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"I'm Dave Carter and have spent a lot of time talking to our citizens over the last year. <br /> It is my impression that our citizens not only do not understand the transit plan - but they are <br /> unaware of the fee or what it will be used for. <br /> Today, nearly every county in North Carolina - including Charlotte, charges residents <br /> $28 to register a car. Randolph County charges $29. Since Triangle Transit has already <br /> added $5 to the fee, Orange, Durham and Wake residents pay $33. Tonight you are <br /> considering adding $10 - that's a total increase of 50%. <br /> Over 23 years, the fee produces $22 million - or about 3% of the transit's $600 million <br /> in funds. <br /> The vehicle fee is a small portion of the funds and places an inappropriate burden on <br /> many residents who will not be served by transit and who rely on the cars to get to work or <br /> transport their families. Rural residents who tend to have more vehicles per household will <br /> incur the greatest burden with the least benefit. Rural attitudes were reflected in their <br /> overwhelming opposition to the plan. <br /> Tonight - on behalf of the growing number of citizens who want good transit, I ask that <br /> you do not levy the vehicle fee. There are too many important issues that need to be worked <br /> out. It's possible that Orange County can achieve many of its transit goals without ever adding <br /> a vehicle fee. <br /> As you now know, Durham has levied their sales tax, but not the vehicle fee. They feel <br /> that it's important to have an interlocal agreement in place with the Durham city bus service <br /> provider to assure that they will use the funds to advance transit goals. Orange County has no <br /> similar agreement with Chapel Hill Transit, UNC or Orange Public Transit. <br /> Durham County also wants to first to educate the public on the transit plan and how the <br /> fees will be used. In doing so, Durham will have the opportunity to feature a park n ride in <br /> Rougement and regional bus service to Wake County for their rural residents - a great time <br /> and money saver - because these residents will no longer have to go through the city of <br /> Durham or pay to park in the Capitol City. In contrast, Orange County is asking rural <br /> residents to pay fees to fund Chapel Hill's free bus service. It's simply not fair. <br /> Please wait to levy the vehicle until you've had a chance to educate the public, work out <br /> the agreements with the bus service providers, and correct the rural/urban inequity built into <br /> the funds." <br /> Damian Seils encouraged the Board to adopt the three resolutions and said that the <br /> Board already adopted the transit plan. He said that the transit plan describes both how transit <br /> investments will be used and the funding sources. He said that the Board has adopted this <br /> and the voters approved the levy of the '/2-cent sales tax. <br /> Tony Blake said that he doubted that many residents are opposed to transit but they <br /> are opposed to how the monies are being spent. He asked what would happen if the tax is not <br /> matched by the government. He asked why Chapel Hill was advocating a transit program — <br /> TTA - that is less successful than Chapel Hill Transit. He said that this was not a transit plan <br /> but a transit trophy. He said that the people that need the services most are unlikely to benefit <br /> from this plan. He said that Eno and Buckhorn economic development districts should be <br /> included in this discussion. <br /> Wib Gulley said that he is here to answer questions along with other staff from Triangle <br /> Transit. <br /> EMAILS —PUBLIC COMMENT <br /> From: Troy Rountree <br />