Minutes 04-20-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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20 Commissioner McKee asked if the FCC is under any contractual agreement to raise $100 million. Katharine Eggleston said no. She said if state funding decreased, the parties would meet to see if there are alternative funds that can fill the gap, and the FCC funds may fill such a need. Commissioner McKee asked how the BOCC would remove itself from the project, if the unilateral withdrawal language is removed, and the state funding drops to 5% and the BOCC no does not want to absorb the additional 5%. Katharine Eggleston said there may be funds from the FCC, and there may be cost cutting strategies. Commissioner McKee asked what options there would be if the BOCC does not agree with the cost cutting measures, such as removing a stop in Orange County. Tammy Bouchelle said the BOCC is not obligated to submit any additional funds under this agreement. She said any substantial change to the project, such as removing a stop, would have to be approved by the FTA prior to proceeding. She said the Counties would also have to approve such a change in the County transit plans. She said GoTriangle has no ability to act unilaterally. Commissioner McKee said he does not understand what happens if a scenario arises that Orange County cannot accommodate; when it has signed an agreement to the plan, FTA has approved the project, and the state says it will only give 5%. He says without a unilateral withdrawal provision, he feels Orange County is bound to commit funds. Katharine Eggleston said should such a scenario arise, the three parties would make good faith efforts to find strategies that would be amendable to three parties. Commissioner McKee said there may be no such strategies. Chair Dorosin proposed the hypothetical of cutting one of the Orange County stations, and asked if staff could walk the Board through the steps of what would happen. Tammy Bouchelle said if there are significant changes in the scope of the project, the FTA would have to approve them. She said the removal of a station would be an example of such a change. Chair Dorosin proposed the hypothetical of all parties approving of the station removal, and asked if the steps thereafter could be identified. Tammy Bouchelle said the FTA would be informed of this decision, and additional studies would be needed to show there were no negative social justice, environmental or ridership impacts. She said after receiving approval from the FTA, GoTriangle would need the approvals of Orange and Durham counties, with the change being reflected in the County transit plans. Chair Dorosin proposed the scenario where the BOCC does not want to remove a station from the line, and does not want to amend its transit plan. He asked if the steps thereafter could be described. He asked what would happen if Durham and Orange counties disagree on the cost cutting measure. Commissioner McKee said his concern is what happens if there is an impasse, and the parties do not agree. Chair Dorosin said if an agreement and transit plan amendment are required to proceed, but do not happen, then how does the project proceed. Patrick McDonough said in the draft plan, there is an appendix B of mitigation measures. He said the removal of a station is an unlikely scenario of a cost cutting measure. He said there are items in the plan that can be cut down in price without the customer being affected; for example, a bridge can be made more ugly. He said, conversely, there are areas that can be cut that do affect the customer, such as the capacity for the speed of the trains.