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24 <br /> The train station will provide access one of the fastest growing existing passenger lines in <br /> America. <br /> A train station in Orange County provides an alternative to cars, reducing congestion, pollution, <br /> and parking problems. <br /> The train station has already received the support of the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, <br /> Hillsborough, as well as their respective business communities, the University of North Carolina, <br /> the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and you, the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners and Hillsborough Town Board. <br /> Amtrak's and NCDOT's speedy approval of a train station in Hillsborough in 2007 included a <br /> positive cost-benefit analysis. Earlier estimates for the Cary station far underestimated the <br /> current actual usage. Transportation planners in Raleigh have explained that given current <br /> trends, this is likely to repeat itself for any other new train service in the region. In other words, <br /> Hillsborough's station could expect greater usage than originally estimated. <br /> Passage of a county-wide referendum is more likely to succeed when some benefits can be <br /> realized in the short-term. <br /> Holly Reid said that she is one of the residents interested in supporting a transit tax. She is <br /> convinced that regional transit is the best way to meet the projected growth in the Triangle. She <br /> has signed the letter that was read above. She said that there was some confusion with the term <br /> .commuter rail." Her request is not to fund more commuter rail service with this sales tax, but to <br /> access the current passenger service that passes through the County six times a day. Orange <br /> County is one of the two remaining counties within the existing corridor without a rail stop. The <br /> other is Lexington County. She said that having trains stop in Orange County would help <br /> economic development. <br /> John Wilson said that some of the important issues should have been addressed by Triangle <br /> Transit's July 2011 Alternatives Analysis but they were not. He said that the 15-501 alignment is <br /> reasonable and should have been included in the Alternatives Analysis. He said that Triangle <br /> Transit's 2010 Fordham Boulevard White Paper was not part of the Alternatives Analysis and <br /> was not made available to the public for comment, and does not satisfy the FTA's Alternatives <br /> Analysis guidelines. Regardless, the White Paper makes the case that the 15-501 alignment <br /> should have been included in the Alternatives Analysis. He said that the Alternatives Analysis <br /> also did not involve state resource agencies with known interests in critical natural areas. He <br /> encouraged the County Commissioners to not put this sales tax on the ballot until and unless <br /> they are comfortable with the information and alternatives that have been provided and until <br /> everyone's voices are heard <br /> Glenn Wilson agreed with John Wilson's comments. <br /> Damon Seils is from Carrboro. He said that the Locally Preferred Alternative is a product of <br /> years of study, numerous public presentations, and thorough consideration by town and County <br /> staff, local elected officials, and regional transportation bodies. There has been some discussion <br /> about studying various transit enhancements for 15-501. He said that he is confident that all <br /> parties can work together to study this separate issue. He said that the issues with 15-501 <br /> should not prevent the Board from sending this to the next stage in the process. <br /> Harry Johnson is a UNC School of Law student and he is part of a coalition of UNC-Chapel Hill <br /> students who urge the County Commissioners to put this transit tax on the ballot in November. <br /> He has lived in Orange County for three years and he cannot wait for better transit and rail <br /> service in Orange County. He said that improved service on 15-501 should be encouraged, but <br /> should not hinder this process from going forward at this time. He said to focus on the plan that <br /> has been approved by Triangle Transit for the past seven years. <br /> Stewart Boss is also a UNC student and a part of a student coalition that supports the transit tax. <br /> He said that he is from Charlotte where there is transit and light rail and he has seen that it can <br /> work. He feels that the proposal has been fairly studied and he would like to see it come for a <br /> public vote in November. <br /> Jeffery Greene is a resident of the Orange County section of Meadowmont. He supports the <br /> draft LPA recommended by the MPO's Technical Coordinating Committee last month. He said <br />