Agenda - 09-15-2016 - Joint Meeting Discussion Items

Browse Search

2 SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this agenda item: • GOAL: Ensure Economic Self-Sufficiency The creation and preservation of utility infrastructure is enhanced by interlocal agreements which create efficiency and therein stability with the cost of service to both residents and businesses. 2. Transit Service Orange Public Transportation Update Orange County Public Transportation (OPT) is in the process of implementing bus expansion services. Services are supported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) rural grant programs, half cent sales tax, vehicle tag fees, urban funding through the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Burlington Graham MPO and fare receipts. OPT accepted delivery of seven new replacement buses during the summer 2015 and three additional replacement vehicles in the summer 2016. Older, infrequently used buses have been sold and all new vehicles are in service. New bus operators were hired and trained to support both expanded and existing services. Screening and hiring continues for pending services. Five new approved services include: • Recent service additions — August 2015: Orange-Chapel Hill Connector with expanded service to Cedar Grove — This is an Increased frequency to hourly service on the mid-day fixed- route service that OPT operates on the Hillsborough-Chapel Hill route. This complements the peak hour service that is operated as GoTriangle Route 420, managed by Chapel Hill Transit under an agreement with GoTriangle. (See Attachment 1) — June 2016: Expanded Senior Center Service - Later Senior Center service was added on weekdays to provide additional service to the county's Senior Centers, particularly the Passmore Senior Center. Two route-deviation services are now provided at 3:30 pm in addition to 1:00 pm service times. • Pending service additions — Efland-Hillsborough Commuter Loop — Complementing the GoTriangle ODX peak hour commuter service between Mebane/Efland, Hillsborough and Duke/VA Hospital, downtown Durham, OPT will operate peak period/peak direction service from Efland to connect with the ODX at its Hillsborough stop, enabling Efland residents to connect to Duke and Durham. It also provides connecting service to the 420 Chapel Hill Route to UNC (See Attachment 1) — Orange-Alamance Connector (US 70 midday) The Orange-Alamance Connector will be operated by OPT to complement the GoTriangle ODX service. It will provide mid-day service on weekdays between Mebane/Efland and Hillsborough. A Congestion mitigation and air quality improvement (CMAQ) Program Grant was applied for and final approvals were received in February 2016. Service is pending receipt of the grant-funded vehicle. — Rural Deviated Zonal Routes - This combined service will provide general public service (no eligibility requirements) in the rural areas of Orange County on a