HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-15-2010- 8aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 15, 2010
SUBJECT: Triangle Regional Transit Public Involvement Plan
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Public Involvement Plan Committee
Roles and Responsibilities
2. Program Milestones
3. Alternatives Map
4. Steering Committee Meetings and
Objectives by Phase
5. Alternatives Analysis Process
Action Agenda
Item No. 8 - Q
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Benedict, Planning Director,
245 -2592
PURPOSE: To receive an update on the Triangle Regional Transit Public Involvement Plan
(TRTP PIP) process and status.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the Public Involvement Plan is to educate the public about
the benefits of the Triangle Regional Transit Plan and to insure the involvement and
collaboration of various regional stakeholders prior to consideration of a Y2 cent sales tax
referendum possibly being considered for a November 2011 ballot. Local government chairs,
mayors and managers have been meeting on the subject for a few months as part of a Transit
Roundtable.
Triangle Transit is the lead organization in developing the Public Involvement Plan and URS is
the consultant firm retained to develop the plan and assist with public outreach tools. Some of
the tools that are currently in development are: a project website, a video clip showing various
transit corridors and meeting materials for the first round of public meetings.
A Steering Committee was created to assist with implementation of the Public Involvement
Plan. The Committee consists of local government representatives and transit providers.
Planning Director Craig Benedict is representing the County on the Committee. Over the next
10 months the Public Involvement Plan will be refined and implemented. The Committee
met twice the last meeting occurring on May 25, 2010. Currently, the Committee is workin g
refining the message that will be used to promote the plan to the public. The message
include three key elements:
1. Why Triangle Transit is implementing the Transit Vision?
2. What is Triangle Transit doing?
3. How is Triangle Transit implementing the Vision?
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In addition to the Public Involvement Plan Steering Committee, two or more Technical Advisory
Committees will be created to focus on Alternatives Analysis details within identified transit
corridors.
On July 7, 2010 one of several outreach meetings will be coordinated at the Chapel Hill Main
Library between 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. The meeting will be hosted by the TRTP PIP group of
Triangle Transit Authority /URS. Orange County will be participating with its local and regional
partners.
Staff will continue to provide regular updates on the work of the Steering Committee. Additional
information related to the Public Involvement Plan will be available on the website:
www.ourtransitfuture.com. The website is currently under construction and will become
available in mid -June. It will be updated regularly to provide information about the public
involvement process. In addition, the public will be able to use this site to submit comments
related to the project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact with receiving the update. The financial
impact associated with the implementation of the Public Involvement Plan is to be determined.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive the update.
Attachment 1:
Public Involvement Plan Committee Roles and Responsibilities
Meeting 1
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Public Involvement Steering Committee meetings will be held throughout the Triangle
Regional Transit Program. The Steering Committee will help refine the Public Involvement
Plan and oversee the implementation and analysis of plan elements. The Steering
Committee's lead responsibilities will be to:
• Participate in monthly Public Involvement Steering Committee meetings.
• Refine public involvement tools and techniques for use during the public involvement
program.
• Review public involvement materials, including notifications, collateral materials and
Web site content.
• Share program information using updates to the program web pages, a ❑mail
updates, news releases, informational displays and collateral materials.
• Serve as a program liaison at public meetings.
• Distribute program materials through existing contact channels and facilities.
Public involvement activities will include ongoing program ❑wide outreach, as well as
project ❑specific outreach tied to the release of technical project information. The purpose,
objectives and expected outcomes of each Steering Committee meeting will be further
refined and defined through the PIP process and initial Steering Committee meetings.
4
Attachment 2:
Program Milestones
Key public involvement activities:
O gt Analysis A,
NEPA s
Public Involvement Plan
Website
„.
Project Dialogue Center and Database
Media relations
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Public notifications
Informational materials
Meetings
• Steering Committee meetings
• Elected officials and jurisdictional
briefings
• Community briefings
• Business briefings
• Public workshops (2 per corridor)
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Attachment 4: Steering Committee Meetings and Objectives by Phase
Bridge Document Phase
Meeting #1
• Develop the Steering Committee (including role, vision, goals /objectives, process and
outcomes).
• Obtain input on program schedule and milestones.
• Review and discuss preliminary Public Involvement Plan.
• Discuss the existing transit vision plan, including the major urban transit investment
corridors, commuter rail corridors, regional express bus corridors /services and circulator
projects.
Meeting #2
• Obtain input on specific project alternatives for each of the three corridor projects.
• Discuss corridor limits, potential technologies, potential station locations and access
definitions.
Meeting #3
• Review corridor project information, including maps showing limits, facilities and access
points.
• Discuss evaluation measures, including ridership, travel benefits, land use considerations
and capital and operating costs.
Alternatives Analysis Phase
Meeting #4
• Review and obtain feedback on the draft Bridge Document.
• Discuss process for evaluating alternatives.
• Discuss recommendations for the implementation plan.
• Prepare for the first series of public workshops.
PUBLIC MEETING #1
Meeting #5
• Review input received at the first public workshop series.
• Review existing conditions information.
Meeting #6
• Review a range of alternatives, including no-build, baseline and build alternatives.
• Prepare for the second series of public workshops.
PUBLIC MEETING #2
Meeting #7
• Review input received during the second public workshop series.
• Refine screening criteria for evaluation of project alternatives.
NEPA Scoping Phase
Meeting #8
• Review results of the environmental screening.
• Review draft Purpose and Need, draft goals and objectives, preliminary study area and
impact topics to be evaluated during environmental review.
• Prepare for the third series of public workshops (public scoping meetings).
PUBLIC MEETING #3
Meeting #9
• Review input received during the public scoping meetings.
• Refine the project alternatives based on input received.
• Discuss land use, economic development, traffic and other considerations.
• Begin discussing aspects of the Alternatives Analysis document.
Attachment 5:
Alternatives Analysis Process