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21 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ADA PARATRANSIT PLAN <br /> ADA paratransit also requires a much higher level of service than is provided under EDTAP <br /> in terms of response time, days and hours of service, and capacity constraints. For this <br /> reason, it is generally recommended that locally operated transit systems treat these <br /> programs as two (2) distinct services. While both services may be operated using the same <br /> vehicles and drivers, certification processes and community outreach should clearly <br /> differentiate between the programs to ensure that EDTAP registrants do not expect the <br /> same level of service as ADA paratransit registrants. <br /> Orange Public Transportation Background: <br /> Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is a division of the Planning and Inspections <br /> Department of Orange County government that operates fixed-route, demand-response, <br /> contract, and subscription services throughout Orange County, North Carolina, for both <br /> general public and human service transportation needs. OPT operates under the unofficial <br /> name "Orange Bus." <br /> Orange Public Transportation's (OPT's) service area generally involves all areas of Orange <br /> County excluding the Chapel Hill Transit service area located in the southeastern portion of <br /> the county (Exhibit 1). The population of this service area is roughly 56,986 persons and <br /> involves both rural outlying portions of the county and more urbanized areas located along <br /> the 1-40/1-85 and U.S. 70 corridors extending through the central part of the county. OPT <br /> provides specialized demand-response, contract and subscription service to persons <br /> deemed eligible for such services within this area. One of OPT's fixed routes connects the <br /> OPT service area to the Chapel Hill Transit service area and serves a small population of <br /> those making trips within the Chapel Hill Transit service area. <br /> In the spring of 2015, OPT will begin providing additional fixed-route and deviated fixed- <br /> route services throughout Orange County that will expand the general public fixed-route or <br /> deviated fixed-route service provided by a total of approximately 6,560 service/revenue <br /> hours per year, a 238% increase in service/revenue hours over what is currently provided. <br /> Of these additional service hours, 5,000 service hours will be purely general public fixed- <br /> route service. When fixed-route service is provided, complementary paratransit service is <br /> federally mandated by the ADA. This document shall serve as the plan for complying with <br /> ADA paratransit requirements. <br /> Description of Current Fixed-Route System: <br /> Currently, OPT operates two (2) general public fixed routes. One such route is the <br /> Hillsborough Circulator, which serves major origins and destinations in Hillsborough with <br /> hourly headways during the hours 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday. This route is <br /> operated using one (1) wheelchair accessible vehicle (with an electric wheelchair lift) that is <br /> 100% accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. No fare is collected for riding <br /> the Hillsborough Circulator service. The location of the Hillsborough Circulator and its <br /> schedule and stop locations are provided in Exhibit 2. <br /> 3 <br />