Minutes 09-11-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bret Martin said additional comments had been received on the difference between option 1 and option 2, as it relates to the zonal routes. He said comments were focused on the availability and user friendliness of the US Highway 70 mid day service. Commissioner Gordon asked when staff will get the full cost and revenue picture. Commissioner Gordon said the importance of the $58 versus $45 is that in the bus and rail plan Orange County received a certain number of hours over a certain amount of time. She said this amount was based on the cost of$58 per hour. She said the question is whether this number of hours changes based on cost effectiveness. She wants to know if they will get the hours they were promised. Bret Martin referred to her first question about revenue sources. He believes some 5307 funding will be available through the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) for capital to provide the service. He does not see there being much available here for operating assistance. Bret Martin said on the Burlington Graham MPO side, there is about $1.9 million available annually for use in that area. He said this area extends pretty far into Orange County and includes Mebane and Efland. He said services that involve this area can take advantage of still being part of the Burlington's MPO. He has sent a request for funding for three buses and for operating assistance in the amount of$90,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2016. He said staff has also requested that Orange County be a State Maintenance Assistance Program recipient, which would involve up to $130,000 annually. He said all of these funding sources are being sought, but there is no indication of what will be received. Craig Benedict said the money that is being apportioned through the Bus and Rail Investment Plan is not done by hours. He said this is apportioned according to the percentage of how much revenue comes in. He said 64 percent of the money goes to Chapel Hill, 24 percent to Triangle Transit, and 12 percent to OPT. He said the target is to turn 4,000 hours into about 7,000 hours, based on the lower cost per unit. Commissioner Pelissier referred to the grant that was just announced at the MPO and said that the County has to match $32,500. She asked where this money will come from. Bret Martin said staff was able to work with the Department on Aging to put together some creative financing. He said they will use a federal grant source that is not a US Department of Transportation grant as the match. Commissioner Pelissier said the grant also stated that there will be a volunteer driver program established. She asked how this will fit into the deviated zonal routes. Bret Martin said this program is only successful if there are willing participants to provide rides at specific times for people who need them. He said once this program is off the ground it could reduce the demand for these rural zonal routes, because there are other opportunities that are more one on one to provide that service. Craig Benedict said the volunteer drivers would pick up a rider in the rural area and take them directly to a fixed route. Bret Martin said the 5310 grant specifies that it the volunteer driver program still has to be a shared ride situation, so drivers still have make their vehicles available to provide more than one ride at a time. Commissioner Pelissier said funding comes every year from the Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP), and some of this goes to disabilities and some to the general public. She said it is important to see what people are being served from other funding sources as opposed to the half cent sales tax. Commissioner Pelissier said she does not have a sense of how the ROAP funding has been allocated. She asked if this is what is being used for the Sportsplex.