Minutes 04-17-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Stewart Boss said that he is in support of this plan and there is demand for this service. He said that he rides the bus every day to UNC. He said that this plan would reduce air pollution and congestion. Glen Wilson said that he believed that the Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously supported the light rail. Geoffrey Green lives in Orange County and he and his wife spend a lot of time on the UNC Campus. He said that they both use the bus and he is in support of placing this item on the ballot. He said that UNC is the County's largest employer, and improved access to the medical center is critical. He said that the transit plan is not a light rail plan, but a transit plan, and the enhanced bus service will go into effect long before the light rail is constructed. Katie O'Donnell is a UNC student and she urged the County Commissioners to put this item on the ballot, since students now depend on bikes and buses. Tait Chandler said that buses are good now but they do not do late night runs and he would not be here tonight if it had not been for his friend. He said that population growth makes enhanced bus service a need. Jasmine Ruddy said that she is a student at UNC and said that a public transit system would decrease gas consumption, which would improve air quality. Chris Weaver said that he is an Orange County taxpayer and resident. He thanked the Board of County Commissioners for holding the upcoming information sessions. He said that he would like the County Commissioners to be at the public information sessions because three minutes at a time is not very helpful. Chair Pelissier said that she would be attending the public information sessions. Olivia Sanders is a UNC student and said that she relies heavily on public transit. She is also in favor of the regional plan. She said that improving student access is really important at night and during weekends. She hopes to see this referendum on the ballot. Thomas Tillett said that he lives in Orange County and he supports the transit tax. Will Leimenstoll said that he is a UNC student and Student Body President and he did not have a car for awhile, so he is in favor of this plan to increase bus service. He said that the light rail would open up UNC students to be able to enjoy the region. Jeanne Brown lives in southern Chapel Hill and said that she is so glad to hear support for the increased bus service. She said that she wished the information sessions would have come before the public hearings. She said that she understood that the bus monies come after the light rail monies. She said that she has heard a lot tonight about the bus system but not much about light rail. She wants to make sure that adequate funding is guaranteed for bus service. She would like to see public transit that would easily transition to light rail if and when the community grows large enough to support it. She said that it appears that 1 million is the magic population number to support light rail systems. Wilson Lamb said that this is preposterous, in the midst of the largest decline in real estate and underfunded schools. He said that in Chapel Hill there are buses that are underused. He said that he does not approve spending tax money—the county's or the federal government's - on transit. He asked that they fix what they have now— roads, schools, etc. Ruby Seinrich supported the comments of the students. She spoke in support of the environmental benefits of public transit. She said that this transit tax is a no-brainer. Commissioner Gordon told the public that if they have additional written comments, that they should submit them to Planning Director Craig Benedict. Commissioner McKee said that he would definitely be at the public information sessions. He said that he continues to oppose the light rail component. He is in favor of bus rapid transit.