Navigating West Volusia: Is Public Transit a Game-Changer in 2026?

For years, the conversation around moving to West Volusia—specifically DeLand, Orange City, DeBary, and Deltona, especially when commuting to Orlando—always came with a caveat: "You’re going to need a car." However, as we move through 2026, the transit landscape in our corner of North Orlando has undergone a massive transformation. 

Whether you’re a commuter looking to bypass the I-4 crawl or a homeowner interested in how transit affects your property value, here is the current state of public transportation in West Volusia. 

 

The Anchor: SunRail’s DeLand Station 

The biggest shift for our region was the completion of the SunRail Phase 2 Northern Expansion. The DeLand SunRail Station is now fully operational, providing a direct rail link from the outskirts of DeLand down through DeBary, Sanford, Lake Mary, Winter Park, Orlando and to Poinciana. 

For residents in DeLand and North DeBary, this has changed the "commuter math." Instead of an hour-long white-knuckle drive, you can now enjoy a productive train ride. The station also features a free SunRail Circulator bus that whisks passengers directly into the heart of Downtown DeLand via Votran, making our historic district more accessible than ever for visitors and residents alike. 

The "First-Mile" Solution: VoRide 

Historically, the struggle with transit in areas like Deltona and Orange City was getting from your front door to the bus stop. Enter VoRide. 

This app-based, on-demand service (operated by Votran) has become a staple for West Volusia residents. Think of it as a publicly funded rideshare: 

• Affordability: Rides typically cost around $2 per passenger for most local trips. 
  
  

• Convenience: You book a ride via the VoTran On Demand app, and a vehicle picks you up at your home or a nearby corner. 
  
  

• Connectivity: It’s specifically designed to bridge the gap between residential neighborhoods and major transit hubs like the DeBary or DeLand SunRail stations. 
  
  

Traditional Votran and VoAccess 

While on-demand services are the "new shiny object," the traditional Votran fixed-route buses still provide essential north-south connectivity. Votran’s Route 31 remains a workhorse, connecting the downtown DeLand Intermodal Transfer Facility to the DeBary SunRail station, while Route 34 has been expanded to better serve the growing commercial corridors in Orange City. 

For those requiring specialized assistance, VoAccess (formerly known as Gold Service) continues to provide vital door-to-door paratransit for eligible residents, ensuring that West Volusia remains an inclusive place to live for all stages of life. 


What This Means for Real Estate 

In 2026, "transit-adjacent" is no longer just a buzzword for downtown Orlando; it’s a reality for West Volusia. Homes within a 5-to-10-minute radius of the SunRail stations or within active VoRide zones are seeing increased interest from buyers who value mobility. 

The Bottom Line: While West Volusia is still a largely car-dependent region, the "hub-and-spoke" model of SunRail combined with VoRide has made it entirely possible to live a low-car lifestyle here—something that was unthinkable just a few years ago. 

If you’d like to know more about the public transit throughout DeLand or any surrounding cities, including Orlando, simply reach out as The Shaver Group has been helping people move to DeLand and throughout the Orlando area for many years.