Minutes 12-08-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gordon m~de reference to page 8, which says how much bus service is recommended. It is about 70-80,000 hours which is more than the 50,000 hours that would be provided in the plan with light cail. She said that it is a good idea to do a core plan and an enhanced plan. She asked how there could be more bus hours sooner if there were a need. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the year 2035. Patrick McDonough said that this was a benchmark for the Long-Range Transportation Plan when it was developed. Craig Benedict went thraugh the chart on page 8. The mobility tax cannot be used to support existing services or supplant existing services. There are other sources of revenue such as the vehicle registration tax. Chair Pelissier said that she does not see this as set in stone and the County Commissioners will be asking for public comment. Craig Benedict said that this is a draft and they would expect public outreach in January 2012. Chair Pelissier asked if the costs include what would be needed for the four park and ride lots. Patrick McDonough said that this was heavily discussed last spring. If there is any capital funding, it is $3 million or •less in the first three years. Commissioner Gordon 'rai'ade reference to the chart on page 8 and asked for an explanation of BRT; and also for-c~arification of the total new hours and Orange County's share; and the operating costs. i~Y .~ Craig Benedict said that~,~e first bold BRT is the caption and the two BRT's underneath are the MLK corridor where tt~ere are monies in the financial plan ($22 million) and the 54 corridor (unfunded). Even with light rail being in the 54 corridor, there have been some presentations on 54 corridor ent~~ncements for transportation. Regarding the total hours for a bus route, any route that spans~twb~counties, if it is 6,000 hours total and it goes to Durham, the assumption is that Orange Count~r takes 50% and Durham takes 50%. Orange County has only added 3,000 hours. ~' Patrick McDonough made:reference to operating costs and said that this process started in 2007. The cost per hour is Wi'dely based on circumstances. The current average is $86-87 per hour. Craig Benedict went through the attachments in Section B, which were maps. In Durham County's plan~ and Wake County's plan, there is a commuter rail corridor that goes from downtown Durham, tt~rough the Triangle area, past the airport, and over to Cary and beyond where other light rail wo~tl~i'be picked up. That corridor is within the financial plan. Commissioner McKee as#ced about the expansion of commuter rail in Orange County and why is the potential of exp~n'sion out of Durham not figured into these costs. David King said that ther~~'is not enough money to do it through the 2035 timeframe. He said that this is a plan only and~Veryone should be humble about what might happen. There will need to be continuous conv~rsation with all entities to keep this plan fresh and current. He hopes that the partners in AlartiYtance County will be cooperative so that the light rail could be extended into Burlington. Chair Pelissier said that a#`this point in the meeting, the County Commissioners need to give direction to Commissioner Gordon about the preferred route that she will communicate to the MPO. ; t~r~ : Chair Pelissier asked the Board if A3(d) would be the preferred route, since it could go on to Carrboro and Carolina Nortfi. The Board agreed by cdn~ensus.