napping, reading the complimentary
newspaper."
One has to consider: "Do I want to keep investing hard-earned dollars into
an asset that depreciates with every mile driven, or would I rather reduce
my commuting costs and possibly my federal tax liability, resulting in more
discretionary income going into my own pocket?" Money saved could be used to
increase your 401K contribution (further reducing your tax liability) and
increasing your vacation budget simultaneously. Riding the I-4 Express
really does make "dollars and sense."
View
I-4 Express schedule
RideShare
matching
Votran's
RideShare service is hosted by iCarpool, rideshare matching software
that connects commuters with others interested in sharing a ride. This
system can be used for one-time trips and/or recurring trips, like your
daily commute to work. To connect with other commuters
SIGN UP NOW.
Van Pooling
Provides groups of 4-8 that share a similar commute, a van to drive to
and from work. Van Pool members share the van fee and fuel expenses.
Insurance, maintenance and administrative fees are covered by a flat
monthly fee. To search for potential vanpool members
SIGN UP NOW
with Votran’s Commuter
Program, Votran can also assist you in forming a group if necessary.
Park and
Ride lots
Park and Ride
facilities on Dirksen Drive in Deltona and on Saxon Boulevard, I-4 exit
111B
in Orange City, offer free parking for those commuters who wish to use
Share-A-Ride, Van Pooling or the Volusia/Downtown Orlando I-4 Express service.
For more information
or to schedule a group presentation, call Votran Commuter Assistance at
(386) 761-RIDE (7433), ext. 4149.
SunRail
The
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in cooperation with the
federal government and local officials in Orange, Seminole, Volusia and
Osceola counties and the city of Orlando, is advancing SunRail, a
commuter rail transit project that will run along a 61-mile stretch of
existing rail freight tracks in the four-county area.
The 31-mile first phase of SunRail would serve 12
stations, linking DeBary to Orlando. Phase II would serve 5 additional
stations, north to DeLand and south to Poinciana. Service is expected
to begin in 2011.
