Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
25 <br /> that investing monies into a rail line is an unquestioned positive. He said that this should not be <br /> difficult to implement. <br /> Jeff Schmidt is a resident of Cedar Grove. He made reference to the resolution in the packet and <br /> said that light rail transit has a greater potential to promote economic growth. He gave an <br /> example of Indianapolis, which just passed a transportation plan, which included significant rail. <br /> He said that the resolution needs to be modified to include significant additions to bus <br /> transportation from here to Durham County. He said that asking for another tax increase would <br /> not be good at this time. <br /> Ted Triebel lives in Caldwell. He said that the issue is funding support. He referred to an article <br /> in the News and Observer on February 1St that indicated that local dollars should be a sure thing <br /> before proceeding. He said that there needs to be some clarity before this moves forward. <br /> Chair Pelissier said that tonight the only decision before the Board is to vote on the locally <br /> preferred alternative. She said that the full plan would come back before the public for comment <br /> in the near future if they decide to put it on the ballot. The entire plan does involve buses as well <br /> as the potential light rail. Next week there will be a work session to discuss these issues related <br /> to the plan. <br /> Craig Benedict said that the resolution is from the Durham-Chapel Hill MPO. The words in red <br /> are wording that Orange County staff heard at the TCC but this wording was not incorporated <br /> into the MPO-TAC resolution. Over the last few days, the MPO staff understands that this is <br /> language that Orange County may want. He made reference to page 7, which lists decision <br /> points. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked to go back to the slide, "What are the New Starts Criteria?". He <br /> said that he remembers hearing that while the bus would be about four minutes slower in the trip <br /> time than the light rail and less costly, the tipping factor was the increased economic <br /> development that would be generated by the light rail. However, on January 24th, he heard a <br /> definitive statement that this is not an economic development plan, but it is a transit plan and it is <br /> if they are mutually exclusive. He said that this is confusing. <br /> Patrick McDonough said that the key thing here is moving people and there are some economic <br /> advantages to this. The transportation benefits are also very strong. Regarding economic <br /> development, the goal is to make it a win-win-win situation. The overall line that is recommended <br /> is the one that maximizes economic opportunity. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that there are constant changes in this proposed plan and that <br /> concerns him. He said that unless and until things are tightened down, he does not want to ask <br /> the voters to have a perpetual Y2-cent sales tax. <br /> Patrick McDonough suggested that next week at the work session that the County <br /> Commissioners bring particular items of concern. <br /> Chair Pelissier said that no one thinks that the County will approve a plan without the interlocal <br /> agreements in place. She said that the plan is only the starting point, costs may go up and down, <br /> and other components can change over a 20-year span of the plan. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz made reference to the LPA and said that the BRT meets the same criteria <br /> as LRT. The only thing that is significantly different with LRT is in the economic development <br /> aspect of the project. He said that he does not prefer this recommended alignment. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that what will be voted on tomorrow at the DCHC-MPO TAC meeting <br /> is the LPA. Triangle Transit is asking for a definite decision to submit the New Starts application <br /> in August. She asked what decision points needed to be made for tomorrow's vote. <br /> Wib Gulley said that Triangle Transit is not asking the Board to make a decision, but the MPO, <br /> which is made up of elected officials, will make the decision. If the decision is not made by <br /> tomorrow, then it will not be possible to get the New Starts application ready by August and <br /> another year is lost. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 14 and said that one of the points that the staff is <br /> asking the Board to vote on has to do with advancing the third alignment. Page 14 addresses <br /> that point, but he asked for an analysis of proceeding now with the detailed report for a third <br />