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31 <br /> Orange County Transit Plan April 25, 2017 <br /> increase its population another 41 percent, while Durham the sprawling,auto-centric development that has characterized <br /> County will grow 70 percent. This growth is due in large part to much of the region's growth. These plans were developed, in <br /> the continued strength of the region's varied and resilient part, because of the capacity and expansion challenges facing <br /> economy, anchored by a variety of universities and colleges, the existing roadway network. In addition, the communities <br /> medical centers, and research and development industries. seek to create more centralized residential and business <br /> districts that are accessible using multiple modes of <br /> This growth helps bring prosperity to the region, but it also transportation including transit, bicycling and walking. Reliance <br /> brings transportation challenges. The key roads in the region, on automobile travel to solve the region's mobility needs will <br /> such as US 15-501, NC 54, 1-40, 1-85, and the Durham Freeway not allow local governments to meet these land-use and <br /> (NC 147) experience congestion during morning and evening multimodal goals. <br /> commute times. Even with billions of dollars in planned <br /> highway and transit investments over the next 25 years, traffic A quality transit system also provides significant equity benefits <br /> congestion is expected to get worse and travel times will to county residents who are most in need. Car ownership is <br /> continue to increase. Simply put, the capacity of the roadway expensive. According to the American Automobile Association, <br /> system will not keep pace with the increase in traffic volumes. the average annual cost to own and operate a vehicle is$8,558; <br /> the total average cost per mile driven is 57 cents per mile.' <br /> These transportation challenges make it difficult for the local According to a 2015 onboard customer survey, half of <br /> governments to direct this incoming growth in a focused, GoDurham's passengers have annual household income of less <br /> sustainable, and responsible manner.The expected growth can than $15,000, and another quarter have annual household <br /> strain the natural resources in our region. Orange County is the income between $15,000 and $25,000. A 2016 survey found <br /> headwaters of several rivers and streams in the Piedmont that 51 percent of Chapel Hill Transit's riders have an income <br /> region. Without investment in transit, our region's growth will less than $30,000. Overall, 9 percent of Durham County <br /> be dominated by low-density suburban sprawl that negatively residents and 5.1 percent of Orange County residents do not <br /> impacts our natural resources. own a single vehicle.2 Among households which have two <br /> workers, 11.7 percent in Durham County and 13.7 percent in <br /> County and municipal governments in Orange County and Orange County only have access to one vehicle. <br /> Durham County have developed plans and implementation <br /> strategies that seek to direct growth into more compact, <br /> walkable, higher-density, mixed-use development, instead of <br /> 1 Driving Costs Hit Six-Year Low,Finds AAA, Z American Community Survey 20011-15 5-Year Estimates. <br /> http:/Znewsroomaaa.wpengine.comZautcDZ/vclur d00nE-costsZ <br /> Final Page 7 of 65 <br />