Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
213 <br />214 It was agreed by all that the emerging issues list should include a recommendation to identify major route stops <br />215 requiring bus stop amenities. <br />216 <br />217 Alex Castro asked if copies of schedules would be available on the buses so people could have the various <br />218 times and stops. <br />219 <br />220 Peter Murphy replied that they should be able to get that from any of the bus drivers and also at all the senior <br />221 centers. <br />222 <br />223 Alex Castro commented that he wanted to add the light rail issue to the work plan so that if funding doesn't come <br />224 in, alternative transportation improvements needs could be studied. He referred to the commuter rail in Wake <br />225 County. <br />226 <br />227 David Laudicina added that is the same thing just rapid transit as opposed to light rail transit. <br />228 <br />229 Alex Castro replied that it already exists. The infrastructure is in place for commuter rail. <br />230 <br />231 David Laudicina responded that if you do light rail you are going to have to put up tracks and if you do commuter <br />232 rail you need to install a second track if you are going to do it right. The commuter rail is on NCRR right -of -way. <br />233 He added that the advantage to it is that if it gets to Durham, how soon will it get to Hillsborough, how soon will it <br />234 get to Mebane and Efland and Greensboro. You could conceivably commute anywhere between High Point and <br />235 Raleigh on a daily basis. <br />236 <br />237 Heidi Perry noted you can take it from Cary and Raleigh on Amtrak. She asked if it should be added as number <br />238 eight to reevaluate transit options particularly if light rail funding falls through and asked it that is the only time <br />239 they should consider it. <br />240 <br />241 Alex Castro replied that it would be a good one and could include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or commuter rail as <br />242 an alternative. <br />243 <br />244 <br />245 David Laudicina added that it won't be easy because it would probably mean starting all the way back at the <br />246 beginning and going through the whole federal thing. They are well along the way for the light rail and if you go <br />247 back to the beginning you are starting all over again. He added that the plan was commuter rail at one time and <br />248 that went away. He added that BRT requires infrastructure and that means you have to build the infrastructure <br />249 between Chapel Hill and Durham. He noted that the people of Orange County voted for the sales tax on the <br />250 premise it would be for the purpose of light rail. <br />251 <br />252 Heidi Perry commented that since they don't know what will happen with the funding, if the cap is lifted and the <br />253 study they did may have some problems with it too. She asked if it should be included or not. <br />254 <br />255 Abigaile Pittman replied that if it is added as number 8 it be very generic. <br />256 <br />257 Ted Triebel commented that his reading is the funding for light rail will up in the air for a year or two. He doesn't <br />258 think it is realistic to think that funding in 2016 is going to go away. <br />259 <br />260 Heidi Perry suggested that it not be added and if it falls through it can be added. <br />261 <br />262 The consensus was not to add the item to the list. <br />263 <br />264 Heidi Perry asked if there is always a public hearing every year for transit. <br />265 <br />