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

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28 1 Commissioner Pelissier asked if GoTriangle and the Durham County Commissioners 2 have approved this. 3 Danny Rogers said the Durham County Commissioners and the City of Durham gave 4 support for this, but only the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the approval board 5 on the action of adding it to the MTP. 6 Commissioner Rich referred to the environmental study, and asked if it only covers 7 Austin Avenue to NCCU. 8 Danny Rogers said yes, as everything else has already been cleared. 9 Commissioner Jacobs said he is totally supportive of extending the line to NCCU. 10 Commissioner Jacobs said he has concerns: one is the cost share with Durham. He 11 said more is being added in Durham, and the cost split should reflect that. He said he would 12 like to see some value engineering on this project independent of Go Triangle. He said he is 13 supportive of this project but it must be determined where it fits into the priorities of Orange 14 County. He said he does not think it will be at the top of the list, and some adjustments will 15 need to be made to this project. He said he has a willingness to continue to discuss this 16 project, and would like to add the words "if possible" to the draft motion Danny Rogers read 17 earlier. He said the County must be careful, and if this will cost Orange County the opportunity 18 and ability to do other things, then tough choices must be made. 19 Commissioner Pelissier said value engineering will be done, but not before the 20 engineering phase. 21 Commissioner Jacobs asked if this can be done by April. 22 Danny Rogers said this is being looked into. He said value engineering is good, while 23 cost cutting is not. 24 Commissioner Pelissier said the formula for cost sharing with Durham and light rail was 25 based on the sales tax revenue at that time, and she said it was discussed more specifically 26 regarding what percentage of the stations were in one county versus the other. She said 27 having NCCU added, does not nullify the formula, but is rather a new negotiation. 28 Patrick McDonough said many formula options were tried, and the groups arrived at a 29 conclusion based on number of bus hours being delivered in other parts of the plan. 30 Commissioner Pelissier said she did not recall that. 31 Patrick McDonough said both counties agreed that they had reached their desired value, 32 which was how the agreement was signed. He said in the past there was no hard metric. 33 Commissioner Pelisser asked if the same formula would be used when adding a station. 34 Patrick McDonough said there was no specific determination, but he would defer to legal 35 staff for clarification. 36 Commissioner Pelissier referred to Commissioner Jacobs' comments about priorities for 37 Orange County, and said transit is a priority, and another is affordable housing. She said these 38 priorities go hand in hand. She said would like Go Triangle to provide information to the Board 39 on, if light rail were to exist, and bus routes could be changed, could more affordable housing 40 be provided, due to the increased availability of public transportation. 41 Commissioner Rich said she is in favor of the NCCU extension, and the overall project. 42 Commissioner Rich said she too would like to review the cost sharing amounts with 43 Durham. 44 Commissioner Rich said she would like more information about funding for joint 45 development for transit and affordable housing. She said this topic has not been discussed 46 nearly enough. She clarified that the task this evening is a vote on the NCCU extension, and 47 receiving of the financial report. 48 Danny Rogers said nothing is being requested on the financial side tonight.