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

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18 1 John Tallmadge said that is still a draft document. He said the Metropolitan Planning 2 Organizations (MPO) has to concur. He said he understands there is a path to pursue for the 3 cap to be removed. 4 Commissioner Pelissier referred to the cap, noting it is not just about its removal, but it 5 is making sure the whole process, of how transportation projects are rated, is whole. She said 6 the light rail project scored well. She said politics cannot be inserted into the project. 7 8 b. Update from GoTriangle - Park and Ride Lot and Bus Transfer Facility 9 The Board considered receiving a report and providing feedback on staff's work 10 planning for a park and ride lot and bus transfer facility in the Hillsborough area, including 11 options to: 1) locate a park and ride lot on US 70 at New Hope Church, with a transfer facility at 12 US 70 and Faucette Mill Road; or 2) locate a park and ride lot on US 70 at Faucette Mill Road, 13 with a transfer facility; or 3) conduct a more extensive site selection process. 14 Peter Murphy, Orange County Transportation Administrator, introduced Jennie Green, 15 GoTriangle Capital Projects Planner. 16 Peter Murphy reviewed the background information: 17 18 BACKGROUND: 19 The Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan (OCBRIP) was approved by the BOCC in 20 June 2012. The need for expanded bus services in and through Hillsborough, as well as new 21 park and ride lot on the north side of Hillsborough, were among the many public transit 22 improvements identified in the Plan. GoTriangle immediately began planning for both short-term 23 and long-term park and ride solutions. The short-term solution was found and located at the 24 North Hills Shopping Center (formerly Maxway site) and was made available through a lease 25 agreement. This enabled GoTriangle to begin its new Orange County-Durham Express (Route 26 ODX) in August 2014 and later expand service to Mebane and Efland. 27 28 Subsequently, in October 2014, the BOCC approved the Central and Rural Orange Five-Year 29 Bus Service Expansion Program for Orange Public Transportation (OPT), which provided the 30 implementation specifics for its new bus routes. In August 2015, OPT expanded its bus services 31 adding additional midday hours to the Orange-Chapel Hill Connector and extending the route to 32 serve Cedar Grove. New services delivered, as well as those planned through the Bus Services 33 Expansion Program, were structured around the North Hills Shopping Center as the location for 34 park and ride. The shopping center has since sold, ending the lease agreement, and park and 35 ride needs in Hillsborough are now being met exclusively through the lot at the Durham Tech 36 Orange County Campus. This change has accelerated the search for a long-term park and ride 37 facility on the north side of Hillsborough. 38 39 Park and Ride Lot Specifications 40 The park and ride is intended to serve two commuter routes: Route ODX to Durham and Route 41 420 to Chapel Hill. To plan for current and future demand, GoTriangle is planning to build a 42 park and ride facility with 100 parking spaces. GoTriangle has had positive conversations with a 43 church located along US 70 to the east of NC 86 about using its parking lot as a Park-and-Ride, 44 but no agreements have been made. 45 46 Bus Transfer Facility Specifications 47 A transfer facility is a bus stop or facility located where multiple routes converge. Customers 48 can change from one bus to another, buses can dwell out of traffic and improved passenger 49 amenities are installed. Town of Hillsborough staff has suggested locations along US 70 to the