Agenda - 01-24-2005-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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responsibility of operating service along the route currently served by the Orange 51 Public Transportation (OPT) "Orange Express" route. Since that time, TTA and OPT staff have worked collaboratively to develop a service concept that would replace the Orange Express using a more direct routing. Meetings have occurred on the following dates: • June 15, 2004 • July 27, 2004 • September 21, 2004 • November 16, 2004 • January 18, 2005 At the November 16 and January 18 meeting, TTA staff received feedback from members of the Transportation Services Board (TSB) regarding four potential service concepts. The TSB chose one option that scheduled one vehicle for 12.83 hours per day. The proposed route would be a 33-mile round trip, in continuous activity from 6:30 A.M. to 7:20 P.M.. The TSB Met again with TTA on January 18, 2005 and determined a work group would be formed to finalize the route to include designated bus stops. The final decision will be approved by the TSB and forwarded to the TTA Board and the Orange County BOCC. North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division has been involved with the negotiations between TTA and OPT and supports the coordinated efforts of the two systems. Due to the different costs per hour between OPT and TTA, decisions should be made concerning which system provides the service, cost structures between the two systems, and any possible shared funding/revenue ratios. 2. Pursue East/West Route - Should TTA funding be received for the Hillsborough Express route, OPT should implement an East/West Route. Exact routing needs to be determined, but could operate from Mebane to Durham County. Financial impact to Orange County should be carefully considered. 3. Pursue development of countywide paratransit service with Chapel Hill Transit E-Z Rider - OPT should further examine the feasibility of assuming operational responsibility of E-Z Rider ADA service in Chapel Hill. If OPT assumes operational responsibility of E-Z Rider service, it would mean expanding service hours to meet ADA requirements. Chapel Hill Transit would retain financial responsibility. By assuming E-Z Rider service, it will be necessary to develop a budget and revenue schedule to insure all costs are included in the negotiations of the contract between Chapel Hill and Orange County. Financial impact to Orange County should be carefully considered, 4. Use Cross County Transit website - OPT should use the cross county transit website at www.ectransit.org to enter its own trips and to reference other transit agencies malting the similar trips. 5. Reduce Reservation Requirement - Reservation protocol should be developed to accept one-day reservations. This would improve service by allowing OPT clients to make trip reservations with one-day notice.