Minutes 04-18-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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23 Bob Reeber said he is a retired engineer, and he said there are existing train tracks that could be used to connect towns. He said he is against LRT, and said the cost estimates are only going to increase. Robert David thanked the BOCC for its stamina and commitment to hearing the public on this issue. He said he has spoken on this topic before, and continues to believe that the costs of the LRT are too high; the LRT will serve too few; the LRT will take funds from other County needs; the LRT will put the County in financial risk; and GoTriangle is not fit to manage this project. He said the BOCC should look at the problems incurred in other cities that have installed LRT. He said the LRT stops are all on UNC property, and does not benefit enough of the County. He said he questions whether ridership will be high enough to displace traffic. He is not in support of LRT Cheryl Hardman said she is against light rail. Rosemarie Wenzel said she is against light rail, and a major increase in property taxes. David Schwartz said he is against the light rail project. He said all transportation options need to be considered, and weighed carefully against each other. He said there is a lot of money at stake, and that it was wise to hire Davenport to do an independent financial analysis. He encouraged the BOCC to do an independent cost benefit analysis of the various public transit systems, which Orange County might pursue. He said decisions should not be rushed, even by the lure of federal dollars. He said the entire local business community is not behind this project, and there are many people who are typically on opposite sides of arguments that are standing together against the LRT. Michael Wandroup said the LRT is not going to serve all of Orange County, but it is part of an integrated system, which can ultimately be expanded in multiple directions. He said the BOCC has the opportunity to tie land with major employment centers, and he encouraged the BOCC to proceed with LRT. Terry Vance said she is against the LRT project. She said it is important to look at this project realistically. She said the costs have skyrocketed, and the project will serve very few. She said the debt will not be paid off until 2062, and the average cost overruns on light rail worldwide are 45%. She said it is unrealistic to think that affordable housing will increase near LRT stations, and it is unrealistic to think that there can be LRT and BRT. She said the LRT will take all the available funds for transportation. She said there are so many environmentally sound ways to have bus transit: solar, electric, etc. Diane Robertson said she is against light rail. She highlighted several examples where cost estimates were higher than expected. Maria Palmer said she is in support of light rail. She said leadership involves risks, and LRT is worth the risk. Joe Phelps said he is against this light rail plan. He said this area has limited growth, due to water availability. He suggested that job security may be one of GoTriangle's motivating factors. Sam Gharbo said he is against light rail. He reviewed the significant costs of the projects for each citizen of Orange County, and said the County is simply not growing at a significant rate. He said Orange County growth is far behind Durham, and significantly behind Wake County. He said to proceed with the LRT would be stupid, and the County knows better. Ramona McGee said she is speaking as a citizen, and she is for the light rail. She has used transit, and she wants more transit. She said the greatest concern seems to be the cost of the LRT, but she said these plans include a 30% contingency to address cost overruns. She said bus service will be freed up by the LRT. She said GoTriangle has completed a mitigation risk appendix, which highlights various ways to continue to mitigate risks.