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Tom Vanderbeck said that in this northeastern area, if you are in anon-attainment area as far as air quality, unless it is addressed, there will be no funding. He said that there are lots of reasons to adapt a more aggressive and proactive public transportation model. Charlie Horne asked how TTA fit into this process. Craig Benedict said that their regional efforts are becoming more and more widespread. AI Terry with Orange Public Transportation said that the State is very much in favor of looking at any type of regional effort for public transportation in any area of the State. The State is also funding a survey with Durham, Wake, and Orange Counties to look at the community transit systems (rural areas) and combining the services. He said that this same consulting firm is open to including other counties, and Chatham County has been mentioned because of the natural corridors that come back to Chapel Hill. He said that Orange County has partnered with TTA to provide a public route between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. Orange County operates the route and TTA funds 75% of it. It has been a very viable partnership. Also, Orange County partners with the Town of Chapel Hill and Alamance and Caswell Counties on occasion. He said that if there is a consolidated effort with the three counties, Triangle Transit Authority will most likely be the host agency. George Lucier asked how Chatham County would get started with this. The northeastern portion is of mast interest now. There have been 15,000 units in this area approved but not yet built. AI Terry said that the process now is at the implementation stage with the consulting firm. If the plan is favorable to the governing bodies, it will have to be approved by two contiguous counties. He said that Chatham County and Caswell County need to be involved in this. He said that the only way he knows for them to get involved is to talk with North Carolina PTD Director Marion Perry since it is so close to the end of the process. Mayor Voller said that he has had conversations with Mr. King from TTA. He said that it has been his dream to bring buses to Pittsboro running on bio-diesel. Commissioner Gordon said that as Chair of both TTA and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO, she would like to say something. She said that the Special Transit Advisory Commission started its work on May 2"d. Dianne Reid will be the representative from Chatham County. This special group has representatives from CAMPO, DCHC, and people from all over Wake, Orange, and Durham Counties as well as other areas. The charge is coming up with the special new vision for transit. The TTA service area is Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties, plus the ten-mile buffer that touches Pittsboro. She urged Chatham County to get involved in this. She said that everything is open in terms of creativity. AI Terry said that this year DOT awarded additional ROAP funds to those who applied far it. The additional funds were to expand services or to start new services. If it is offered again this next year, this could be one way to fund something in Chatham County. Commissioner Gordon suggested trying an MPO/RP0 collaboration on a park and ride lot or a bus route, and try to get funds from both entities. She said that she would like to work with Chatham County and Pittsboro to make this a reality. Mayor Voller said that the Town of Pittsboro and the RPO recently passed a resolution for the four counties for public transportation, indicating that you cannot pave your way out of the problem. The resolution was sent to DOT. He said that it is also a security issue because they are concerned about having a network to move thousands of people in case of an emergency. He said that they could use Orange County's help. Commissioner Gordon said that she had heard that there were only 10,000 units coming online, and now it is 15,000 units. George Lucier said that this does not include the property of Mr. Goodnight, which is 5,000 acres. He said that 15,000 units would be roughly 40,000 people in an area that now has only 30,000 people. These will be highly mobile people and 15-501 will be tremendously affected.