Minutes 01-24-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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than C-2. He said that there is no potential for economic development in Meadowmont because it is already fully developed. Chair Pelissier said that, from the December 8th work session, there was a timetable proposed. She suggested making a decision about whether to put the 'h-cent sales tax on the ' ballot in November. She made reference to the list of questions and asked the County Commissioners how they wanted to proceed. She suggested asking Triangle Transit staff to I make comments on the alignment (C-1 vs. C-2), discuss the technology, and economic development potential. Wib Gulley, Triangle Transit Attorney said that the staff has not had time to analyze the questions from the Board of County Commissioners that were sent to them late Friday. Patrick McDonough said that they put out the alternatives analysis last summer and have received numerous comments from citizens and public entities. There is a preference for C1. He gave background on the transit demand. Frank Clifton said that he and the Chapel Hill Town Manager have had many discussions about these routes. He said that the greatest potential benefit for Orange County in economic development is along 15-501 and not on a short section of NC 54 that is in Orange County. Chair Pelissier asked the Triangle Transit staff if 15-501 could be considered and how that would affect the County's application. Wib Gulley said that they take the Manager's recommendation seriously and the 15-501 corridor has come up for years. Every time it comes up, there is a technical analysis about transportation demand. He suggested that the County Manager invite the Chapel Hill Town Manager to discuss this further. Commissioner Yuhasz said that, if this happened, this is an investment that all of Orange County will be making in transportation. He sees the NC 54 corridor being the most beneficial from a strictly transportation standpoint to those people who are traveling in that corridor. He is not sure that this particular corridor would provide the greatest benefit to all of Orange County. He said that the County Commissioners need to look at this as a transportation project that is going to be funded by all of Orange County and not just a certain portion of it in that part of the County. Commissioner McKee said that he is content to wait for replies to these written questions in the abstract because staff has not had sufficient time to answer. One of his concerns has been that the County seems to be facing an artificially imposed time frame. He said that this is one of the major decisions that this Board will make in the next decade and that the citizens will be funding for years to come. He said that some of the cost estimates he has seen are higher in Orange County than in other areas. He does not believe that a '/2-cent sales tax will pay for the County's portion going forward. He said that it seems that they are trying to meet a deadline instead of looking at the intricate parts of the project in detail. Wib Gulley said that Triangle Transit is about three years along in this process and a decision point. He said that it is not accurate to say that they are strung up by a timeline. He said that they have tried to make it as clear a process as they could. Commissioner McKee said that he did not mean to imply that it had not been a public process and a long process, but that they have to think about the citizens of Orange County and the funding burden that will fall on them until there are more definitive answers. Wib Gulley said that in Durham County they approved the referendum in 2011 and they asked Triangle Transit to hold off until the Orange County agreements are in place. Commissioner Hemminger said that she agreed with many of the comments of Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Yuhasz. She said that she has to look out for how the citizens in Orange County get to the major points and how they would use this system. She