Agenda - 04-04-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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8 1 better to stay in the pipeline, as there are many risks with withdrawal, and no guarantee of 2 being readmitted to the program. 3 Commissioner Price asked if the revenue to Orange County could be identified. 4 Jeff Mann said it would be $175 million in new tax revenue statewide. He does not have 5 numbers specific to Orange County. 6 7 PUBLIC COMMENT: 8 Alex Castro, Jr. said he is a Bingham Township resident, the current vice-chair of the 9 Orange County Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) and a volunteer driver for the 10 Department on Again. He has also served for years on the Aging Advisory Board. He said the 11 number of senior residents will soon reach 20%, in Orange County. He said public 12 transportation is critical for this community, and the proposed light rail (LRT) will not serve the 13 majority of this population. He said it will be a huge expense and would severely limit funds for 14 other types of transportation. He said there is little access to public transportation in rural 15 areas, and while there are attempts to expand, it is simply not enough. He said this problem 16 will only increase over time, and he believes the LRT will not be delivered on time or on budget. 17 He implored the BOCC to cut its losses and move on. 18 Julie McClintock said she represents Chapel Hill Alliance for a Liveable Town, as well as 19 a countywide coalition of individuals interested in, and concerned about, the BOCC decision on 20 the LRT portion of the Orange County Transit Plan. She said her groups want effective public 21 transit and a better plan for Orange County. She commended the BOCC for conducting an 22 independent analysis of the GoTriangle financial plan. She petitioned the Board of County 23 Commissioners to call a public hearing so citizens can weigh in on the analysis done by 24 Davenport, as well as the updated Bus and Rail Plan, and changes to related documents. She 25 said the BOCC is getting ready to make a billion dollar decision, which must be founded in 26 facts. 27 She requested that Orange County staff release this analysis when it is received, and provide a 28 presentation at the Public Hearing, allowing for analysis by County staff and questions from the 29 public. 30 Charles Humble said he voted for the transit tax in 2012, and has supported light rail up 31 to now. He said issues are complicated, and he does not support LRT as it is now. He said he 32 supports a petition for a public hearing before making any decisions on this matter. 33 Brenda McCall reviewed her concerns and the problems with the current plan. She 34 supports the petition for a public hearing. 35 Bonnie Hauser said she is confused with the current plan, and she supports the petition 36 for a public hearing on this issue. She reviewed her concerns about the costs. 37 Del Snow shared her concerns and questions about the light rail's financial plan. 38 Alex Cabannes shared his concerns about the present light rail proposal. He cited the 39 failures of the LRT system in Charlotte. 40 Richard Chady said he supports the petition for a public hearing. He said there will be 41 limited economic development and unlimited financial responsibility. 42 Steve Tilley said he does not support light rail since most people in Orange County will 43 not ride it on the northwest side of 140. He said it is too costly a burden to put on the taxpayer. 44 Patricia Clayton said she is speaking on behalf of the Northern Orange National 45 Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who is in support of public 46 transportation, and stresses an emphasis on the need for buses. She spoke to the BOCC in 47 December, and finds it hard to believe that just a few months later, there is a new, more costly 48 plan in place. She said LRT will not serve their community. She said they advocate for a 49 transportation system that serves all of Orange County.