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26 <br /> <br /> <br />Conclusion: <br />OCPT is on the move and ready to provide SAFE, CUSTOMER FOCUSED, and QUALITY <br />Transportation services for our community, Orange County North Carolina. <br /> <br /> <br />Questions <br /> <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if the total number of employees could be shared. <br />Theo Letman said 20 currently, and they will be advertising soon. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if OCPT is moving toward the automated counting of <br />passengers. <br />Theo Letman said yes. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said it is a significant initial investment, but the County can realize <br />more federal funds in the future. <br />Theo Letman said absolutely. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said at MPO meetings, Orange County does not get as much <br />money as other jurisdictions. He said it is an important investment, and he suggested adding <br />this information to the report. <br />Commissioner Price referred to page 16, and asked if more money is being made and <br />more service hours provided, how the average number of riders per day went down. <br />Theo Letman said this number went down as more days were counted in the 2016-17 <br />report. <br />Commissioner Rich asked if there are other needs in the County. <br />Theo Letman said there is a need for more nimble “demand response” services to reach <br />out, such as a transit version of Uber and Lyft. He said currently most demand response <br />services are non-emergency medical transportation, but there are people who want to go <br />shopping or to a job interview; they could subscribe and transit could dispatch. <br />Commissioner Rich asked if there is a method to decide the cost of such rides. <br />Theo Letman said that would be at the discretion of the Board. <br />Commissioner Rich asked if there is currently a fee. <br />Theo Letman said the Hillsborough Circulator has no fee. <br />Commissioner Rich asked if the demand response services have a fee. <br />Theo Letman said there is a fee for these services, which are based on the type of grant <br />received. <br />Commissioner Rich clarified that fixed routes in rural areas are not ideal for <br />transportation. <br />Theo Letman said these routes could be useful, but nimble on-demand services would <br />be better. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the type of event, done in conjunction with CHALT, <br />could be identified. <br />Theo Letman said it was a presentation made by Craig Benedict during the Durham- <br />Orange light rail discussion. <br />Chair Dorosin asked, when the department is doing planning and public meetings, if the <br />Hillsborough planning department is involved or will be, due to increased growth. <br />Theo Letman said he would hope so. <br />Chair Dorosin applauded the recognition of employees of the month. He said he would <br />like to talk about the bus. He said the County was asking the State to put in $30,000, and, if <br />granted, the County would incur the rest of the expenses. He asked if there are funds available <br />to cover the $30,000 should the BOCC add this item to the budget.