When SunRail begins charging users for rides in May they will be offering free transfers to Lynx but that won’t be much help to commuters who were planning to purchase a monthly pass if their commute includes both Lynx and SunRail.
For commuters using both systems and crossing one county they will have to spend $130 a month between the two systems.
The free transfers work great if you are always transferring from one system to the other in the same order. For example if you always ride SunRail to connect with Lynx then you can purchase a SunRail pass and get free transfers with Lynx.
The issue is that scenario is unlikely.
Most people have a reverse commute that is just that, the reverse. So if in the morning you take SunRail first and transfer to Lynx then in the afternoon you’ll take Lynx and transfer to SunRail. If you purchase a SunRail monthly pass you won’t be able to get on Lynx in the afternoon because it’s not a transfer. If you purchased a Lynx monthly pass you won’t be able to get on SunRail in the morning for the same reason.
This leaves commuters using both systems with two options; purchase both a SunRail and Lynx monthly pass or pay full fare using a stored value card.
It ends up being less expensive to put money on a SunRail stored value card (which can be used on Lynx and SunRail) and pay full fare than purchasing both monthly passes.
Here’s a breakdown that the SunRail team provided to Bungalower for the cost of both options.
|
Number of Zones/Counties Traveled |
SunRailMonthly Pass |
LYNX 30 Day Pass |
Total for Passes |
Stored Value Used* |
Stored Value 10% Bonus Added |
|
1 |
$56 |
$50 |
$104 |
$87 |
$8.70 |
|
2 |
$84 |
$50 |
$134 |
$130 |
$13.00 |
|
3 |
$112 |
$50 |
$162 |
$173 |
$17.30 |
*assumes SunRail one-way of $2 (1 zone), $3 (2 zones), $4 (3 zones); free transfer (1 zone), $1 transfer upcharge (2 zones), $2 transfer upcharge (3 zones) from LYNX to SunRail; LYNX single ride fare of $2, free transfer from SunRail to LYNX; daily round-trip commute, 5 days per week, 52 weeks a year/12 months = 4.33 weeks per month average. SOURCE: FDOT
The 10% bonus makes it more cost-effective to purchase a stored value card in all scenarios.
Other systems across the country offer regional passes to deal with this scenario. This includes South Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter rail and Miami-Dade Transit which offers a regional monthly pass at just under 1.5x the cost of one pass.
Both Lynx and the Florida Department of Transportation acknowledge that there won’t be a regional pass at launch but neither group is opposed to working out a solution down the road.
“A universal regional pass is not included in this phase of implementation but is something that may be considered in the future,” Jessica Keane a spokesperson for FDOT told Bungalower.
Lynx CEO John Lewis told Bungalower that the this is just their first foray into using the stored value cards.
“We’ll hopefully get to a functional regional pass in phase two…of the fare collection system,” he said.
Most of the other systems that have regional passes implemented them well after the launch of their service.
I am slightly confused… I fall into the category explained above and am trying to save the most money. I take Sunrail from Longwood to LCS and then a bus to work. The free transfer to the bus makes sense. However, the reverse trip seems troublesome. How can I achieve the trip with using nothing but a Suncard? The buses (at least most of what I’ve seen) do not have a “tap-on” machine so there is no way to use the stored value (assuming I do that after my first 7-day plan expires). Are the Lynx drivers on the reverse trip just supposed to say “Climb aboard!” if I flash my Suncard, AND at the same time print me a transfer ticket to board the train? Also… if that is true (I assume it is not, because the Lynx drivers, typically aren’t that jovial), at the train station how would I use the Lynx transfer ticket in conjunction with my Suncard stored value card? Do I still need to buy a Lynx pass to board the bus on my return???
My scenario as I have been doing it this week –
7 day pass Suncard – $25.00
Fare paid on the bus for the week because I was unaware of the transfers- $4/day = $20/week
TOTAL – $45/week
Clearly I can save money using the transfers –
Sunrail Round trip – 1 county line – $5.50/day – $27.50
Lynx – Free transfers… I guess?!?
I was told I will need to pay $1.00 at the train for the transfer on the return trip – $5.00/week
TOTAL – $32.50/week
I just need to know how to do this using a stored value card I think?!? OR… if I look at it another way, utilizing free transfers, wouldn’t a 7 day pass be a greater value, saving me $2.50/week???
I’ve not even looked at monthly fare rates, but REALLY want this to work well. I’m sick of driving nearly 350-400 miles/week! 🙂
Any input or help understanding the transfers would be greatly appreciated.
SunRail- Not ready for prime time.
Can I get a LYNX pass, swipe onto a bus at a SunRail station (like LCS) without going anywhere, then “Transfer” to SunRail? As long as your trip begins with a LYNX swipe, you’d be fine, right?. It’s an extra step and depends on a bus being there when you need it, but it could be a big savings.
Ana, just to be clear you can transfer for free from one to the other but you have to pay for the first one. That’s of little help if both systems end up being the *first* system you ride each day.
transfer pass is needed
horrible attitude
Man, I love the involvement you have in our community. Thanks for doing what you do.
Wow I never thought about that