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32 <br /> regional project that comes through the amendments to the Durham and Orange transit plans, <br /> then another cost share agreement can be completed. He said they need to start from scratch <br /> as to what these local plans will look like. He said there will be extensive public participation as <br /> transit plans are developed. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if in the interim, between now and when the new plans are <br /> developed, would the current transit plan remain in place. <br /> Travis Myren said yes. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if staff can provide an explanation for why the transit tax <br /> (previously assigned to light rail expenses) will stay. <br /> Travis Myren said there is not an automatic sunset on the transit sales tax, and the funds <br /> will be reallocated to an amended transit plan. He said he can provide the Board with the <br /> process that would need to occur in order to terminate the article 43 sales tax. <br /> Commissioner Price said residents are asking why a tax that was intended for light rail <br /> expenses would remain in place when the light rail project is not proceeding. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he assumes there would need to be another referendum to <br /> terminate the tax. <br /> Commissioner McKee said there is no limitation on the types of transit options the <br /> County can pursue. He said there are any number of combinations, and also sees the need for <br /> services to the rural/underserved areas of the County. He said he is excited to see what can be <br /> accomplished. <br /> Travis Myren said the only limits are imagination and resources. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said the transportation challenge has not gone away. He said <br /> there are future unmet needs, and this transit tax money will be utilized for the good. <br /> Chair Rich referred to Pittsboro in Chatham County, where the bus service is a non-profit <br /> and the Orange Chatham Work group has been talking about this going public. <br /> Chair Rich said she talked with John Roberts about the original partners of the transit <br /> plan, and said all were at the discussion table, which will continue. <br /> Chair Rich said the meeting yesterday with the partners was yesterday afternoon, with <br /> some present and some called in; and they talked about having the public involved in every step <br /> going forward. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos ran down the 5 major hurdles that nixed the light rail project: <br /> • Duke University— in 2017 Trask sent a letter of support, but at the last minute <br /> they sent a letter that said they never supported the plan. This made Duke a <br /> disingenuous partner. <br /> • NC Railroad —they made them jump through hoops (money to be paid to <br /> them to be in the ROWs) <br /> • State legislature- did everything they could to knee cap the project- <br /> Rising costs due to voluntary effort - unexpected FTA contingency <br /> requirements <br /> • Federal shutdown <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said the Board has a lot to think about to fill the void that this <br /> project leaves: economic development (developers prefer light rail over BRT); jobs; issues of <br /> environment and health; housing and social equity around station areas; less parking, etc. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said the most effective rapid transit that can be relied upon to <br /> provide fixed duration trips must be located outside the general road traffic. He questioned <br /> whether BRT solutions can be designed that minimizes BRT creep. He said the UNC hospital <br /> area is busiest transit node on the route, with Duke Hospital being similar. He said fitting in new <br /> modes of transit into these already very busy areas will be a challenge. He said connecting the <br /> three universities was a key accomplishment of the LRT route design, and the Board must <br />