Minutes 04-03-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Patrick McDonough said that there is a plan from Orange County staff that is conservative and they feel that they are accurate. He cannot guarantee anything, which is why there are interlocal agreements. If the financing does not work out then there can be delays, etc. so that the County will not be asked for more money. Commissioner Jacobs said that he found this format stilted and unsatisfying. He said that, as far as public comment, the County is short-changing the public. He said that the County Commissioners have to the end of the fiscal year to make a decision, and this process is not adequate as the public has indicated. Commissioner Gordon said that her question was: "For year 2023 of the core plan there was a capital project for $30 million. How many bus hours could Orange County have if the $30 million was spent on buses? Please provide the numbers for both the operating costs and the capital costs that would be involved." She said that specifically, she'd like to know the capital costs of the buses and how many buses would be purchased and any other costs. She asked for this information for 2023, 2027, and 2031. Patrick McDonough said that the plan assumes $97 per bus hour. In trying to think about the question of the $30 million capital projects, the plan is a 27-year plan. For every $30 million project, there can be 2.88 buses. It costs $10.4 million to buy, operate, maintain, and replace a bus over the life of it.. Commissioner Gordon said that her other question was that they have a list of revenue sources which are the '/�-cent tax, $7 vehicle registration fee and the $3 increase in the vehicle registration fee for Triangle Transit. She asked what each of these support in the plan. Patrick McDonough said that the revenues are not designed to be tied to any particular projects. It is all in the same pool of money. Commissioner Jacobs said that the County Commissioners agreed on March 22nd t0 move forward though they all had reservations about the pie chart (64%-Chapel Hill Transit, 24%-Triangle Transit, and 12%-Orange Public Transit). He asked how the Board should proceed now. Patrick McDonough said that it is not simply where people live, but where they want to go. He said that the question for the Board to consider is what the market will justify. Commissioner Jacobs said that he is addressing the Board of County Commissioners and staff. He said that almost nothing has been done to locate park and ride lots in this transit plan. Craig Benedict said that before the next public hearing, they will put the percentages out to the public. Commissioner Gordon said that the comments should be interpreted as the Commissioners wanting to have more explanation. She made reference to the distribution of new bus service proposed by Chapel Hill Transit. She said that it is not a simple analysis. Chair Pelissier said that focusing on the chart means missing the point. She said that much of this is driven by where people work. Steve Spade from Chapel Hill Transit said that it is about what the needs are and the bottom line on how you distribute the funds is subjective. He has heard the public say that they want to have more discussion, Commissioner McKee said that he has the same concerns as Commissioner Jacobs about the different percentages and also the limitations of the public comment. Commissioner Jacobs said that the public input has not been very specific and he would like to engage the citizens in a more interactive way. He suggested having two public outreach sessions in April and pushing back the Board of County Commissioners' discussion. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner McKee to have two public outreach sessions in April (one at Southern Human Services Center and one at DSS) and then have the Board of County Commissioners make a decision by June 5tn