Agenda - 05-02-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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17 1 The EIS evaluates only two alternatives, the recommended DOLRT plan and a "no build" 2 alternative. The no build alternative includes existing and planned transit services proposed to 3 exist in 2040 and included in the Metropolitan Transit Plan, but not the DOLRT. The no build 4 alternative does not include any major transit investment in the Durham-Orange corridor. 5 6 Regrettably, projects such as bus rapid transit with dedicated travel lanes and expanded bus 7 service were eliminated from this evaluation. Bus rapid transit with dedicated travel lanes can 8 be built for a median cost of about one third the cost of light rail, according to the EIS. 9 GoTriangle should have compared the light rail plan with a plan using BRT and buses to serve 10 many more Orange County residents than the light rail line. Such a plan could be built more 11 quickly and at less cost, with more flexibility to respond to emerging needs and growth patterns. 12 13 Sheila Creth said this plan is not finished, and she is concerned that they are not being 14 given enough time for public input. She said she voted for the transit tax for transit, but not for 15 light rail. She said three of the stations are on the UNC property, and no one pays taxes on this 16 property. She said she is against light rail. 17 Katy Lang said she is a car-free resident of Orange County and has lived without a car 18 since 2010. She said she walks and takes the bus (GoTriangle routes 400, 405, 800, and 19 Chapel Hill Transit routes J, D, NU/NS) almost everywhere she needs to go: work, social 20 activities, community meetings, exercise classes, and errands. She said she supports the 21 Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit project. She said she is grateful that Orange County voted 22 yes for transit in 2012, and that they are already seeing the bus service improvements provided 23 for in the Bus and Rail Investment Plans — especially nighttime and Sunday service. She said 24 one of the misunderstandings about the DO-LRT project is that it will "take all the transit money" 25 away from bus to light rail, and that is not only untrue but misconstrues the benefits residents 26 are already experiencing and will continue to experience as bus improvements are made. She 27 said an integrated mass transit system must incorporate multiple modes — including bus and 28 light rail —for the greatest connectivity and mobility. She said doing nothing/the status quo is 29 not a viable solution for our growing region, and right now, our bus systems are adequate but 30 not sustainable for our future growth. She said a fixed-route transit line like the light rail has the 31 unique opportunity to position and direct development investment along its length, mitigating 32 sprawl and providing denser land uses where they are most needed: job centers, schools, 33 hospitals, and denser residential. She said this enables transit riders like herself to get around 34 more efficiently. 35 Molly DeMarco said she is in support of light rail and BRT, and this plan will help 36 people move around the County better. She said the light rail location is in the right spot as it 37 serves people, not the land. She said it is a benefit for so many, and if the BOCC walks away 38 from this plan, the federal money will go away, and starting from scratch will take years. She 39 urged the BOCC to vote in favor of this plan. 40 John Morris said the idea of light rail has drawn support, but it is important to understand 41 how drastically the plan has changed, and how the costs have increased. He said GoTriangle 42 has had to perform financial acrobats to make this plan feasible. He said the Davenport 43 analysis has told them that this will put the County's credit rating and general fund budget at 44 risk. He said the President has proposed a cease in additional funding for new starts, like the 45 LRT. He said cities all over the country are concerned about this, and the BOCC should be 46 worried too. He said the State continues to reduce or restrict funding for projects like the LRT, 47 and he doubts the State will provide the 10% that is currently promised. He encouraged the 48 BOCC to say no to LRT, and to create a better transit plan for the County. 49 Matt Clark is from Durham, and he got in a traffic jam on his way to tonight's meeting. 50 He said he was able to think about the roads while sitting in traffic. He said this area has world-