HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-16-1999 - 9e
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No ~~
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meetiag Date: February 16, 1999
1
SITBJECT: Response to Triangle Transit Authority's Proposed
Expansion in Orange County
-------------------------------- -------------------------------
DEPARTMENT Trans.Adv.Board PIIBLIC HEARING YES NO X
--------------------------------
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. TTA Letter
2. BOCC Response Letter
BUDGET AMENDMENT YES NO X
-------------------------------
INFORMATION CONTACT
Jerry M. Passmore, ext 2009
Slade McCalip, ext 2595
TELEPHONE NIIi~IDER
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
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PURPOSE: To approve a formal response to the Triangle Transit
Authority's (TTA) request for Board input on their proposed expansion
in Orange County in the next 18 months and the identification on a
park/ride lot west of Hillsborough. (See TTA letter)
BACKGROUND: TTA is the regional transit service mandated to provide
bus service to Orange, Durham and Wake counties. For several years that
have provided bus service to Orange County, but only in the Chapel Hill
area. The proposed expansion would provide a new route in the summer
of 2000 serving central Orange. The proposed new route would leave
from an identified park/ride lot west of Hillsborough running to
downtown Hillsborough, on to Durham and RTP.
The Orange county Transportation Advisory Board met on January 26th and
reviewed the proposed expansion aad the request to identify a park/ride
lot west of Hillsborough. The OPT staff and Transportation Board
comments are indicated in the attached recommended response letter from
the BOCC to TTA.
RECObII~NDATION: The Maaager recoamtends the Chair sign the formal response
letter to TTA on its proposed expansion service in Orange County.
FN:AB90216a.doc
2
November 25, 1998
The Honorable Mazgazet Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dear Commissioner Brown,
The Triangle Transit Authority has plans to expand our regional bus services over the
next 18 months. With the completion of the new bus maintenance facility in May 1999,
TTA will be able to accommodate a signi5cant expansion of its regional bus fleet to meet
our growing demand for services throughout the region_ Oar staff has developed and
recommended a service expansion plan to our Board of Trustees, who has authorized us
to consult with our governmental partners.
We request that Orange County review the enclosed TTA service expansion plan and
respond with formal written comments. We also ask that you assist us in identifying~and
establishing Park & Ride Lots along new routes of service. You will find a description of
all the recommended routes that directly serve Orange County in Attachment A.
Descriptions of the entire recommended regional service expansion plan are in
Attachment B.
We request that you respond with your comments by February 26, 1999 to enable us io
implement the service expansion in a timely manner. Please contact John Tallmadge,
Transportation Planner at 485-7430 if you would like more information about the service
expansion plan. .
Sincerely,
m . ~~
awes M. Ritchey
General Manager
cc: John Link, Orange County Manager
Jerry Passmore, Orange County Department on Aging/
Suite 206, 50 Park Drive • P.O. Box 13787 • Research Triangle Park • North Carolina 27709
Regional Sus: (919) 549-9999 • Ofrce: (919) 406-1710 • fax (919) 990-9127
Triangle Transit Authority
3
ATTACHMENT A
TTA recommends that our regional service expansion occur in two phases -the first, in Summer of 1999,
will put 19 new mid-site (24-26 passenger seats) buses into service; the second, in Summer of 2000, will
put I S new fiill-size (37 passenger seats) buses into service. This decision is driven by the differing
durations of the vehicle procurement processes and the need to phase the hiring of additional operations
staff.
Phase One expansions that would serve Orange County include:
Evening Service on Red and Green Lines, including the routes from Chapel Hill to Durham and to the
TTA Bus Center in Research Triangle Park
The service extension along these routes would run on an off-peak schedule (hourly) from approximately
6:30 pm until 12:30 am_
Saturday Service on Red and Green Lines, including the routes from Chapel Hill to Durham and to the
TTA Bus Center in Research Triangle Park
The service along these routes would run on an off-peak schedule (hourly) from approximately 6:30 am
unti16:30 pm.
Additional Buses in the Peak Hours on Red and Green Lines
Two buses will be added to the Red and Green Lines to improve the reliability of peak afternoon hour
schedules. Passengers will continue to experience 30 minute headways, but the service will be more
reliable because each bus will have additional minutes to meet their schedule_ Bus passengers will also
experience longer scheduled ride times for some trips.
Phase Two expansions that would serve Orange CountYinclude:
Hillsborough to Durham to RTP Express
We would provide service every hour from Hillsborough and every 30 minutes from Duke University
during the peak hours (5:30 am - 930am and 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm) with three buses. The route would run
from a Park & Ride to be identified on the west side of Hillsborough, through the center of town and
along US 70 to Hillsborough Street in Durham. The bus would make a stop at Duke University's Medical
Complex, a stop at the Downtown Durham DATA Terminal and continue along the Durham Freeway to
the RTP Bus Center. Every other run would begin or end the route at Duke University.
Chapel Hill to RTP to Rdleigh Express
We would provide hourly service during the peak periods. During the morning service, this route would
run from Carrborv Plaza through Carrboro to Downtown Chapel Hill. It would nm to tbe Friday Center
Park & Ride Lot via NC 54 and to the TTA Bus Center via I-40. Then it would continue down I-40 and
Wade Avenue to the State Government Mall and Moore Square. On the return trip, it would service UNC
and UNC Hospital before Downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro_ In the evening, the route would serve
LJNC on the outbound trip, and provide direct service to Downtown Chapel Hill on the inbound trip.
4
Phase Two Expansion Services in Summer 2000 would inciude:
Hillsborough to Durham to RTP Express
We would provide service every hour from Hillsborough and -every 30 minutes from Duke University
during the peak hours (5:30 am - 930am and 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm). The route would nm from a Park &
Ride to be identified on the west side of Hillsborough, through the center of town and along US 70 to
Hillsborough Street in Durham. The bus would make a stop at Duke University's Medical Complex, a
stop at the Downtown Durham DATA Terminal and continue along the Durham Freeway to the RTP Bus
Center. Every other run would begin or end the route at Duke University.
North Raleigh to RTP via I-S40 (once completed)
We would provide service every 30 minutes in the peak hours (6:30 am - 8:30 am and 4:00 pm - 7:00
pm). This route would run from North Raleigh along Sawmill Road, Six Forks Road and the proposed
Outer Loop. This service is, of course, predicated on completion of I-540 to Six Forks Road
Chapel Hill to RTP to Raleigh Express
We would provide hourly service during the peak periods.. During the morning service, this route would
run from Carrboro Plaza through Carrboro to Downtown Chapel HiII_ It would run to the Friday Center
Park & Ride Lot via NC 54 and to the TTA Bus Center via I-40. Then it would continue down I-40 and
Wade Avenue to the State Government Mall and Moore Square. On the return trip, it would service UNC
and UNC I3ospital before Downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro. In the evening, the route would serve
UNC on the outbound trip, and provide direct service to Downtown Chapel Hill on the inbound trip.
5
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7
ATTACHMENT B
TTA recommends that our regional service expansion occur in two phases -the first, in Summer of 1999,
will put I9 new mid-size (2426 passenger seats) buses into service; the second, in Summer of 2000, will
put 15 new full-size (37 passenger seats) buses into service. This decision is driven by the differing
durations of the vehicle procurement processes and the need to phase the hiring of additional operations
staff.
Phase C-ne exvansions in Summer 1999 would include:
Additional Buses in the Peak Hours on Red and Green Lines
Two buses will be added to the Red and Green Lines to improve the reliabrlity of peak afternoon hour
schedules. Passengers will continue to experience 30 minute headways, but the service will be more
reliable because each bus will have additional minutes to meet their schedule. Bus passengers wn-11 also
experience longer scheduled ride times for some trips.
Additional RTP Shuttle Service
Three buses will be used to replace vans currently serving the North, Airport, and Factory Shops Shuttle
routes_ This will enablc us to retire the 15-passenger vans, which are difficult for passengers to board.
Evening Service on Red and Green Lines
New service along these routes will run on an off-peak schedule (hourly) from approximately 6:30 pm
unh7 12:30 am.
Saturday Service on Red and Green Lines
New service along these routes wdl run on an off-peak schedule (hourly) from approximately 6:30 am
until midnight .
Raleigh to South Cary to Apex to Morrisville to RTP
Service will be provided every 30 minutes in the peak hours (6:00 am - 9:30 am and 3:15 pm - 7:30 pm).
The route will start at RTP and head south on Davis Drive through the new Development Drive and
continue through South Cary to Waverly Place and Crossroads Plaza and then to NCSU and Downtown
Raleigh along Western Boulevard.
Re-routed Gold Line through Cary
With a proposed new South Cary route, we have an opporturrity to re-route the existing Gold Line to
serve new locations wlu7e making the trip from downtown Cary to downtown Raleigh more direct. This
newly aligned route would operate during the same peak hours as the existing Gold Line, but would serve
Aviation and Weston Pazkways, and from the Amtrak station, would use Kildaire Farm Rd. and Maynard
and Walnut Sts. before serving South Hills Mall and continuing to downtown Raleigh.
Apez to RTP via NCSS
Service will be provided every 30 minutes in the peak hours (6:00 am - 9:30 am and 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm).
The route will connect Apes and the growing residential developments along the NC55 corridor through
the NIEHS campus and the new EPA facility to the RTP Bus Center.
Garner to Raleigh
Service will be provided cvery 30 minutes in the peak hours (5:30 am -10:00 am and 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm)
as an extension of the Red Line from Raleigh through to Gamer.
TTA Recommended Exvansion Routes
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9
February 16, 1999
Mr. James M. Ritchey, Jr.
General Manager
TTA -Suite 206
50 Pazk Drive, POB 13787
RTP, NC 27709
Deaz Mr. Ritchey:
This letter is intended to serve as the "official written comments" on the proposed TTA service expansion
plan which you had requested in your letter dated November 25, 1998 (see attached copy). While the
Boazd of County Commissioners is pleased that TTA is going to provide more service to the citizens of
Orange County, there is still some concern that Orange County is not getting the same level of transit
service as other jurisidictions in the Triangle Region that aze in Phase I. Any documentation that TTA
could provide to demonstrate that Orange County, especially rural communities like Hillsborough, Efland
and Mebane, is getting the most for its vehicle registration tax would be very helpful.
The Orange Public Transportation System (OPT) will be developing a four year Community Transportation
Services Plan (CTSP) this calendar year. This plan, which we anticipate would be developed in close
coordination with TTA and NCDOT, should provide the needed details to integrate your service expansion
with the expansion of OPT. On January 26th the OPT Transportation Advisory Boazd made some
preliminary recommendations for your service expansion to include: a) insuring that your east/west
Hillsborough routes include stops within walking distance of the Whiffed Center, Fairview Community, and
the Hillsborough Commons Shopping Center, and b) that the location of a Pazk & ride lot in the vicinity of
Hillsborough be explored on NCDOT owned land either at the DMV Site on US 70 West of Hillsborough or
along the US 70/I-85 Connector and its interchange with I-85/40.
Thank you for your request for our input. We aze looking forward to your assistance in the development of
the OPT's CTSP this yeaz. If you have any questions about our comments or request for the
documentation of TTA Transit Services to Orange County, please call Jeny Passmore, Director of OPT at
extension 2008.
Sincerely,
Alice M. Gordon
Chair
FN:H~B000~P&R-TTA.Doc
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Orange County Commissioners
P. O. Box 8181
200 S Cameron Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Alice M. Gordon, Chair
Stephen H. Ha/kiotis, Vice Chair
Margord W. Brown
Moses Carey, Jr.
Barry JocoGr
February 24, 1999
James M. Ritchey, Jr.
General Manager
TTA-Suite 206
50 Pazk Drive, PO Box 13787
RTP, NC 27709
Deaz y:
d
~~
\rr
`,~e
This letter is intended to serve as the "official written comments" on the proposed TTA service expansion
plan which you had requested in your letter dated November 25, 1998. While the Board of County
Commissioners are pleased that TTA is going to provide more service to the citizens of Orange County
there is still some concern that Orange County is not getting the same level of transit service as other
jurisdictions in the Triangle Region. Any documentation that TTA could provide to demonstrate that
Orange County, especially rural communities like Hillsborough , Efland and Mebane is getting the most for
its vehicle registration tax would be very helpful.
The Orange Public Transportation System (OPT) will be developing a four year Community Transportation
Services Plan (CTSP) this calendar year (hopefully in close coordination with TTA and NC DOT) which we
feel will provide the needed details to integrate your service expansion with the expansion of OPT. On
January 26th the OPT Transportation Advisory Board made some preliminary considerations for your east-
west Hillsborough route expansion. Is TTA to be more than an Express Bus for commuters going to
Durham and RTP ? If so, TTA's Hillsborough route should service clients going to Duke Medical Center
and Durham workers coming to Hillsborough by having stops in downtown Hillsborough and one located in
the southern commercial area sgch as Hillsborough Commons. As to locations for a park & ride lot in the
vicinity of Hillsborough, TTA should explore the use of NCDOT owned land either at the DMV Site on US
70 West of Hillsborough or along the US 70/I-85 Connector and its interchange with I-85/40. (See enclosed
maps).
Thank you for your request for our input and we aze looking forwazd to your assistance in the development
of the OPT's CTSP this year. If you have any questions about our comments or request for the
documentation of TTA Transit Services to Orange County, please call Jeny Passmore, Director of OPT at
extension 2008.
Sincerely,
~~
Alice M. Gordon
Chair, Orange County Board of Commissioners
F'N:H~B000/T-TA90224.Doc You Count In Orange County
AREA CODE (9l9) 732-8181: 968-4501: 688-7331: 227-2031: FAX (919) 644-3004
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