Agenda 01-16-24; 8-h - Approval of Orange County 2022 Transit Plan Public Hearing Records

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14 17 Slide #15 RECOMMENDATIONS): The Manager recommends the Board: 1.Receive the proposed 2022 Orange County Transit Plan Update; 2.Conduct the public hearing and accept recommendations and public comments); 3.Close the public hearing; 4.deliberate as desired; and 5.Consider taking action on the 2022 Orange County Transit Plan Update (Attachment 1)to include the financial changes (Attachment 22) needed to fund N-S BRT and, if adopting, authorize Chair's signature on page I" of the Plan. _ ORANGECOUNTY NY wrl1 CAR NA Chair Price thanked Tom for his presentation. Commissioner McKee said that the timing on the BRT from Chapel Hill to Durham appears to be around 2050. Tom said that initial funding would start in 2027 and extend until 2046. Commissioner McKee asked if he's correct that once the NSBRT is approved, there would be more focus on moving forward the 15-501 corridor faster. He said something does need to be in place with the light rail failure. He asked if there is any thought on how to move that forward in a more timely manner. Tom Altieri said part of the funding landscape for that project requires some revenue buildup in the plan. He said that it would not be expected to go online given the current schedule until FY29. He said Chapel Hill Transit staff are in the audience and can take back the message that there is interest in moving this forward quicker. Commissioner Bedford said there was also a study from Ephesus Church Rd. to 15-501 to the Durham County line that was rejected. She asked for the status on that project. Aaron Cain from the DCHC MPO said they are looking at options to consider for that corridor again and will be going out in the next few months for some consultant services. Commissioner Bedford said so something will be done before 2050. Aaron Cain said there will be incremental improvements to the corridor prior to going to a full BRT program. Commissioner McKee said this is a critical corridor to develop out and he appreciates that even though he was against the light rail project. Aaron Cain said that 2050 comes from the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and that is done in ten-year increments, but it will be completed before 2050. Commissioner McKee said he wanted to clarify that because someone reading this document may wonder why it will take that long. Commissioner Greene said Commissioner McKee's question is right along with what the Policy Steering Committee had in mind. She said that they want to do both expansion of services and bringing on BRT as quickly as it can be done affordably. She thanked Tom for his work and recognized Carolyn Dwyer. She said the Policy Steering Committee had to push to make sure the next generation transit plan was a part of the Plan. Commissioner Bedford said one of the things the committee did was look at governance. She said one of the issues is the staff working group. She said they heard there was concern about making changes to add voting members from the towns. Tom Altieri said this is a subsequent item on the agenda tonight.