Lynx Central Station Explained

Style:SunRail
LYNX Central
Type:SunRail commuter rail
Address:455 North Garland Avenue
Borough:Orlando, Florida
Coordinates:28.5485°N -81.3809°W
Bus Stands:27[1]
Structure:At-grade
Platform:2 side platforms
Tracks:2
Bus Routes: LYNX: 3, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 28, 29, 36, 38, 40, 48, 49, 51, 54, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 125, 300, 350[2]
FastLink: 441
LYMMO: Lime, Orange, [3]
Bicycle:Yes
Opened:November 14, 2004 (bus)[4]
April 30, 2014 (rail)[5]
Zone:Orange
Passengers:107,919 (SunRail)[6]
Pass Year:FY2023
Pass Percent:14.0
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail
Zoom:14

LYNX Central Station is an intermodal transit station in Orlando, Florida. The station serves the SunRail commuter rail line, and it is also the main transfer center for LYNX, Orlando's public bus system. It is located near the interchange between Interstate 4 and Colonial Drive (SR 50).

LYNX Central Station is one of two SunRail stations located in Downtown Orlando, the other being Church Street Station. In addition to serving as a transfer center, LYNX Central serves the northern end of Downtown Orlando, including the Creative Village neighborhood, the Orange County Courthouse, the Middle District of Florida courthouse, the FAMU College of Law,[7] UCF Downtown, and the Bob Carr Theater.

Terminal

LYNX Central Station is the main hub of the LYNX system, servicing 32 of LYNX's 79 routes. The 18000square feet bus terminal has 26 bus bays, a customer service counter, 2400square feet of retail space,[8] and an air-conditioned waiting area.[9]

SunRail trains board on a pair of side platforms on the eastern end of the terminal, while buses for LYMMO, a free circulator route serving Downtown Orlando, board from a street stop on the south side of the terminal.

The terminal's distinctive wave-shaped canopies are 60feet tall and are accented with colored lights at night. The canopies were designed to prevent buildup of diesel exhaust fumes in the station by naturally cycling in fresher air.[10]

History

Opening

LYNX Central Station was opened on November 14, 2004, replacing a smaller transit facility on Central Street. The station was built at a cost of $30 million, most of which was provided through federal and state grants. The project included a 70000square feet office building attached to the station, which holds LYNX's administrative offices.

SunRail

The station was constructed along the former CSX A-Line corridor, which was first built in 1882 by the South Florida Railroad. The corridor had been studied for commuter rail and/or light rail usage since the 1990s,[11] and LYNX Central Station was constructed next to the line for the purposes of allowing future rail connections.

Construction on the rail corridor began in 2011.[12] SunRail held a soft opening for the LYNX Central platforms on April 4, 2014 and a grand opening ceremony at all Orlando stations on April 30, 2014.

Development

A $200 million transit-oriented development adjacent to the station was announced shortly after SunRail construction commenced.[13] The primary component of the project is Central Station on Orange (formerly Crescent Central Station), which consists of a 280-unit apartment complex and 14600square feet of retail space.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LYNX Central Station Terminal Bay Map . . Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority . April 21, 2024.
  2. Web site: Brochure L: Lynx Central Station . . Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority . May 24, 2024.
  3. Web site: SWAN Shuttle . . Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority . May 24, 2024.
  4. Web site: Powers . Scott . October 31, 2004 . Attention-Getter . . . en-US.
  5. News: April 2, 2014 . Orlando releases SunRail station schedule . . . O11 . NewsBank.
  6. Web site: SunRail Annual Ridership by Station: Fiscal Year to Date, July 2022 – June 2023 . . Florida Department of Transportation.
  7. Web site: Lynx Central . May 24, 2024 . SunRail Corporate . Florida Department of Transportation.
  8. Web site: April 5, 2003 . Lynx starts on new bus station . May 24, 2024 . . . en-US.
  9. Web site: Henthorn . Dawn . April 29, 2010 . Downtown Orlando: Lynx Central Station . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716215509/http://goflorida.about.com/od/orlandocentralflorida/ss/orlando_dntwn_9.htm . 2011-07-16 . 2010-06-06 . About.com Florida Travel . About Group.
  10. Web site: Spear . Kevin . September 14, 2023 . Lynx’s 50-year use of diesel buses is nearing an end . May 24, 2024 . . . en-US.
  11. News: Roy . Roger . January 31, 1992 . Light rail plans lack money . . . B4 . NewsBank.
  12. News: Tracy . Dan . July 18, 2011 . After years of wrangling, time to dig into SunRail . . . A1 . NewsBank.
  13. News: Schuleb . Mark . October 24, 2011 . SunRail draws $200M project - Downtown development would be built in 2 phases . . . A1 . NewsBank.
  14. News: Hoyle . Amanda Jones . October 31, 2014 . Downtown Orlando's Crescent Central Station part of $700 million sale . May 15, 2015 . . Advance Publications.