Minutes 06-05-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

provide transportation for the public. He made reference to the debate about who gets what and who gets the short end of the stick. He said that it is a constant refrain. He said that the fact is that everyone gets served by Orange County government. If it is viewed in a bundle, everyone is being treated equitable to the best of the ability of the County Commissioners. He thinks that this moves forward in a better way than has been done so far. Chair Pelissier said that she has looked at transit for years and no plan is perfect. In the end, the Board of County Commissioners needs to decide if this is a good plan and she thinks that this is a good plan. Commissioner Gordon said that she wrote the motion as she did because you need to be clear about your baseline data, and if the County or Triangle Transit has questions before the implementation agreement is completed, then they have time to resolve these issues. She thought that she captured the best of both the County and Triangle Transit positions. She has worked with transportation for many years and she wants this to be right. John Roberts made reference to subsection C of the Cost Sharing Agreement and said that the maps and charts could be in an appendix. Commissioner McKee accepted the friendly amendment along with Commissioner Gordon. Patrick McDonough clarified points A.1 and 2. Commissioner Gordon made reference to A.2 and suggested turning the last bullet on page 25 into a note and she stated the language: "The following seeming inconsistencies in the plan should be addressed as follows...." Then on page 25, the note would read, "NOTE: the amount borrowed by Triangle Transit to execute the plan is $25 million. This number is larger than the amount of debt service payments (above) because debt payments are over 30 year terms and go past 2035." There could also be another note that the Hillsborough Rail Station for $8.9 million will have a 10% local match. A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to add language on page 7 under Maintaining Existing Services: "support existing services consistent with state law." This is related to Article 43 of Chapter 105 N. C. General Statutes. Commissioner McKee made reference to an email the County Commissioners received today about this language. He said that it has been changed three times, this time at Triangle Transit's request. He is leery of that because he has extreme reservations on supplantation of services. Chair Pelissier said that all this would need to be spelled out in the implementation agreement and by law the County cannot supplant. The details have to be worked out. VOTE: Ayes, 5; Nays, 2 (Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Yuhasz) Commissioner McKee said that about a year ago he requested that this plan be split in two components — one relating to bus service and commuter rail service and the other relating to light rail to be considered in the future. This was not accomplished, therefore he finds himself in the uncomfortable position of having to vote against every bit of this plan. He agrees that Orange County needs increased transportation services, but he is adamantly opposed to the light rail component. Vote on motion from Commissioner Gordon above, as stated on page 10. VOTE: Ayes, 5; Nays, 2 (Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Yuhasz)