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51 <br /> II. TRANSIT PLANNING STEPS LEADING UP TO THIS PLAN <br /> Beginning in 2007, a blue-ribbon group of Triangle leaders (the Special Transit Advisory <br /> Commission, or STAC) met for over a year and in 2008 unanimously recommended a regional <br /> vision for bus and rail investments. One year later, the region's two Metropolitan Planning <br /> Organizations (MPOs) fully incorporated the STAC recommendations into a long-range (25- <br /> year)transportation plan. <br /> In August 2009, Governor Beverly Perdue signed into law the Congestion Relief and <br /> Intermodal Transport Fund Act (HB 148), legislation that allows Orange, Durham and Wake <br /> counties to generate new revenues for public transportation. These new revenues can <br /> include a one-half cent sales tax, if approved by the public through a referendum,as well as <br /> an additional $10 in local and regional vehicle registration fees. <br /> Over the last two years,Triangle Transit staff has worked with municipal, Orange County, the <br /> MPO and other regional transportation staff to develop a detailed, 25-year plan for new bus <br /> and rail investments designed to provide greater transportation options for residents and <br /> employers. These investments would positively impact traffic congestion and air quality, and <br /> support local land use policies. This plan is the culmination of that collaboration and <br /> proposes crucial public investments and services to maintain our quality of life and economic <br /> vitality for the next 25 years. <br /> Extensive public engagement has occurred over the two years in the development of the bus <br /> and rail elements of this plan. In 2010 and 2011 Triangle Transit and local transportation staff <br /> members from municipalities, counties and MPOs conducted a series of 19 public workshops, <br /> at various locations throughout the Triangle, on the process and substance of the plan's <br /> development. A total of over 1,100 participants attended the meetings and they provided <br /> over 500 comments on the plan. Since that time,the project Web site, <br /> www.ourtransitfuture.com, was viewed by over 73,000 unique individuals. The Web site <br /> houses all of the presentation materials and proposed plan elements. <br /> Additionally, the DCHC MPO held five public workshops to receive input on the proposed plan <br /> in 2011. In spring 2012, the Orange County Board of Commissioners held two public hearings <br /> and two public workshops to provide opportunities for the public to ask questions and <br /> provide feedback on the proposed plan. <br /> There have been dozens of meetings with citizens, local elected officials, staff and members <br /> of the region's MPOs, community stakeholders and business leaders, allowing extensive <br /> feedback on the proposed bus and rail elements of the plan. The financial and service <br /> elements of this plan are coordinated with the adopted Durham County Bus and Rail <br /> Investment Plan. Additionally, this bus and rail investment plan builds on existing transit <br /> services and therefore does not eliminate or reduce the current financial and service <br /> commitments. <br /> 9/ //,,01 1. -Page 14 <br />