DELAND, Fla. – A new way to ride is rolling through west Volusia County.
The city of DeLand, in partnership with SunRail and Volusia County’s Votran, has officially relaunched its SunRail circulator route, offering more accessible and expanded transit service to riders.
The circulator, known as Route 34, now operates Monday through Friday.
During peak hours, from 6-9 a.m. and again from 5-7 p.m., the bus makes stops along Amelia Avenue, the DeLand SunRail station, and into downtown DeLand. During off-peak hours, the route runs directly between the station and downtown.
“Oh, this is wonderful, the best,” one rider shared Monday morning.
Volusia County Transit Services Director Bobbie King said the focus is on keeping public needs at the forefront.
“We’re just trying to keep the public’s needs on the forefront of all of our plans for the future,” King said. “We’re trying to provide the best public service we can.”
According to the latest SunRail Technical Advisory Committee report, ridership on the circulator route is beginning to increase, with an average of 20 boardings per day and occasional spikes reaching 50 to 60 riders.
The route originally launched using a smaller paratransit-style vehicle operating in the afternoons. But in recent months, Votran transitioned to a full-size bus running throughout the day, a move King says better meets demand and lays the foundation for continued growth.
The expanded service also includes on-demand microtransit options in both DeLand and DeBary. Officials report nearly 200 riders regularly use the microtransit program, with DeLand seeing the majority of those trips due to a different operational model from DeBary’s feeder bus service.
This month also marks a major milestone, Votran’s 50th anniversary of serving Volusia County.
For some, like News 6’s Angie Quezada, the new route brings back memories.
“I still remember waiting for the bus with my backpack on, hoping I didn’t miss it,” Quezada said. “Now, seeing riders step on this new connection, it’s more than just transportation. It’s access, opportunity, and progress running through the heart of Volusia County.”
The circulator route is currently free to ride, with permanent fare structures expected to be announced later this year.
Votran also encourages riders to take advantage of its real-time tracking features by texting the bus stop number for arrival times, part of a broader effort to make public transit more efficient and user-friendly.
For full schedules, route maps, or microtransit options, visit votran.org or corporate.sunrail.com.