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It 54 AGENDA ITEM 513. POTENTIAL INITIATIVES FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR ORANGE COUNTY 55 (ALLYSON COLTRANE) 56 57 Allyson Coltrane gave a brief overview of what she will be doing in her new position as the TDM Coordinator. She 58 said one of her tasks is to lessen congestion during peak hours, which are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. She will 59 be focused on encouraging carpools to alleviate traffic in the Hillsborough "hotspot" identified by the Triangle J 60 Council of Governments ( TJCOG), which includes the Orange County Campus of Durham Tech, UNC Hospitals at 61 the Hillsborough Campus and Orange County Schools. 62 63 Erle Smith asked what demand meant to Allyson Coltrane. Allyson Coltrane answered that it is from the perspective 64 of commuters and it is the demand for something better than bumper -to- bumper traffic. 65 66 Ted Triebel asked if there is supporting data. Allyson Coltrane answered affirmatively. 67 68 Jenn Sykes checked that Allyson Coltrane is focused on the demand in Hillsborough and not the demand 69 commuting out to the Triangle. Allyson Coltrane answered the primary focus is people commuting into Hillsborough. 70 71 Allyson Coltrane continued her presentation, reviewing the modes of commuting and the key players for transit in 72 Orange County. She reviewed that commuters can use Share the Ride NC to help find co- workers with whom they 73 can carpool. She said she can facilitate carpool parties by visiting places of work and helping people connect with 74 potential carpool matches in person. 75 76 Donna Musson asked whether someone who has a disability can use Share the Ride NC. Allyson Coltrane answered 77 affirmatively and said that a person can sign up to always be a rider and never a driver. 78 79 Allyson Coltrane continued with her presentation and explained that with Vanpool (organized by GoTriangle), a 80 person can choose to be a driver or a back -up driver. There can be up to six back -up drivers in a VanPool group. 81 82 Allyson Coltrane reviewed biking, walking and the Circulator route as alternatives to driving. She said she also plans 83 to work with the Bicycle Safety Task Force. 84 85 Allyson Coltrane also reviewed events she plans to launch including: Lighten Up (a TJCOG program that provides 86 lights for cyclists and pedestrians), New Year New Commute (which involves making a pledge to carpool a certain 87 number of times), Telework Week (to encourage a department to test telecommuting), Bike Month, and Think Transit 88 (which helps people learn to ride a bus). 89 90 Abigaile Pittman said Think Transit would be useful for clients of the human resource agencies such as the 91 Department on Aging. 92 93 Ted Triebel asked when Think Transit would take place because it sounded particularly helpful. Allyson Coltrane 94 answered next fall, and Lighten Up and New Year New Commute would happen early in 2018. Ted Triebel said he 95 thinks Think Transit should be first. Gary Saunders said Think Transit is usually in the month of September and 96 other organizations do it then as well. 97 98 Heidi Perry asked about the possibility of employers charging for parking in an effort to make public transit more 99 appealing. She also asked if Allyson Coltrane would be encouraging employers to give employees credit for choosing 100 alternative commuting methods. Allyson Coltrane answered that eventually employers will probably move toward 101 non -free parking. Allyson Coltrane said with GoPerks, commuters can earn money for free rides. 102 103 Jenn Sykes said at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, staff already has to pay to park. A lot of nursing staff live in the 104 northern part of Orange County and commute through Hillsborough to get to the hospital in Chapel Hill. She thinks 105 alternatives would be helpful. Allyson Coltrane said Chapel Hill Transit controls access to the northern Hillsborough 106 hotspot. Heidi Perry suggested focusing on vanpools. Jenn Sykes said UNC offers intranet carpool boards. M