ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Next year, you’ll be able to take an autonomous vehicle all the way to the SunRail station in Altamonte, as the CraneRIDES program expands.
The city announced on social media this week that the state awarded $750,000, which will help support the expansion efforts as they plan for more vehicles and service to attract riders.
The announcement was met with mixed attention online. One woman wrote, “Excited for the expansion to SunRail!” Another person commented, “What a waste of money. No one rides on these things and all they do is hold up traffic.”
The city first launched the autonomous vehicles program by testing rides around the Altamonte Mall. Now, anyone can take a free ride around the Uptown area to the following stops:
- Altamonte Mall
- Renaissance Centre
- Cranes Roost
- AMC Theatre
- AdventHealth Altamonte Springs
The operating hours include:
- Monday - Friday | 7 - 10 a.m., 12 - 3 p.m. & 6 - 9 p.m.
- Saturday | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 6 - 10 p.m.
- Sunday | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. & 6 - 9 p.m.
CraneRIDES operate with an attendant, instead of a “driver,” and most of the time the shuttles move themselves. News 6 met with City Manager Frank Martz on Tuesday who said they’ve moved 12,000 people so far.
“It’s like everything location, location, location,” said Martz. “So, the closer we get to where people are interested in going, the better.”
The current service areas connect businesses, restaurants, entertainment areas, grocery stores, and the hospital.
“CraneRIDES is a partnership between the state of Florida and the city of Altamonte Springs. So we are 50,50 partners in this. And the governor signed and approved $750,000 to expand CraneRIDES just past SunRail. So, we’ll be able to connect virtually everything in Cranes Roost, over to I-4, over to SunRail, and have enough vehicles to provide good service.”
Martz said more than one million people visit Cranes Roost Park every year. Just this weekend, the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster brought 75,000 people to the area.
On top of that, Martz said 95 million cars drive through Altamonte Springs every year. S.R. 436, which runs by the Uptown area and SunRail station, is a main thoroughfare for drivers who can be stuck in traffic at peak travel times.
“What we’re trying to do is get people who are local here another way to get around so they don’t have to get out on 436 to be able to get east to west in our city,” said Martz.