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7 <br /> r �Xb <br /> RENAISSANCE <br /> PLANNING <br /> of September 2020. Over two hundred individuals responded, 93% of whom live and/or work in <br /> Orange County and 62% who currently ride transit. The survey asked key questions to help guide <br /> investment decisions such as whether Orange County should prioritize investments on routes <br /> with higher ridership or if the County should prioritize expanding service to areas that don't <br /> currently have transit available, even if ridership is lower. The highest percentage of respondents <br /> (40%) indicated they thought service should be balanced between higher ridership and higher <br /> coverage service, even if it means less service overall. <br /> Respondents also indicated a preference for: <br /> • More service on Saturdays/weekends (most frequent request for improved service) <br /> • Longer service hours (i.e., earlier in the morning and later in the evening) <br /> • More frequent service/ less wait time between buses <br /> • More amenities at transit stops (benches, shelters, lighting) <br /> • More accessible information about routes and vehicle arrival times at stations/ stops <br /> The feedback from this first round of engagement directly informed the identification of the <br /> projects proposed for the Transit Plan Update. <br /> Phase 2: Vet Proposed Projects <br /> The second phase of outreach and engagement for Orange County's Transit Plan Update <br /> focused on gathering feedback on the draft proposed transit projects and a conceptual transit <br /> vision plan, guiding future investments. Outreach was conducted both in-person and online, in <br /> English and in Spanish, to maximize visibility and accessibility. In-person outreach prioritized <br /> key transit corridors and stops, which were identified with input from contacts at GoTriangle, <br /> Chapel Hill Transit, Orange County Public Transportation, and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br /> Metropolitan Planning Organization. <br /> Several methods were used to gather feedback including direct discussions with transit service <br /> providers and key stakeholders; two (2) virtual focus group discussions; an online survey (in <br /> English and Spanish); and in-person pop-ups at transit stops. Mobility on Demand (MOD) <br /> improvements received the strongest support out of the proposed service improvements. <br /> Overall, more respondents expressed stronger support for infrastructure projects compared to <br /> service improvements. Comments indicate a desire to strengthen regional connections and to <br /> prioritize equity considerations with any future projects. <br /> The feedback gathered during this phase helps County staff and the planning team prioritize <br /> new transit investments, fund transit service improvements, and improve the resiliency of the <br /> transit network in Orange County and directly informed the recommendations for the draft plan <br /> and conceptual transit vision. <br /> 3 <br />