OUTBoard Jun 16 2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

o Mebane— New Orange County Circulator o Expanding the County's market share in transit services by addressing service gaps resulting from changes by other providers (e.g., GoTriangle's ODX, CRX, Routes 400 and 420, as well as Chapel Hill Transit and UNC). o County as Regional Transit Vision — Transforming Orange County transit into a regional provider rather than a combination of a rural and urban system. The County currently serves all municipal residents through Mobility-on-Demand, Demand Response, and fixed-route services, including the surrounding Counties, reinforcing its commitment to regional connectivity. These efforts are key to fostering municipal support for County-wide transit expansion. Challenges to Address • Shifting local transit priorities — Many evolving transit needs are not yet reflected in the existing transit plan, requiring updates to align with new demands. • Rising Costs for Infrastructure— Longstanding bicycle and pedestrian projects, such as Transit Access projects, face significant cost increases as they work to improve transit accessibility. • Change in local funding requests — Recent amendments to the Annual Work Program reallocate transit tax funding for local office planning staff rather than provide the transit services outlined in the approved plan. Additionally, a grant request for the RMMC outside the existing transit plan has been pursued through the States Prioritization of Transportation (SPOT) process. • Local transit service adjustments — Service consolidations, including ODX, CRX, 400 and 420 route changes, reinstated fare collection, and advancements in the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), impact local transit dynamics. Next Steps: Updating the Orange County Long-Range Transit Plan • To adapt to evolving needs, OCTS is seeking County authorization to update the 2022 Long- Range Transit Plan, leveraging its on-call consultant, WSP. This update will ensure that: o Recent transit advancements and change in local priorities have been incorporated o Growing demand and coverage for rural Orange County is addressed o Rural transit expansion and major municipal investments remain a key focus To obtain the authorization from the Board of County Commissioners, staff is preparing a State of County Transit to focus on all County residents transit needs, not just the urbanized areas. With these efforts, OCTS aims to build a sustainable, efficient, and regionally integrated transit system that meets the diverse needs of Orange County residents. FINANCIAL IMPACT:There is no financial Impact associated with this item at this time. ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN:This item supports: Mission Statement Orange County is a visionary leader in providing governmental services valued by our community, beyond those required by law, in an equitable, sustainable, innovative and efficient way.