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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 11, 2014 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 1 <br />SUBJECT: Central and Rural Orange County Five -Year Bus Service Expansion Concepts <br />— Orange Public Transportation <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />A) Staff - Recommended Bus <br />Service Expansion Program <br />Summary — Option #1 <br />B) Staff - Recommended Bus <br />Service Expansion Program <br />Summary — Option #2 <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 919 - 245 -2592 <br />Bret Martin, Transportation Planner, 919 - 245 -2582 <br />Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, <br />919- 245 -2579 <br />Peter Murphy, Transportation Administrator, 919 -245- <br />2002 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a presentation and review staff - recommended Orange Public <br />Transportation (OPT) bus service expansion concepts proposed for central and rural Orange <br />County over the next five (5) years and provide feedback to staff on the BOCC's preferred <br />option. <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan ( OCBRIP) was approved <br />by the BOCC in June 2012. The OCBRIP provides local and regional transit opportunities <br />including expanded bus service and proposed light rail. Voters in November 2012 approved a <br />one -half cent sales tax and vehicle registration fee increase to fund the local financial <br />contribution to projects recommended in the Plan, and collection of these revenues began on <br />April 1, 2013. <br />Additional background documents such as the adopted OCBRIP can be found via the following <br />link, listed under Transportation Documents: <br />http: / /www.co. orange. nc .us /planning /transportation.asp <br />At its May 8, 2014 and June 17, 2014 meetings, the BOCC received presentations on concepts <br />for expanding OPT and Triangle Transit (TTA) bus operations in central and rural Orange <br />County over the next five years, as well as the results of public outreach conducted by both OPT <br />and Triangle Transit staff to advertise and receive feedback on the proposed concepts. The <br />BOCC also endorsed the Orange- Durham Express (ODX) service proposed by Triangle Transit. <br />Triangle Transit initiated Phase I (Hillsborough to Durham) of this service on August 18, 2014, <br />and Phase II (extension to Mebane) is expected to commence in early 2015. <br />Orange Public Transportation Bus Service Expansion Guiding Principles <br />The bus service expansion concepts proposed for operation by OPT in central and rural Orange <br />County involve: <br />