Agenda - 03-17-2015 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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GV ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ADA PARATRANSIT PLAN ADA paratransit also requires a much higher level of service than is provided under EDTAP in terms of response time, days and hours of service, and capacity constraints. For this reason, it is generally recommended that locally operated transit systems treat these programs as two (2) distinct services. While both services may be operated using the same vehicles and drivers, certification processes and community outreach should clearly differentiate between the programs to ensure that EDTAP registrants do not expect the same level of service as ADA paratransit registrants. Orange Public Transportation Background: Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is a division of the Planning and Inspections Department of Orange County government that operates fixed - route, demand - response, contract, and subscription services throughout Orange County, North Carolina, for both general public and human service transportation needs. OPT operates under the unofficial name "Orange Bus." Orange Public Transportation's (OPT's) service area generally involves all areas of Orange County excluding the Chapel Hill Transit service area located in the southeastern portion of the county (Exhibit 1). The population of this service area is roughly 56,986 persons and involves both rural outlying portions of the county and more urbanized areas located along the 1- 40/1 -85 and U.S. 70 corridors extending through the central part of the county. OPT provides specialized demand - response, contract and subscription service to persons deemed eligible for such services within this area. One of OPT's fixed routes connects the OPT service area to the Chapel Hill Transit service area and serves a small population of those making trips within the Chapel Hill Transit service area. In the spring of 2015, OPT will begin providing additional fixed -route and deviated fixed - route services throughout Orange County that will expand the general public fixed -route or deviated fixed -route service provided by a total of approximately 6,560 service /revenue hours per year, a 238% increase in service /revenue hours over what is currently provided. Of these additional service hours, 5,000 service hours will be purely general public fixed - route service. When fixed -route service is provided, complementary paratransit service is federally mandated by the ADA. This document shall serve as the plan for complying with ADA paratransit requirements. Description of Current Fixed -Route System: Currently, OPT operates two (2) general public fixed routes. One such route is the Hillsborough Circulator, which serves major origins and destinations in Hillsborough with hourly headways during the hours 8:00am- 5:OOpm, Monday through Friday. This route is operated using one (1) wheelchair accessible vehicle (with an electric wheelchair lift) that is 100% accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. No fare is collected for riding the Hillsborough Circulator service. The location of the Hillsborough Circulator and its schedule and stop locations are provided in Exhibit 2. K.