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25 <br /> <br />elected officials tell us that the capital cost remains at $2.4 billion, ignoring the debt burden <br />that’s increasing for Orange and Durham County. For Orange, the project costs exceed $300 <br />million. How much more, including interest, will this project cost Orange County? <br /> <br />We’ve also like to know how much functionality is being cut or shifted to local governments? In <br />the 2017 plan, we lost MLK BRT and about 20% of our bus hours. GoTriangle also identified <br />about $75-100 million of unfunded needs that will be needed to keep basic bus services <br />operational. What further cost shifting or “value-engineering” should we expect in the future? <br /> <br />Third. How much more will it cost Orange County to keep its transit services operating? We <br />know that LRT is funded from the transit tax, but it appears that public transportation – that’s <br />buses and other services – will be funded out of the Town and County general funds where <br />transit will compete with schools and other essentials. There’s still a question about how <br />possible changes to TIFIA loans could impact costs and the County’s ability to borrow money in <br />the future. <br /> <br />With our questions and these things in mind, we ask that you to please invite Davenport back to <br />update their review and assess Orange County’s risk. And while they are at it, maybe staff can <br />give us an idea about how much our own transit services will cost. <br /> <br />We need your help to assure that everyone can GoForward with confidence. <br /> <br />Thank you <br /> <br />Cheri Hardman said she is responding to the rail operations maintenance facility and its <br />proximity to her neighborhood. She said Durham County has much of the burden for this <br />project, and there is complete uncertainty at the State and Federal level. She said she is not in <br />support of light rail, and its negative environmental effects. She thinks the site is poorly chosen, <br />especially as it relates to Interstate 40. She said there are many naysayers surrounding this <br />project, which leads it to a large responsibility being placed on Orange and Durham counties. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said there is concern that the light rail (LRT) project is <br />preventing other transit projects from coming to fruition. He said the transit taxes have paid for <br />other transit projects, and asked if this information is specified on the GoForward website. <br />John Tallmadge said anyone can find the transit plans and fund allocations on line. He <br />said he believes the annual reports are also available. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said it would be great to make that information front and <br />center. He said there will be an Amtrak station in Hillsborough soon funded by transit tax <br />money. <br />Commissioner Burroughs said she does this commute daily, and she knows exactly at <br />which point her commute will slow down. She said this increasingly sluggish commute was <br />predicted, and the predictions have been spot on, and she appreciated the work of GoTriangle, <br />Orange County and Durham. <br />Commissioner McKee said light rail is burning up more than the majority of the ½ cent <br />sales tax revenue, and he is curious about how many buses will be needed through 2062, and <br />how much would be paid for through this sales tax. He said he anticipates a minute amount of <br />these necessary buses will be paid for by this sales tax. <br />Commissioner Rich asked if the appropriate website for further information could be <br />identified. <br />John Tallmadge said it is www.gotriangle.org/lightrail