Minutes 04-03-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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alleviate traffic congestion. It can also help Hillsborough achieve the vision of Amtrak services. She said that citizens in the County are confused about the scope and funding for light rail service. Most people do not know that Wake County has not committed to the plan. Before another sales tax is placed on the ballot, the citizens need to be better educated on the plan. It should be done in an open venue where people can ask questions and discuss this. She asked where and how Orange County's population is expected to grow over the next two decades and how that would impact transit users and routing. Secondly, she asked about the alternatives that are available. She asked about the costs and the risks to Orange County taxpayers for light rail. She asked about the impact of the delay or of proceeding too quickly. She said that transit is too important and expensive to rush, and before the County Commissioners commit to a plan and a tax, the citizens need to be involved in an in-depth discussion of the plan and alternatives. Chris Weaver said that Mary Carter covered most of what he wanted to say. He said that he does not think that the County got the public hearing notice out in time. Daniel Ashley asked where the tax increases will end. He said that all of the educational material for the referendum is downplaying the significance of the tax. Alex Castro is a resident of Bingham Township and a member of the Orange County Advisory Board on Aging. He said that in the Master Aging Plan they addressed issues that these seniors will be facing and one is mobility and transit services. He said that the proportion of those in Orange County over 65 is equal to those under the age of 18. He said that of those that are over 65, 32.3% live with a disability. He said that 13% of the people over 65 that live in Cedar Grove do not have access to a vehicle. He said that this group is underserved by transportation. He asked the County Commissioners to consider how OPT might be enhanced to serve the aging population better than it is now. Bonnie Hauser was speaking for Orange County Voice and echoed some of the points raised by Mary Carter. She said that this transit plan is complicated and they need more time to digest. She said that most citizens in Orange County do not understand the plan, especially the light rail investment. She said that the citizens appreciate the public hearing, but this is not the right venue to fully educate the public. She asked why there is a rush and said it is too complicated and important to rush this issue. Joe Phelps said that he is not against helping people get around, but he is a little confused about the direction of some of these things. He said that he is confused that there is a big push for economic development, but yet also a big push for transportation. He asked if the idea was for people to stay here and work or to send people elsewhere to work. Chair Pelissier asked Craig Benedict if they could add a Q&A on the website for the public. Craig Benedict said that staff has made good notes and this can be done. He will work with the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Manager to talk about how to make it more interactive. Commissioner McKee said that it was mentioned that monies had been put forth to support the Hillsborough train station, but there is a small sliver of the pie chart that is for capital projects such as park-and-ride, etc. He asked if the money was $800,000 and if it was obtained out of the 3% share that was previously designated for park-and-ride and other small capital projects. Patrick McDonough said that the money for the train station is separate. Commissioner McKee said that at the work session it was presented that this money would come out of small capital projects. Patrick McDonough said that they originally thought it was, but it is not. Commissioner McKee said that he is concerned that figures continue to shift. He said that there does not seem to be a finite pot of money. He asked if the '/�-cent sales tax would be enough.