OnTrack
OnTrack is a Syracuse, New York commuter train line. Syracuse is the smallest city in the United States to have local train service. The line runs from Colvin Street on the city's south side via Syracuse University and Armory Square to the Carousel Center, using three Budd Rail diesel cars that were built in the 1950s. There is also a flag stop called 600 Eire Place, and seasonal service to Jamesville. Financing was finally approved in April 2004 to build a bridge that will allow OnTrack to reach the William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center, Regional Market, and P&C Stadium. These stations have already been built, and most of the track has been laid, with simply the bridge link missing.
It is an extreme money-losing operation. In order to be profitable, OnTrack would have to have about 1,000 riders a day. It draws about 1,000 riders a month. About eight million dollars of taxpayer money has been pumped into the line since it began in 1994. Currently there are two hopes for a future for OnTrack:
- The Completion of the bridge mentioned above that would make the line much more useful as many people arrive in Syracuse through the transportation center and do not have a car with them or someone to pick them up.
- The construction of DestiNY USA, a multi-billion dollar tourism attraction, which is supposed to draw millions of tourists a year.
OnTrack also runs the "Orange Express" shuttle during Syracuse University Carrier Dome events. This shuttle is much more successful.