Agenda - 11-01-2022; 6-b - Durham & Orange Transit Plan Governance Study – Interlocal Agreement Between Orange County, DCHCMPO, and Research Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 1, 2022 Action Agenda Item No. 6-b SUBJECT: Durham & Orange Transit Plan Governance Study — Interlocal Agreement Between Orange County, Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Research Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office, Planning & Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Consultant's Memo of Transmittal Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager 2. Draft Interlocal Agreement 919-245-2308 Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, 919-245-2579 PURPOSE: To consider adoption of the Orange County Transit Plan Interlocal Agreement (ILA). BACKGROUND: In the early 2010's, Orange County approved a county-wide transit plan, which included a joint recommendation for the development of the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit (DO LRT) project. In 2013, an interlocal agreement (ILA) was developed and approved by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) Board and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees. Upon the discontinuation of the DO LRT project, it was realized that a new governance framework (aka ILA) was necessary to guide the implementation of future County transit plans. Project goals include: • Creation of a clear, operationally efficient governance structure that ensures that Orange County priorities are funded and implemented with the County transit taxes and fees. • Formation of new levels of accountability, which includes development of an equitable set of processes, seeking to gain further community trust. In the fall of 2021, the study team invited the BOCC, as well as others serving on other transit plan governing boards (GoTriangle & DCHC MPO) and staff, to participate in initial small-group interviews. From those interviews, the team learned about overall needs, and the study process continued to allow for a facilitated workshop with elected officials from each of the transit plan governing boards (GoTriangle & DCHC MPO). These needs were defined through five overall elements to be incorporated into a new governance framework: Representative, Equitable, Collaborative, Transparent, and Accessible. From these five elements, the elected officials further helped to weigh-in on how much change was necessary to primary elements of the existing framework. This feedback provided leadership and guidance to develop draft alternatives for consideration in a new governance framework.