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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 14, 2010 <br />Agenda <br />Item No. S "U <br />SUBJECT• Orange Public Transportation -Chapel Hill Transit Consolidation Study Update <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) [N~ <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Study Scope Outline -Draft <br />2. Study Timeline -Draft <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, <br />245-2592 <br />Mila Vega, Land Use/Transportation <br />Planner, 245-2582 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a report on the status of the Orange Public Transportation (OPT)- <br />Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) Consolidation Study. <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange County Planning Department and the Manager's Office, Chapel <br />Hill Transit and Chapel Hill Manager's Office, and North Carolina Department of Transportation <br />(NCDOT) have begun to pursue the OPT-CHT consolidation study process. The purpose of the <br />study is to review various alternatives ranging from a contractual relationship between transit <br />providers to a full consolidation, while maintaining high quality transit service for Orange <br />County's residents. The study has two main elements: <br />1) Consolidation Plan <br />2) Community Transportation Service Plan (CTSP) <br />The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is the project manager and sponsor <br />for the study. The Orange County Planning Department and Chapel Hill Transit worked with <br />NCDOT on selecting a consulting firm to work on the study with a list of eligible consultant firms <br />being provided by NCDOT. Following careful review of work portfolios and references provided <br />by the firms, the team selected KFH Group. <br />KFH Group specializes in public transportation -transportation planning and management, <br />policy analysis, service evaluation and design, and operational support for transportation <br />programs in communities of all sizes -smaller towns and rural areas, suburban and urbanizing <br />regions, and larger metropolitan environments. The firm also has substantial experience in <br />conducting consolidation studies for transit agencies. <br />Orange County Planning, Chapel Hill Transit and NCDOT staff met with the consultant to <br />discuss the study scope. The consultant provided a draft scope for review and comments. <br />Orange County and Town of Chapel Hill Managers, along with the staff, reviewed the draft and <br />