HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-08-2011 - 1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 8, 2011
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Triangle Regional Transit Program -Alternatives Analysis and the Locally
Preferred Alternative
DEPARTMENT: BOCC, Manager's Office & Planning PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Agenda Outline and Key to Att.
Additional Background Materials:
2. BOCC Meeting Minutes
3. Triangle Transit Responses to
Questions
4. Triangle Transit Exhibit A-E
5. Excerpt from Vol. 1 Detailed Definition
of Alternatives Technical Report
6. Screenshot from
www.ourtransitfuture.com
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank W Clifton, Manager-245-2300
Craig Benedict, Planning Director-
245-2575
Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning
Supervisor, 245-2579
Darcy Zorio, Transportation Planner,
245-2582
PURPOSE: To receive additional information on the Triangle Regional Transit Program -
Alternatives Analysis (AA) and the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and identify any
remaining information that may be required for the Board.
BACKGROUND: On May 19 and June 7 the BOCC held a work session and regular meeting
regarding the Triangle Regional Transit Program (TRTP) and the localized Orange County
Transit Plan (OCTP) and also known as the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan
(OCBARIP). At its June 7 meeting the Board decided:
• not to proceed to a November 2011 referendum on the half cent sales tax;
• to set a date later this year for discussion of a new timetable and to receive further
information related to Orange County components of the local and regional transit plans;
and
• indicate to Durham, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, UNC and the public the Board's continued
interest in pursuing participation in an enhanced regional public transportation system.
The Alternatives Analyses (AAs) for the Triangle Regional Transit Program projects in the
Durham-Orange, Durham Wake and Wake County Corridors were completed in July 2011. The
findings and recommendations developed through the AA process are contained in three
Detailed Definition of Alternatives Technical Reports. Each report covers an alignment plan and
profile, cost estimates, travel time, traffic analyses, and assessment of station's capacity for
potential transit oriented development. A recommendation for the most appropriate initial fixed
guideway transit investment, known as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for each corridor,
is also included. In July 2011, the multivolume reports for each of the three corridors were
posted along with all of the other information generated through the AA process:
www.ourtransitfuture.com.
In late August, 2011, as a result of ongoing technical evaluation, public involvement and
discussions with government agencies, the MPOs and other key stakeholders, an Addendum
was prepared for each of the Detailed Definition of Alternatives Technical Reports. This
additional information is also posted on the aforementioned project web site.
Triangle Transit has stated that the LPA must be approved by the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro
Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee by mid-February 2012
to make the deadline for federal New Starts applications (mid-August 2012).
At its November 15, 2011 meeting the BOCC received a presentation on the Triangle Regional
Transit Program -Alternatives Analysis (AA) and the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and
identified additional information in preparation for tonight's work session.
Attachment 1, Agenda Outline and Key to Attachments, provides the primary focus for
tonight's work session.
Following are additional background materials that maybe helpful to the Board:
Attachment 2, BOCC minutes from previous related agenda items;
Attachments 3 (Triangle Transit Responses to Questions) and 4 (Triangle Transit Exhibit A-E)
were included in the November 15 agenda packet.
Attachment 5, Table of Contents and Executive Summary from Volume 1: Detailed Definition of
Alternatives Technical Report -Durham-Orange County Corridor Alternatives Analysis;
Attachment 6, A screenshot from the Triangle Regional Transit Program website
(www.ourtransitfuture.com) has been provided as an index of the additional materials that are
available.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None at this time.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board:
1. Receive the additional information;
2. Discuss and ask questions; and
3. Identify any additional materials that may be required to provide guidance to
Commissioner Gordon, Orange County MPO representative on Transportation
Advisory Council, at the December 13, 2011 and/or January 24, 2010 BOCC
meeting.