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Free Shuttle Added To Help Support SunRail

ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) —  Volusia County's public bus and shuttle provider will add a free shuttle service to help support the SunRail.

The move comes as high demand caused parking lot overflows on Thursday and Friday.

Votran announced that beginning Monday it will provide free weekday shuttle service to the DeBary station from the Deltona Plaza. Votran buses will run nonstop every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The temporary service will be provided during the train's free service, which runs through May 16. Votran will discontinue the shuttles when SunRail starts charging full fares May 19.

The parking lot at the DeBary SunRail station was overflowing at times during SunRail's launch on Thursday, and again Friday. To assist riders, Votran will have a customer service representative at the DeBary station throughout the day next week to provide additional rider information.

"I don't think we anticipated the number of riders during the first two days," said Liz Suchsland, Votran's assistant general manager. "Votran is adding this shuttle service as a customer convenience. We will discontinue the shuttles when SunRail starts charging full fares in anticipation ridership will level off."

SunRail spokesman Steve Olson said Saturday that ridership estimates across the train's 12 stops was 10,819 boardings for Thursday and 10,496 on Friday.

Votran said peak hour weekday service is funded to provide feeder buses to DeBary Station.

Four bus routes will transport riders to and from the SunRail station from 4:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. weekdays. SunRail 30 and 32 will operate using existing Votran bus stops. SunRail 31 and 33 are express routes with limited stops.

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