Agenda - 12-08-2011 - Attachment 2

Browse Search

3. Provide more detailed description of the bus rapid transit -- leneth of line exact start and end point. Would BRT be viable and economical options for the hieh volume corridors of Hwv 54 15-501 and MLK to be part of a reeional public transit network The two BRT options called BRT-high and BRT-low alternatives were studied as part of the Alternatives Analysis process, in addition to the Light Rail alternative between Durham and Chapel Hill. The two BRT alternatives are explained in great depth in the documents that were released by Triangle Transit and provided to Orange County in July 2011. These documents do not address MLK and Fordham Blvd/15- 501since those areas were removed from high priority analysis for regional transit investment in the Transitional Analysis process (as part of the Alternatives Analysis process) that concluded in September 2010. The Alternatives Analysis recommendation for using light rail in the Durham-Orange corridor over BRT included the following reasons: • Light rail provides the fastest end-to-end travel time for transit passengers • Light rail has a demonstrated ability to influence and concentrate economic development into Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the United States; BRT does not have that track record • Light rail can be powered by energy sources other than fossil fuels due to electric propulsion • At levels of utilization seen in other cities where light rail has been implemented, long- term operating costs for LRT will be lower than BRT Since the Alternatives Analysis documents were completed, Durham County has proceeded to put a plan to build light rail in the 15-501 corridor between Durham and Chapel Hill. If the upcoming referendum vote approves this plan for Durham, any deployment of BRT in the NC 54 corridor would not be an effective connection to the regional public transit network because it would force a mode change at the county line. Chapel Hill Transit is also expected to accrue considerable cost savings in bus operations in the NC 54 corridor when light rail opens, and those operational efficiencies would also be lost. 4. Provide description of the limitations on use of the sales tax (e.e., cannot be used to supplant existine service) Attached to this document is a memo drafted by Triangle Transit General Counsel Wib Gulley dealing with the limitations on the use of half-cent sales tax revenues under NC House Bill 148. It is listed as Exhibit B.