Agenda - 04-05-2016 - 6-a - Minutes

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17 1 • GoTriangle will add trips to the Chapel Hill-Raleigh Express 2 3 Milestones of light rail project 4 • Project development was completed within a 2-year window, in compliance with Federal 5 law. 6 • Applications submitted for federal funding program. 7 • Awaiting word from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding its review of 8 submitted materials. 9 • Once criteria are satisfied, final design phase of three years of engineering, will begin. 10 Once completed a full funding grant agreement with the FTA will be pursued. 11 12 Commissioner Rich referred to the expansion of service into Carrboro and asked if the 13 bus route is known. 14 John Tallmadge said the service will run at least during commuter hours (6:00 to 9:00 15 a.m.), and if one is coming from Carrboro toward Durham, the route will come down Main 16 Street, to Franklin Street, to 15- 501. He said if one is coming into Carrboro, the route will go to 17 the medical center at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospital first, then take the by- 18 pass to Jones Ferry Road, and into downtown Carrboro. He said the major market is to the 19 hospital and the University. 20 Further discussion of the routes ensued. 21 John Tallmadge said August is the targeted implementation date. 22 Commissioner Pelissier referred to the expanded service and asked if the BOCC will get 23 information about increased ridership on the new and expanded services. 24 John Tallmadge said such information can be provided. 25 Commissioner Jacobs asked if John Tallmadge could explain the proposal of the dual 26 use and why GoTriangle does not want to pursue it further. 27 John Tallmadge said requests were received to make the entire light rail corridor run 28 both buses and light rail. He said a dual route is being accomplished via a section through 29 downtown Durham and buses still need to be able to use Pettigrew St. He said it is not that 30 they are opposed to this idea but this is a more expensive way to build the corridor. He said the 31 operational demands of this dual option would be a challenge and this corridor is not the most 32 used corridor. He said it may compromise the efficiency of the light rail project. 33 John Tallmadge said a full answer could be provided via a presentation at a later date or 34 in writing. 35 Commissioner Pelissier said the Board received an email today from Brad Shultz and 36 she said if they were to address this dual corridor the entire process would have to start from 37 the beginning, which would take several years and large amounts of money. 38 Chair McKee asked if there is a backup plan if state cap is not lifted. 39 John Tallmadge said the GoTriangle Board of Trustees received a report on the 40 financial plan and directed GoTriangle staff to identify funding sources and develop strategies 41 to identify funding sources that can help with the project if the cap is not removed. He said 42 there is not yet a specific plan but one is being worked on. 43 Chair McKee asked him to keep the BOCC informed going forward. 44 John Tallmadge said he would do so. He said if the cap is not removed, there will likely 45 have to be a meeting with the Board of Trustees and both Orange and Durham County 46 Commissioners to regroup. He said they are optimistic that the cap will be removed. 47 Commissioner Jacobs said that money has already been reallocated to other DOT 48 projects.