Orange County NC Website
o OPT is aware of needs by Chapel Hill area residents with mobility problems to access the <br /> Court House and County offices, and they would also be a focus of the northbound "reverse <br /> commute" service. <br /> Estimated Additional Costs <br /> o There are no additional operating costs for the morning round-trip and one p.m. round-trip, <br /> but the additional hours between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and the one additional round trip <br /> in miles would result in additional costs. At 30 miles per round-trip, 260 work days per <br /> year, and two hours per day, the incremental costs of the late afternoon round-trip would be <br /> $10,010 per year for a small bus costing $11.00 per service hour plus $0.55/per mile. To <br /> achieve a 25 percent farebox recovery with a $1.00 fare (comparable to other TTA regional <br /> services), an average of 9-10 regular riders from Chapel Hill to Hillsborough returning on the <br /> 5:00 p.m. bus would be needed. This may well be achievable. <br /> Advantages <br /> o Provides a schedule from Hillsborough area to Chapel Hill that allows a full workday, and <br /> a schedule from Chapel Hill to Hillsborough that serves key destinations such as the Court <br /> House and Orange Enterprises, and allows a full work day. <br /> o Complements mid-day Hillsborough to Chapel Hill services, which offer the possibility of <br /> mid-day return trips to employees concerned about having no way home but the single <br /> evening schedule. <br /> o Links Hillsborough area employers to Chapel Hill area labor pool. <br /> o Could link with other public services such as Chapel Hill Transit at the new Park and Ride <br /> lot, and Chapel Hill Transit and TTA at Franklin Street. <br /> o Potentially serves a much broader public than seniors and agency clients, could introduce a <br /> broader population to OPT. <br /> Disadvantages <br /> • Potentially low demand for the last round-trip out of Hillsborough, as it depends on persons <br /> who live in Chapel Hill and work in Hillsborough. This service may grow with time as the <br /> Economic Development Districts develop additional employment. <br /> • Depends to some extent on TTA's cooperation in having OPT operate a work-trip related <br /> regional service. OPT would like to have TTA support the service with some funding for the <br /> incremental costs of the additional service and perhaps eventually takeover the commuter <br /> based route. <br /> -29- <br />