Orange County NC Website
b. Proceed with C-2 (Friday Center along NC 54 easterly past proposed Hilimont; aka George <br />King Road alignment). NOTE: Extend easterly as close to I-40 for another potential P&R station <br />if Leigh Village P&R is suppressed in NC 54 Corridor Plan. <br />c. Consider whether a detailed study and report for a possible third alignment consistent with <br />the Alternatives Analysis for US 15-501 from Hamilton Station to Gateway Station is warranted. <br />(1) This alternate alignment provides another option to avoid the environmental <br />challenges noted in C-1 and C-2 corridors along NC 54 and the federal wetlands and would <br />bolster economic development opportunities within Orange County which would be the source of <br />the countywide financial commitment. <br />(2) Incorporate findings of this study into the development of the 2040 Long Range <br />Transportation Plan (LRTP) which is in progress, so that this study may inform the 2-3 year New <br />Starts application process with the most current data and community/local government mindset. <br />6. Proceed with the submittal of LRT in the Durham-Orange Corridor A-4 noted above at this <br />time. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she still needs to know how this translates into her vote <br />tomorrow. She made reference to page 34-35 (WITHOUT THE RED HIGHLIGHTING) and said <br />that the decision points are not included in the resolution. She said that the decision points do <br />not line up with the resolution. <br />Commissioner Hemminger said that decision points 4 and 5 do line up. <br />Chair Pelissier said that the proposed resolution does not contain information about the <br />decision points. <br />Wib Gulley said that all of the concerns are in the, "Be it Therefore Resolved," and the <br />County Commissioners can ask Commissioner Gordon to say that they are in favor of C-2 and <br />not C-1. <br />Commissioner McKee said that this vote will set the County on a path of endorsing light <br />rail without consideration for bus rapid transit and whether it can do the same thing more <br />effectively. He is convinced that bus rapid transit will provide a regional solution to the <br />transportation problems. He said that the light rail system is not a regional system because it <br />would require people to change from bus to rail multiple times. He said that people will use the <br />path of least resistance. He believes that this tax will never have an end point. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the motion asked to proceed with the study of 15-501 <br />concurrently even though Triangle Transit staff says that it would throw the process back 18-24 <br />months. He cannot support this motion if it will derail the process immediately. <br />Commissioner Hemminger said that she wants to understand more about 15-501 and <br />explore it more, but not in the formal process. <br />Commissioner Gordon clarified what the Board had decided:-Approve #4 of the decision <br />points; approve part of #5 (a and b only which involves carrying only the C-2 option forward); and <br />#6, first line only. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested that in the "whereas" statements on page 35 that C-1 <br />be taken out altogether. <br />VOTE: Ayes, 5; Nays, 2(Commissioner Yuhasz and Commissioner McKee) <br />Commissioner Yuhasz said that his "no" vote is against this particular technology and this <br />particular plan and not against transit. <br />The approved resolution which Commissioner Gordon is to take to the DCHC-MPO TAC <br />meeting on February 8, 2012 is given betow. <br />RESOLUTION TO APPROVE <br />THE LOCALLY-PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE (LPA) FOR THE DURHAM- <br />ORANGE COUNTY TRANSIT CORRIDOR ~ <br />February 8, 2012 <br />