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85 <br /> Chapter 5: Organizational Options <br /> Option 1 : Maintain Existing Structure in Planning and Inspections, <br /> Redefine Planning Position <br /> Option i addresses the increased need for and role of the Planner II position that is currently <br /> providing substantial planning support to OPT in terms of service planning, representation at <br /> regional planning organizations, policy development, budgeting and compliance. These are all <br /> functions that will be continuing and likely increasing in importance. <br /> Option i calls for redefining the Comprehensive Planner II position with a revised job <br /> description that would reflect the actual work being performed, calling it a Transit Planner <br /> position and moving it to the Transportation Division of Planning and Inspections, as shown in <br /> Figure 5-3. The additional responsibilities associated with the transit program might well <br /> require a reclassification as well as a new job description. This planner would continue to have <br /> significant interaction with and mutual support for other transportation functions with the <br /> remaining Comprehensive Planner II. <br /> Appendix B presents a job description recently issued by Cary for a Transit Planner. It could be <br /> used as a basis for creating/redefining this position with some editing to reduce overlap with <br /> the Transit Administrator job description. These positions are not duplicative, but <br /> complementary. Cary operates its own transit system that is in many ways what OPT might <br /> grow into,with town-wide demand response service for special needs transportation, several <br /> fixed routes and operation of a route for GoTriangle. The service operations are provided <br /> turnkey by a contractor, and the staff consists of a Transit Director, Transit Planner and <br /> Marketing/Communication specialist. The purpose of the job advertisement is to add a second <br /> planning position. Currently, Cary's ridership is approximately 300,000 per year, and it has 29 <br /> vehicles in its fleet, so it is a larger system. The Transit Planner description addresses most of <br /> the duties now being addressed in Orange by the Comprehensive Planner II that are not <br /> included in its job description. <br /> A related option that Orange County might consider is creation of the Transit Planner position <br /> with the transit functions as a new position within the Transportation Division, leaving intact <br /> both of the Comprehensive Planner II positions to address the broader transportation planning <br /> needs of the county. Transit is a subset of the broader transportation planning issues faced by <br /> the county, albeit a significant one. <br /> KFH <br /> NCDOT Orange County 69 <br /> Transit Assessment Study <br />