Agenda - 01-24-2017 - 6-a - Minutes

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34 1 and it becomes increasingly difficult to back off. He said Orange County will be responsible for 2 at least 25% of costs, if the Board goes forward. He said life causes changes, and noted a 3 letter from Duke Heath, which voiced major concerns with the project. He said he understands 4 UNC's support of the project, but says UNC is moving 1,100 jobs out of Chapel Hill. He said 5 UNC also has a hospital in Hillsborough, which is nowhere near a light rail line. He said Duke 6 and UNC are developing clinics throughout the area, none of which are on the light rail line. He 7 said the economic development will only occur in Durham. 8 Commissioner McKee noted GoTriangle's statement that no funds are being asked for 9 at this time, but noted further down in the statement that Orange and Durham counties 10 understand by their actions, that they will "incur costs not anticipated." He said this is as clear 11 as day that there will be additional costs. He said there is an understanding at large that if the 12 County backs out now, it will lose all funds already committed. He said this is not his 13 understanding based on information from GoTriangle, and he asked if this could be clarified: if 14 the project does not proceed and falls out of the New Starts Program, but gets back in at some 15 point in the future, what costs would not be eligible for reimbursement from the FTA. He said it 16 is his understanding that if the project falls out of the New Starts program, and is reinstated at a 17 later date, the funds spent during the time between are all that would be ineligible for 18 reimbursement. He said the project could stop tonight, and not all expended funds would be 19 lost. 20 Jeff Mann said the County would not be reimbursed unless it was allowed back into the 21 program. 22 Commissioner McKee said this is not the explanation that was given to the Board 23 previously, and this is a perfect example of frustrations with communication. 24 Commissioner Rich said she would like to get facts to back up what was heard tonight. 25 Chair Dorosin said Commissioner Jacobs had talked about cost analysis, and 26 suggested having that in another motion. 27 28 VOTE: Ayes, 5 (Chair Dorosin, Commissioner Jacobs, Commissioner Rich, Commissioner 29 Marcoplos); Nays, 2 (Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Price) 30 31 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Rich to 32 direct the Manager to engage someone to help do independent review of finances and value 33 engineering choices for this project; direct the Manager to contact Durham to initiate 34 discussions of reevaluating the split in funding based on changes in mileage and differences in 35 economic development opportunities in the two counties; revisit Chapel Hill/Orange County bus 36 split to understand what change a possible bus rapid transit would have on the split and the 37 ability of Orange County to do what it wants to do; and the Board have an opportunity to 38 articulate its own County transportation goals. 39 40 Commissioner McKee said he already sent a letter to Durham County Chair to open up 41 these discussions, and this meeting did not take place due to scheduling conflicts; but the door 42 was left open for this meeting to occur. 43 44 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 45 46 Bonnie Hammersley said in anticipation of this evening's meeting, her office put 47 together a team that will be working on this item. She said Deputy Manager Travis Myren will 48 be the primary contact for all GoTriangle/D-O LRT questions and concerns. 49 50 8. Reports