Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />c. Further Review and Decision Regarding One-Half (1/2) Cent Sales Tax for <br />Transit <br />The Board continued discussion and making decisions regarding the Orange County <br />Bus and Rail Investment Plan draft associated with the Triangle Regional Transit Plan (1/2 <br />cent sales tax), received updates on municipal meetings and developed a schedule for the <br />Orange County Transit Plan (OCTP) implementation. <br />Craig Benedict introduced this item. This is a continuation of the work session on May <br />19th with Triangle Transit. There will be a vote on this on June 22"d, and the comments need to <br />be in before that time. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the MPO will be holding two public open house <br />meetings in Orange County -June 14th at the Chapel Hill Town Hall and June 16th in <br />Hillsborough at the Orange County Library. <br />David King, Triangle Transit Executive Director, said that they hope to review questions <br />that the Board of County Commissioners mentioned before and others that may arise. He <br />stressed that this whole process has been a collaboration. <br />Patrick McDonough, Senior Transportation Planner with Triangle Transit, made a <br />PowerPoint presentation. <br />Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan: Responding to Questions <br />What We Heard: <br />Questions Regarding Financial Planning <br />- Does rail investment have the potential to crowd out bus investment, especially if <br />there are cost overruns? <br />- How can we effectively control costs and project delivery? <br />- What is the proportion of spending on bus and rail by year? <br />Questions Regarding Light Rail <br />- Are 4,000 parking spaces along the line enough? <br />- Will development around LRT stations compete with economic development <br />opportunities in northem Orange County? <br />- Does light rail make as much sense in Chapel Hill as it does in the region's largest <br />city? (Raleigh) <br />- Meadowmont was designed for light rail. Why study another route? <br />Other Questions <br />- Which services most benefit northern Orange County residents? <br />Financial Plan: Being Fiscally Conservative <br />Approaches to Financial Conservatism: Cost <br />- Rail cost estimates: Specific 30% Cost Contingency on: <br />o Construction, Right-of-way Acquisition <br />- Unspecified additional general contingency: 4.6% <br />- Use Inflation of Federal CBO/OMB, but add 0.5% long term <br />9 <br />