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15 <br /> MPO Board 10/9/2019 Item 8 <br /> Ref: 38587.01 <br /> October 1, 2019 <br /> Page 9 <br /> • Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) <br /> • Link Transit (Burlington/Alamance County) <br /> • Chapel Hill Transit(CHT) <br /> • GoTriangle <br /> Because of the significant role UNC-CH and UNC Hospitals play in local and regional transit(as well as traffic and <br /> parking), representatives from these institutions were also consulted. Figure 18 depicts transit routes by agency in <br /> the region, as well as locations of relevant existing and proposed park-and-ride lots. <br /> PART <br /> The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART), offers service on the Alamance Burlington Express <br /> (Route 4) between Alamance County and UNC Hospitals. Route 4 is one of PART's most popular routes due in part to <br /> UNC GoPass holders commuting to campus.This route used to run along NC 54 until late 2013, but the routing <br /> switched to 1-40 due to congestion along NC 54 impacting travel-time reliability and the addition of the Mebane Park <br /> & Ride Lot. One of the determinants PART uses in its route selection is congestion along the proposed corridor. <br /> Congestion along a route can affect travel time reliability and schedule adherence. This is especially critical when <br /> connecting to other transit routes; Route 4 provides a transfer to GoTriangle's ODX route. Another reason for PART's <br /> decision to use 1-40 is to serve Alamance Community College and Mebane Cone Health. <br /> Route 4 continues to grow in ridership, with standing room only during some peak periods runs. Every two years, <br /> PART undertakes a system wide analysis and examines its routes and potential adjustments.According to the FY <br /> 2020-2029 STIP, PART will be receiving funds to increase Route 4 frequency. <br /> LINK <br /> While Link Transit does not provide transit service to UNC, it does operate fixed-route service in the northern <br /> portion of the study area.The Orange Route services Graham and crosses the north-western portion of the corridor <br /> on 1-40. The two stops in the corridor's vicinity are a park-and-ride lot (located at Hwy 87 and Crescent Square Drive) <br /> and Alamance Community College.The Orange Route has been one of Link Transit's most productive routes with the <br /> top five stops for the system occurring in Graham. Link Transit would like to expand service further into Graham and <br /> Mebane, but needs additional funding or partnerships to implement expanded service.The northern portion of the <br /> NC 54 corridor has potential to support fixed-route transit with continued increases in residential density and <br /> employment centers, like the Honda Manufacturing plant. <br /> Chapel Hill Transit and UNC <br /> The NC 54 West corridor serves east-west travel to and from UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals. Figures 19 and 20 <br /> show residence locations for UNC-CH and UNC Hospital employees, based on the UNC-CH Development Plan, 2017 <br /> TIA Update. (Locations are not precise, but representational.) Figure 21 (also from the UNC-CH Development Plan, <br /> 2017 TIA Update) indicates that just under 2,000 employees (or 12.4%of total employment) are in the sector <br /> assigned to the NC 54 West corridor.This number is a rough estimate, however. The travelshed analysis described <br /> Page 9 of 12 <br />