Agenda - 05-01-2012 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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26 alignment for 15-501 and a point that was made by a member of the public that Triangle Transit did not follow federal standards. Wib Gulley said that the suggestion that Triangle Transit has not followed the FTA's process is factually wrong. It is based on a misreading or a partial reading of the federal regulations. Patrick McDonough said that within the 15-501 corridor itself, there is more growth projected than on NC 54. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there was anything to preclude the County Commissioners from an additional study of 15-501 subsequent to this. Patrick McDonough agreed. He asked if Durham, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro had already made decisions about this and Patrick McDonough said yes. A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to allow Commissioner Gordon to proceed and vote for decision points 4, 5 and 6 on the revised copy of decision points. 4. Proceed with Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) study area known as Durham- Orange Corridor Alternate 4 from endpoints UNC to Alston Avenue (17.4 miles — $1.4 billion). NOTE: If FTA review suggests a shorter segment, the BOCC reserves the right to reanalyze its decision. 5. Proceed with LPA alignment and station suggestions of: a. UNC(D) which could allow potential future extension to the west to Carrboro b. Proceed with C-2 (Friday Center along NC 54 easterly past proposed Hillmont; aka George King Road alignment). NOTE: Extend easterly as close to 1-40 for another potential P&R station if Leigh Village P&R is suppressed in NC 54 Corridor Plan. c. Consider whether a detailed study and report for a possible third alignment consistent with the Alternatives Analysis for US 15-501 from Hamilton Station to Gateway Station is warranted. (1) This alternate alignment provides another option to avoid the environmental challenges noted in C-1 and C-2 corridors along NC 54 and the federal wetlands and would bolster economic development opportunities within Orange County which would be the source of the countywide financial commitment. (2) Incorporate findings of this study into the development of the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) which is in progress, so that this study may inform the 2-3 year New Starts application process with the most current data and community/local government mindset. 6. Proceed with the submittal of LRT in the Durham-Orange Corridor A-4 noted above at this time. Commissioner Gordon said that she still needs to know how this translates into her vote tomorrow. She made reference to page 34-35 (WITHOUT THE RED HIGHLIGHTING) and said that the decision points are not included in the resolution. She said that the decision points do not line up with the resolution. Commissioner Hemminger said that decision points 4 and 5 do line up. Chair Pelissier said that the proposed resolution does not contain information about the decision points. Wib Gulley said that all of the concerns are in the, "Be it Therefore Resolved," and the County Commissioners can ask Commissioner Gordon to say that they are in favor of C-2 and not C-1. Commissioner McKee said that this vote will set the County on a path of endorsing light rail without consideration for bus rapid transit and whether it can do the same thing more effectively. He is convinced that bus rapid transit will provide a regional solution to the transportation problems. He said that the light rail system is not a regional system because it would require people to change from bus to rail multiple times. He said that people will use the path of least resistance. He believes that this tax will never have an end point. Commissioner Jacobs said that the motion asked to proceed with the study of 15-501 concurrently even though Triangle Transit staff says that it would throw the process back 18-24 months. He cannot support this motion if it will derail the process immediately.