HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-18-1999 - Consolidation of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Orange County Commissioners
P. O. Box 8181
200 S Cameron Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
AhceM. Gordon, Chair
Stephen H. Ha/kiotis, Ytce Chair
Margaret W. Brown
M°sa Carey, J~ MEMORANDUM
Barry Jacobs
TO: Speaker Pro Tem Joe Hackney
Representative Verla Insko
Senator Howard Lee
Senator Ellie Kinnaird
FROM: Alice Gordon, Chair, Board of County Commissioners
SUBJECT: Consolidation of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
DATE: May 20, 1999
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At our meeting of May 18, 1999, the Orange County Board of Commissioners received a report on
bills introduced by Representative Luebke and Senator Clodfelter that would reorganize metropolitan
planning organizations in North Carolina. We are particularly concerned about the possible merger
of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC-MPO) and the
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) which covers Raleigh and Wake
County. We feel there are other ways to encourage regional transportation planning.
In that MPO decisions are reached through a system of weighted voting based on population, we are
apprehensive that merger with the much larger CAMPO area would severely dilute our voice in
transportation planning and funding decisions. The member governments of the DCHC-MPO have
worked diligently over the last 10 years to achieve a balanced transportation system composed not
only of roads, but transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities as well. We are concerned that our focus
on multi-modal transportation planning might be overshadowed by a greater emphasis on road and
highway construction should MPO merger occur.
Consistent with our concerns, you will also be receiving additional correspondence regarding the
proposed legislation on merging MPOs. The Town of Chapel Hill has sent a memo dated May 19,
1999 from Mayor Rosemary Waldorf and the DCHC-MPO submitted a letter dated May 17, 1999
signed by Durham County Commissioner, Becky Heron, DCHC Transportation Advisory Committee
(TAC) Chair. I concur with the sentiments expressed in both of these documents and request that the
legislation exclude this area and/or be limited to the Charlotte area.
Thank you.
cc: Mayor Rosemary Waldorf
TAC Chair Becky Heron
Board of County Commissioners
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