Orange County NC Website
<br />4 <br />T:\Advisory Boards\Orange Unified Transportation Board\Minutes\2006\OutboardMinutes8-16-06.doc <br />4 <br />TAC has released amendments to the Public Involvement Policy for public <br />comment. Federal regulations require MPOs to document public involvement for <br />all transportation programs. In addition to mailings, community group notification, <br />and advertising, the TAC directed that a standing Citizen Advisory Committee <br />(CAC) should be formed to comment on transportation programs. The <br />Transportation Advisory Committee (of the DCHC MPO), at its last meeting, <br />decided to go with the recommendation of the Technical Coordinating Committee <br />(staff) and use existing local government citizen transportation advisory groups <br />for public input instead of creating an additional regional Citizens Advisory <br />Committee (CAC) that would include 41 members from the MPO member <br />jurisdictions. Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County all have such citizen <br />boards and Durham has citizen advisory boards for bicycle and pedestrian issues <br />and transit issues. Durham could also use its intra-neighborhood councils. The <br />OUTBoard will serve the MPO in that capacity. <br /> <br /> The DCHC MPO (Triangle Ozone Nonattainment Area) must adopt a LRTP for <br />air quality conformity by June 2009. North Carolina Department of Environment <br />and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality has decided to submit a <br />maintenance plan for the State rather than a conformity plan since the State met <br />the new 8-hour ozone standards in 2005 and appears to be meeting those <br />standards this year. Attainment of the ozone standards for this year will not be <br />known until after the end of ozone monitoring period (April through October). <br /> <br /> Lasris and Peterson wanted to know what this board’s role would be in <br />commenting on the LRTP, and what the time schedule is. Lincoln state that <br />there is complex time line for various tasks. Currently, data is being collected to <br />update the Regional Transportation Model that is used to project future vehicle <br />miles traveled that is needed for the air quality model. This Board will review the <br />base year data and projections for population and employment. <br /> <br /> Downtown Hillsborough Parking – Benedict stated that there has been a report <br />prepared outlining the issues, but that no decisions had been made yet. Tillman <br />questioned if an OPT shuttle service was assumed, and Benedict responded that <br />it hasn’t been decided yet, but that OPT will have some role. Jacobs stated that <br />there are two concerns to be addressed, both short term during the construction <br />of the justice facilities, and long term. The program will need to include <br />transportation alternatives for both court patrons and employees, and alternatives <br />are still being reviewed. Grossman questioned why this Board would be <br />involved, rather than it being a Hillsborough situation. Lincoln responded that <br />since the Court facilities are County-owned, and OPT is operated by the County, <br />it is a consideration. Jacobs mentioned that OPT is not the only consideration, <br />and that an RFP for other vendors may be done. Tillman requested that the <br />private sector be contacted, as it may be more economical, and Terry agreed <br />that there are opportunities for the public and private sectors to work together. <br />