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Approved 3/19/08 <br />1 <br />MINUTES ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD MEETING JANUARY 16, 2008 <br /> MEMBERS PRESENT: Sam Lasris, Cedar Grove Township; Nancy Cole Baker, Pedestrian Advocate; Jan Grossman, <br />Bicycle Advocate; Julian (Randy) Marshall, Bingham Township; Al Terry, Transportation Services Board <br />Representative; Paul Guthrie, Transit Advocate; Karen Barrows, Little River Township; Pascale Mittendorf, <br />Hillsborough Township <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: Alice Gordon, Board of County Commissioners; Sandra Quinn, Planning Board Representative; <br />Dawn Brezina, Eno Township; Bryn Smith, CFE Representative; Eric Tillman, EDC Representative <br />STAFF PRESENT: Karen Lincoln, Transportation Planner; Deb Graham, Administrative Assistant; Pat Strong, TJ COG <br /> <br />OTHERS PRESENT: Rita Leadem, Comprehensive Coalition; Betsy Underwood, Historic Preservation Board <br /> I. Call to order and roll call <br /> II. Consideration of additions to the agenda <br /> <br />Sam Lasris noted we do have one addition. We have a brief update on the Safe Routes to School application. <br /> <br />III. Board Comments/Updates <br /> <br />Karen Lincoln announced that Commissioner Gordon could not make the meeting due to a special meeting of the <br />Board of County Commissioners scheduled for this evening. <br /> <br />Al Terry attended and reported on the DCHC MPO workshop on Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and New <br />Freedom grant programs. Orange Public Transportation plans to apply for funds. OPT will partner with TTA and <br />DATA in a group JARC grant application for a Regional Mobility Enhancement Coordinator for the existing regional <br />call center. Regional transit providers will also make a group application for a New Freedom grant to develop <br />regional travel training and education for paratransit drivers and potential customers. Al is working with Steve Spade, <br />Chapel Hill Transit Director, to coordinate efforts between OPT and Chapel Hill Transit for CHT to contract OPT for <br />paratransit feeder service for CHT EZ Rider service to senior centers. The JARC and New Freedom Program grants <br />can provide funds to private providers to purchase vehicles for services for Work First Program clients and the elderly <br />and disabled. <br /> <br />Nancy Baker asked if the funds could be used to assemble a class at high schools for training students about public <br />transportation. Discussion followed regarding incorporating transit education and training in vocational education <br />studies in the high schools or including transit education and training in Driver Education. Al Terry will make the <br />appropriate contacts for those programs and report back regarding possibilities. <br /> <br />Paul Guthrie asked about using funds to provide service to areas not served by transit. Mt. Carmel Road is one area <br />where many people walk on the shoulder of the road. That area and the adjacent area in Chatham County are <br />rapidly growing. Al Terry responded that there have been meetings with elected officials of Orange County, Chatham <br />County, Carrboro and Chapel Hill to discuss transportation. The process is in place that will look at expanding transit <br />outside Chapel Hill’s municipal territory. He reiterated that the grant funds are targeted for specific populations. <br />JARC funds are to provide transit to enable low-income populations to get to work and back; New Freedom funds are <br />strictly for transit services that give the elderly and disabled more options. <br />