Minutes 03-07-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 Steve Tilley said he does not support light rail since most people in Orange County will not ride it on the northwest side of 140. He said it is too costly a burden to put on the taxpayer. Patricia Clayton said she is speaking on behalf of the Northern Orange National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who is in support of public transportation, and stresses an emphasis on the need for buses. She spoke to the BOCC in December, and finds it hard to believe that just a few months later, there is a new, more costly plan in place. She said LRT will not serve their community. She said they advocate for a transportation system that serves all of Orange County. Tony Blake referred to a handout, and said the proposed plan will not serve the lower income residents, and will not be affordable. He said there must be a better plan that serves the people paying for it, not only those who can afford to live close to it. Ken Larsen shared concerns about at grade light rail crossings. He said there are 40 sections of the LRT that are at-grade, with about half of these being crossings. He said this will occur 150 times per day at each of the at-grade crossings, which will exacerbate traffic. Lisa Kayle said it is a different world with President Trump in office. She said this is a war on public transportation, and the LRT may well not receive federal funding. She said if this happens, Orange County will still be on the hook for millions of dollars for engineering costs for nothing. She said even more time will have been wasted in not putting effort into a realistic transportation plan. She said to take all of this into consideration. Dave Laudicina said he is grateful that the BOCC and the residents have voted to participate in regional rail with their surrounding counties. He said there are existing railroad tracks that can be used. He said he is supportive of regional rail, LRT, and bus rapid transit. Lisa Brach said there are assumptions that light rail will reduce congestion and add more transit options to all in Orange County, and these are just not true. She said she has concerns and is not in support of it. Neal Bench is a Chapel Hill resident and said he is impressed with all of the previous speakers and their research. He said he voted for the transit tax, but he hoped there would be significant improvement in the bus service along with the rail. He said he is concerned about the costs with overruns, debt, etc. He said the operating costs are not certain and wonders who picks up any of these extra costs. He would like this project discontinued at this time, and recommends moving to one with more flexible transit options. He said the County has many other needs that already cannot be met, and continuing with this project is unwise. Ramona McGee said she is an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which has advocated for this light rail project. She encouraged the BOCC to continue supporting this project. Rachel Hawkins said she is speaking on behalf of the Schley Grange, who supports the goal of providing transportation in Orange County but they cannot support this current plan. Molly DeMarco said she is a daily transit rider. She said she will ride the light rail and she is in support of a comprehensive transit plan, with increased bus service, a railroad station in Hillsborough, and light rail. Bishop Victor Glover said he is with Fathers on the Move, a local non-profit that works with men transitioning into life after prison. He said there are a lot of other resources in Orange County, but transportation is a very important piece of successful transition for these men. He asked the BOCC to insure that all residents have good public transportation in Orange County. Sheila Creth said she lives in a congested area in Chapel Hill that will not be relieved by light rail. She said she has concerns about this whole process and GoTriangle's misleading and confusing information. She petitioned the Board of County Commissioners to take the time for discussion and a public hearing on this plan, prior to making any discussions.