Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> Attachment 2 <br /> Implementation Plan Process for New Transit Service in Hillsborough, Mebane, and Rural <br /> Orange County <br /> The goal of this planning process is to create a more detailed Implementation Plan for new <br /> regional and local/county transit services and bus capital facilities that serve Hillsborough, <br /> Mebane, and rural Orange County, based on the projects and estimated revenues identified in <br /> the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan (OCBRIP). The OCBRIP currently identifies <br /> the following projects in this study area: <br /> Regional Services <br /> • A new Mebane-Hillsborough-Durham Express route ($195,000 per year—$97,000 of <br /> which are allocated in Orange County) <br /> • Route 420 — Hillsborough-Chapel Hill frequency increase (this service was implemented <br /> in 2012). <br /> Local Services <br /> • Continued operation of the Hillsborough Circulator ($116,000 per year) <br /> • Expansion of Hillsborough Circulator to Saturdays ($29,000 per year) <br /> • Improve capacity of demand response service to rural areas ($254,000 per year) <br /> Capital Projects <br /> The total amount for bus capital projects (such as Park-and-Ride lots, bus shelters, and <br /> accessibility improvements at bus stops) in the OCBRIP is $6.7M. Local revenue only covers <br /> 10% of the capital project costs; the rest would be covered by other sources, including state and <br /> federal grants. Specific projects were not identified in the plan. Discussions will need to take <br /> place with other stakeholders in Orange County, including Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC, to <br /> determine how these capital dollars should be allocated. <br /> It will take approximately five years to roll out all of these new transit services and capital <br /> projects in Orange County. For FY14, Triangle Transit is authorized to spend up to $177,000 in <br /> Orange County on regional service. $110,000 of this is programmed to be spent to improve the <br /> frequency of a route between Southpoint and UNC in the NC-54 corridor that is currently <br /> experiencing standing room only conditions. $67,000 of this could be spent to begin a route <br /> between Hillsborough and Durham. OPT is authorized to spend up to $88,350 in FY14. <br /> We believe that the following steps are important to a successful outcome. Coordination with <br /> TARPO and KFH Group will need to take place to avoid duplication on similar efforts. <br /> Public Involvement <br /> Robust public involvement for the Implementation Plan will be conducted in four ways in June <br /> and July 2013. First, a survey of current Orange Public Transit riders will be conducted through <br /> either paper surveys distributed by drivers or by staff ride-a-longs. These surveys will gather <br /> input on improvements or additions that can be made to the system regarding service times, <br /> destinations, trip purposes and service types. <br />