Minutes 05-03-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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� Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. This route was first initiated by OPT and the ridership was so good that it was picked up by Triangle Transit, which provided part of the funding. Two entities were hired to run the route — Chapel Hill Transit for peak service in the morning and afternoon and OPT for the midday service. This route has been doing well since 2008. The bad news is that Triangle Transit no longer wants to fund the midday service, which was about four routes that OPT was running. Triangle Transit was funding 50% of those midday routes. There were four routes midday and this will be pulled back to two. There will be some financial implications to this, but these have not been completely sorted out. The timeframe for the changes are that there will be a public comment period tonight and a decision will be made in August. There will be a new Hillsborough Circulator Route. June 6th is the initiation date for this circulator route. Commissioner Gordon said that Triangle Transit evaluates its routes every year and they look at the average ridership for these routes. The peak service ridership for this route is better than the average ridership for Triangle Transit routes. She asked if the service changes would negatively affect the midday commuters. AI Terry said that one of the planners from TT rode the midday route two weeks ago for two days to get input from the riders about their feelings about the reduction in routes from four to two. He is currently compiling the data and he will provide it to the Board of County Commissioners when it becomes available. In his opinion, there will be very little impact because the 420 route transformed into a commuter route for medical workers (residents in the northern part of the County) to get back and forth to work. The impact that he sees would be with the Hillsborough Circulator. Since there will only be two midday trips for the 420, it will not connect up as often in the middle of the day as it does in the a.m. and p.m. Commissioner Gordon asked about the two stops being eliminated. AI Terry said that the Sportsplex has never been a very productive pickup or drop-off point. Commissioner McKee made reference to the consolidation of the dental clinic and asked if this would affect the users of this clinic. AI Terry said that, unless the people can access a bus route in Chapel Hill and then transfer to the 420, there may be some implications. He is looking at opportunities for OPT to branch out and provide services to that facility so that the people in Carrboro will have access. Commissioner McKee asked if the four trips were needed down the line if Orange County would have to pick up the cost. AI Terry said yes. Commissioner Hemminger said that she was surprised at the high number of riders in the morning and she asked for an estimate of how many were riding in the morning. AI Terry said that it is a 44-seat bus that Chapel Hill Transit uses. When he was operating it, he had a 28-passenger bus with people standing in the aisles. Commissioner Hemminger asked about how someone from Carrboro could access the dental clinic and it was answered that there would have to be at least one transfer. Commissioner Gordon said that there is the question about seniors who may want to use the route for midday and of course the questions about the dental clinic. Chair Pelissier asked if there was any idea about how many people taking the 420 bus live north of Hillsborough. AI Terry said that he would say that about 65% live north of Hillsborough- in Person and Durham Counties. Chair Pelissier said that she too has concerns about addressing those residents that may come for dental services. AI Terry said that the Health Department is doing a screening of clients at the Carrboro clinic. He has not received this information yet.