Orange County NC Website
17 <br /> Slide#22 <br /> FY2026-36 Recommended Capital Investment Plan <br /> Multi-modal Transportation <br /> Mission Support <br /> • Transit Plan Update- $300,000 <br /> (p.100 ) <br /> — Update the Orange County Transit <br /> Plan <br /> — Long range vision plan for local and <br /> regional transit services in Orange County <br /> — Update cycle every five years <br /> — Annual Work Plan authorizes expenses <br /> and projects for each fiscal year <br /> — Funded with Article 43 Transit Sales <br /> Tax Proceeds <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> zz NORTH CAROLINA <br /> Travis Myren described an update to the Orange County Transit Plan, noting it is on a five-year <br /> update cycle as required by the interlocal agreement (ILA) with the MPO, Go Triangle, and municipal <br /> partners, and that this is the year it is due. The estimated cost is $300,000, funded through the transit <br /> sales tax fund (Article 43), which does not flow through the general fund and therefore has no direct <br /> impact on the property tax rate. <br /> Commissioner Carter asked about the distinguishing part of this project that makes it capital. <br /> Travis Myren said it is because of the use of Article 43 tax proceeds, and it could lead to capital <br /> expenses, but could be part of operating budget just as easily. <br /> Commissioner Carter asked whether the$300,000 could be split across two fiscal years. <br /> Travis Myren acknowledged this could be explored, as the update schedule is self-imposed. <br /> Kirk Vaughn noted that splitting the cost over two years would have no impact on property tax <br /> rate directly because it would be funded through the transit sales tax fund (Article 43), which does not <br /> flow through the general fund and therefore has no direct impact on the property tax rate. <br /> Sarah Williamson, Interim Transportation Director, noted that the ILA with the MPO and Go <br /> Triangle requires the plan to be updated every five years,and that until a new plan is approved,the county <br /> is restricted as a stakeholder in the projects it can implement. She added that without a new transit plan, <br /> there would be no additional projects sequenced for years beyond the current plan's fifth year. <br /> Chair Hamilton questioned whether the plan update needs to cost $300,000, expressing a sense <br /> that transit plans are more plentiful than almost any other area of government planning, and asking <br /> whether the scope could be tightened. <br /> Commissioner McKee suggested the ILA itself might be amendable by the partners. <br /> Travis Myren committed to a competitive solicitation process to ensure the scope and cost are <br /> appropriate. He said a lot of the cost has to do with the amount of public engagement required. <br /> Commissioner Fowler expressed support for updating the plan given the county's growth, the <br /> near-completion of the bike-ped plan, and recent transportation corridor adoptions. <br />