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55 Heidi Perry: The transit tax was not only dedicated for light rail; it was for all transit. <br /> 56 <br /> 57 David Laudicina: Light rail was the largest component. I think people voted for that money with the thought that the light rail <br /> 58 is going to be coming along. <br /> 59 <br /> 60 Jenn Sykes: I think part of your point is that during those light rail discussions Hillsborough was not incorporated into that <br /> 61 commute and for it to hit Mebane, Hillsborough is a logical stop on that commuter line. <br /> 62 <br /> 63 David Laudicina: We have this money that we voted for, and it would be nice if we could get a commuter rail stop extension <br /> 64 out to Hillsborough. <br /> 65 <br /> 66 Erik Broo: There is a spur, I think, UNC uses to bring coal down to its power plant. Has there been a discussion or can <br /> 67 there be a discussion about using that as a commuter-rail line for anyone who wants to get to the UNC campus from <br /> 68 Raleigh, Durham, Cary, or Hillsborough? I would be interested to learn how this goes and when incorporating Chapel Hill <br /> 69 into this. <br /> 70 <br /> 71 Theo Letman: That's a good point and we will bring that up. There were discussions in the meeting and we have ongoing <br /> 72 meetings with staff and GoTriangle. We have discussed spurs and different lines that could feed into the main line, but <br /> 73 there are a lot of issues with railroads. CSX and Norfolk Southern are at the meetings and have agreements with Amtrak <br /> 74 and the North Carolina Railroad to run across their track. <br /> 75 <br /> 76 Nish Trivedi: Theo, please, correct me when I speak about this. Capital Area Metropolitan Planning (CAMPO)and Durham <br /> 77 ECAC-MPO has conducted a major investment study,the MIS study regarding commuter rail. The study was completed <br /> 78 earlier regarding Wake and Durham, and is being revisited to include Orange,Alamance,and Johnston Counties regarding <br /> 79 the Mebane to Selma extension. There's a lot of work that needs to be done in conducting and improving upon the already <br /> 80 conducted major investment study that has been done between Campo and Durham for the commuter rail project. As work <br /> 81 continues in the region that would be incorporated into the new transit planning. Wake, Orange, and Durham are all <br /> 82 updating their transit plans while the major investment study is being done; commuter rail is just one component of all of <br /> 83 that. <br /> 84 <br /> 85 Theo Letman: This study is just beginning. Getting all the partners and entities together is a vital first step. <br /> 86 <br /> 87 David Laudicina: Will this project be a new start if they are going for federal money? <br /> 88 <br /> 89 Theo Letman: I think that's one of the funding streams they will look at. <br /> 90 <br /> 91 David Laudicina: That's 50 percent, and the length of time to get that is unbelievable. What will the legislature going to do <br /> 92 to this project? Are they going to nail it like they did the light rail? <br /> 93 <br /> 94 Theo Letman: There are lots of issues and concerns, but in my observation everyone is at the table. We are all open to <br /> 95 ideas and expressing our concerns for our advocacy. So far so good. <br /> 96 <br /> 97 Erik Broo: Are there any public access meetings concerning the new transit plan and the commuter rail discussion? <br /> 98 <br /> 99 Theo Letman: I don't think we have discussed that initial meeting yet. <br /> 100 <br /> 101 Tom Altieri: We will be embarking on a 1 to 2 year process to develop that transit plan and anticipate consulting services to <br /> 102 assist. The meetings that were originally conducted and the outreach we anticipate to be of the same magnitude as part of <br /> 103 this plan. Although not a new plan, it is a review of the plans that have been done and then building on services in the plans <br /> 104 to address what would be done and how to integrate services in the absence of light rail. Part of the outreach will include <br /> 105 educating the community on the finances. The light rail was financed to a significant degree and was cost shared with <br /> 106 Durham. Durham collects more money from the sales tax revenue so it will be able to do more with what it has left over in <br /> 107 the absence of light rail. Orange County is different and we also have the Chapel Hill transit BRT project that we will have to <br /> 108 fund in addition to services provided by the previous plans. We anticipate additional services as part of the effort. <br />