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SunRail boosting Driver Ed after three crashes in two months

SunRail stopping at Lynx Station (Joe Ruble)

Billboards and radio ads are urging drivers around train crossings not to take chances as crossing arms come down in advance of a SunRail train's approach.

There have been three crashes in two months. In all the cases, the driver was at fault for being stopped on the tracks.

We went to the Lynx station in downtown Orlando to see for ourselves how quickly the train arrives after the arms drop.

Within 25 seconds it was flying by.

Within one minute, the crossing arms were going back up and allowing drivers to be on their way.

"Clearly we've had some bumps in the road," said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs at today's meeting of the Central Florida Rail Commission, a panel that received a monthly operations update.

Ridership is above projections and an online petition has started to have the trains run on weekends, or more frequently in evenings when the Orlando Magic or MLS Orlando City SC begins play at the Citrus Bowl in 2015.

Jacobs said, while it's important to meet the demand, there is an additional cost involved and riders would have to be asked if they want to foot the bill.

There is also the issue of scheduling runs, since SunRail shares the track with Amtrak and cargo trains.

The most popular SunRail stations are DeBary, Winter Park and Church Street.

The commissioner learned that the parking lot in DeBary is 82% full, so efforts are underway to buy more land to expand where people can leave their cars and bikes are they travel by rail to and from metro Orlando.

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