Agenda - 02-19-2019 8-a - Minutes

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11 1 Commissioner Ferguson said she worked in Research Triangle Park (RTP), and it takes 2 3 hours one way to get there via public transportation, which is unacceptable. She said they 3 are missing the boat on this. 4 5 e) Potential Improvements to Better Move People in the Future 6 Attachment 2e— Potential Transit Vision Improvements 7 8 f) Hillsborough Train Station and Light Rail (FRT) Transit Update 9 10 Background: 11 The Durham-Orange Light Rail project continues to pursue a full funding grant agreement from 12 the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Due to the limitations imposed on State funding, 13 engineering changes, and other FTA requirements, both the cost share agreement between 14 Durham and Orange counties and the Orange County Transit Plan will need to be amended. 15 The Board of Orange County Commissioners is scheduled to learn initially discuss the 16 proposed changes on February 5, 2019 and may consider those changes on February 19, 17 2019. 18 19 Travis Myren said the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was supposed to hear 20 from GoTriangle at its February 51" meeting but due to the federal government shutdown, that 21 date was pushed back to February 19t", and should include updated costs. He said he expects 22 action to be required in early March. 23 Commissioner Dorosin asked if a timeline for the LRT could be clarified. 24 Travis Myren said the most pressing is the state legislation that imposed an April 30t" 25 deadline on funds to be committed. He said if these local funds are not committed, then state 26 funding would be in jeopardy. 27 Margaret Hauth, Hillsborough Planning Director and Assistant Town Manager, said the 28 funding agreement for the Hillsborough Train Station is very nearly in place with the two 29 partners: NC Department of Transportation (DOT) and GoTriangle. She said the funding has 30 been approved for a number of years, but that actual document that outlines who gives how 31 much money, and when, has yet to be completed. She said there the train station must be 32 delivered in 5 years, and discussions are starting to move this forward. She said the staff 33 recommendation is to consider publishing an RFP or RFQ for a public/private partnership to 34 make about 5 acres of Town-owned land available for development, including the train station. 35 She said there would be hard parameters about what could be developed. She said the Town 36 Board has not formally agreed to this, but all recognize that 5 years will pass very quickly. 37 Commissioner Dorosin asked if 5 acres is the maximum amount of land available there. 38 Margaret Hauth said the Town owns 20 acres, and she said the conceptual plan leads 39 staff to believe that the station and some non-residential development would fit on something 40 between 5-7 acres. She said it is assumed that the station and development would increase the 41 value of the remaining acreage, and there is no rush to put all of the land on the market at the 42 same time. 43 Mayor Stevens said the station itself would not take 5 acres, but rather it would be a 44 commercial area around the station. 45 Margaret Hauth said the plan and budget for this station are tied very closely to the 46 Kannapolis station model, due to the similarities between the size and needs. 47 Commissioner Marcoplos said it would be great to have a sidewalk from downtown 48 Hillsborough to the train station. He said he has been thinking of sidewalk needs in general, 49 and it would be wise for the County to discuss this need with the Town, and whose