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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 10, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-o <br /> SUBJECT: Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Study — Next Steps <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager, <br /> Transportation, Planning <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager, <br /> 1. Resolution 919-245-2130 <br /> 2. PowerPoint Craig Benedict, Planning & Inspections <br /> Director, 919- 245-2575 <br /> Theo Letman, OCT Transit Director, <br /> 919-245-2007 <br /> PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution receiving the results of the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail <br /> (GTCR) study and deferring additional study for Orange county sections. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Board of Orange County Commissioners approved $75,000 in the <br /> FY2019-20 transit work plan to participate in the initial feasibility phase of the GTCR study. The <br /> attached PowerPoint illustrates the extent of the GTCR along with other transit initiatives. The <br /> PowerPoint also projects the ranking of certain service scenarios, capital and operating cost, <br /> and range of ridership as federal funding would likely be scored. <br /> Page 5 of the PowerPoint illustrates, at the bottom, the cost and ridership to extend to <br /> Hillsborough — $200-300 million capital with $7 million annual operating with projected ridership <br /> of 150-250 people. From a cost benefit analysis and limitations in the Article 43 Transit Tax <br /> financial plan (in the short- and mid-term), this extension into Orange County is not warranted or <br /> feasible at this time. <br /> A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Durham County, Wake County, GoTriangle, <br /> the North Carolina Railroad, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and <br /> Metropolitan Planning Organizations is being considered by these parties to outline the next <br /> steps in project development of the GTCR segment from Durham to Garner. Based on the <br /> findings of the initial feasibility study, this abstract approves a resolution to suspend Orange <br /> County's participation in future project development at this time. <br /> The initial feasibility study and transit model was valuable in accenting the continued need to <br /> develop transit corridors with other modes of transit and to continue to concentrate growth <br /> through Transit Oriented Development (TOD) where possible. Orange County will continue to <br /> participate in other regional projects that improve transit mobility in the region, including <br />