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5 T:\Advisory Boards\Orange Unified Transportation Board\Minutes\2006\OUTBoard Minutes 10-18-06.doc 5 65% federally funded. The criterion recently changed, so TTA’s rail program no longer qualifies for federal funding. TTA is reassessing the program. Grossman asked which criteria were no longer met. Tallmadge explained that originally they used a balanced approach that compared benefits of the proposed project versus the currently available bus service. The new criteria downplay effects of transit on community development and land use, which lowered projected rail ridership figures. Grossman asked if TTA or OPT pays the state fuel taxes. Terry said that OPT’s fuel is bought through the County, which is exempt from taxation. He’s not certain if the tax is actually paid through the fuel costs. The OPT budget is based on motor pool costs. Peterson noted that the service had decreased for OPT, so everything else went down. Terry said that this did not have an effect on the cost-per-mile numbers, and that OPT doesn’t provide service on a one-by-one basis; they look at multiple destinations and needs. Mittendorf asked why the cost-per-passenger trip increased, and Terry responded that that was largely due to the 4% increase in employee wages. Peterson asked about the $3.29 per rider cost, if this was comparable among the various programs. Terry said that this number varies greatly. For example, the Workfirst Program listed in the ROAP Report is a car donation program that appears to be expensive, but really deals with a limited number of vehicles that are donated. He also said that Orange County is one of the few counties with a car donation program provided by the County. Grossman asked Tallmadge about the possibility of an express service to RTP from a Park-and-Ride lot. Tallmadge said that most routes go through RTP, but it’s not really a Park-and-Ride operation, due to the size of RTP. TTA does provide some shuttle service to particular employers, and is talking with those employers to take more responsibility for the service. TTA will probably invest more in long-distance express services. Peterson asked why shared ride arrangements are not arranged through the call center. Tallmadge explained that this is very complicated, and they currently work with limited static information of defined routes. Shared/paired ride is much more dynamic, and there are institutional issues, since it uses different service providers. Peterson asked if requests for shared rides are directed to OPT, and Tallmadge said that they haven’t look at that level yet. Lasris asked that as the region grows, do funding sources correspondingly grow. Terry said that OPT is limited on growth, because of the funding sources. The amount of funding has been consistent over the last seven years. The ROAP is based on population in the rural area, and uses the latest census data, the population in the rural Orange County hasn’t changed much. Benedict added that annexations also affect the County’s population numbers. Terry said that some legislative changes may encourage changes, but there is no stability in the amount of funding.