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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 1118151 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 MINUTES ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD NOVEMBER 18, 2015 MEMBERS PRESENT: Alex Castro, Bingham Township Representative; Heidi Perry, At -Large Representative; Ed Vaughn, Cedar Grove Township Representative; Gary Saunders, At -Large Representative; David Laudicina, At- Large Representative; Amy Cole, At -Large Representative, Tom Magnuson, At -Large Representative; Brantley Wells, Hillsborough Township; Ted Triebel, Little River Township Representative; Representative; John Rubin, At -Large Representative; Erle Smith, Chapel Hill Township Representative MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeff Charles, At -Large Representative; Art Menius, At Large Representative; Eno Township Representative - Vacant; STAFF PRESENT: Craig Benedict, Planning Director; Abigaile Pittman, Transportation /Land Use Planner; Peter Murphy, OPT Transportation Administrator; Malcum Massenburg, OPT Transportation Asst. Administrator; Janet Sparks, Child Support Director; Lisa Berley, Aging Dept.; Meredith McMonigle, Health Dept.; Serena McPherson, Dept. of Social Services; Meredith Pucci, Administrative Assistant II OTHERS PRESENT: Paul Guthrie AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL AGENDA ITEM 2: INTRODUCTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND ADDRESS FROM OUTGOING CHAIR Board members and staff made introductions. Paul Guthrie thanked the OUTBoard and staff and gave thoughts and advice to the members and staff on his opinion on transportation issues and what he thinks needs to be the focus going forward. AGENDA ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR AUGUST 19, 2015 Minutes were approved with corrections by consensus. AGENDA ITEM 4: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS OF THE AGENDA Craig Benedict noted that in working with the City of Mebane to create a new Mattress Factory Road exit on 1- 85/1 -40 between Buckhorn Rd. and Mebane Oaks Rd. preliminary traffics studies need to be done. The City of Mebane is undertaking a Comprehensive Transportation Plan that includes the Mattress Factory Road interchange. Funding sources for the plan include $30,000 from the City of Mebane. The Burlington Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization (BG MPO) has endorsed the study. AGENDA ITEM 5: TRANSIT SERVICES, ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (OPT) - This section of the agenda is addressed jointly by the OUTBoard and supplemental staff from other County departments (Aging; DSS; Housing, Human Rights and Community Development; Health; Child Support Enforcement; and the Library) to address transit services. AGENDA ITEM 5A: ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT STUDY — OCTOBER 2015 Update on a recently released Orange Public Transit (OPT) assessment funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Public Transit Division (PTD) and prepared by KFH Group, Inc. OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Receive information. 54 55 Peter Murphy shared that the assessment study prepared by KFH group, the consultants hired by NCDOT to 56 review Orange County public transportation, is working on the study's final version and there are a few changes 57 still coming. He gave an overview of it to the Board. 58 59 Heidi Perry asked Peter what Light Transit Vehicle meant. 60 61 Peter Murphy responded that Light Transit Vehicle (LTV) is the mid -size bus. The seating can range from 14 to 62 24 passengers. 63 64 Erle Smith asked about driver population. 65 66 Peter Murphy replied that they recently added 7 drivers and now are up to 15 and will be hiring more which will 67 coincide with future additional service. 68 69 Alex Castro asked about coverage for the dispatch function if the only employee in that position is out. 70 71 Peter Murphy responded that they are a small operation and right now he and Malcolm are in the office along 72 with two other people and everyone does crossover functions. They may be looking at adding additional 73 personnel in the new budget year. 74 75 Erle Smith asked what the utilization rate is for drivers and vehicles across the 12 hour time frame. 76 77 Peter Murphy noted that using the software they can predict that and noted things will be tweaked to merge them 78 together. The drivers don't do just one thing all day. The bulk of the work right now is demand response. Taking 79 people to doctor appointments and this varies. 80 81 Heidi Perry asked about the life expectancy for a bus. 82 83 Peter Murphy responded that it is probably 4 to 5 years. 84 85 Alex Castro asked if the replacement cycle is 4 years. 86 87 Peter Murphy noted it is predicted based on mileage. 88 89 Ted Triebel asked if it is cost effective. 90 91 Peter Murphy noted that information will be part of the next quarterly meeting. 92 93 Heidi Perry asked how they are getting the word out. 94 95 Peter Murphy noted that so far it is done internally through the media department. 96 97 Heidi Perry commented about whether advertising could be put in place with the hospital and court systems, 98 etc., giving people information about the availability of transportation between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. 99 100 Alex Castro commented that the Dept. of Aging is working on this too. 101 102 Ted Triebel asked what the drivers are paid. 103 104 Peter Murphy responded that most drivers earn between $13 to $17 an hour. The starting rate is better than 105 most in the area. The drivers of the larger buses like they have in Chapel Hill do get paid more. 106 107 108 AGENDA ITEM 5B: OPT OPERATIONAL STATISTICS: 109 i. Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant 110 ii. North Carolina Community Transportation Program (CTP) Grant 111 iii. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) award from the North Carolina 112 Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) Transportation Planning Branch. 113 OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Receive and review information, provide 114 comments. 115 116 Peter Murphy reviewed the ROAP grant. 117 118 Alex Castro asked if the funds will come through the MPO 119 120 Peter Murphy agreed but noted that planners will have to be at the table to represent OPT. If not we lose 121 funding. 122 123 Abigaile Pittman commented that Bret Martin had put together the application for the CMAQ funding. 124 125 Peter Murphy reminded the members that we fall into the middle of two MPOs so representation is needed at 126 both MPOs to make sure we are getting our funds. 127 128 AGENDA ITEM 5C: OPT EXPANSION SERVICES UPDATES: 129 i. New buses for expansion services 130 ii. New employees for expansion services 131 iii. Start date for new expansion services /routes 132 iv. Hillsborough park n' ride 133 OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Receive and review information, provide 134 comments. 135 136 Peter Murphy reviewed items. 137 138 Alex Castro commented that outreach needs to have greater effort for expansion services. A media campaign, 139 possibly social media is needed. 140 141 John Rubin asked if the OUTBoard members will be getting quarterly reports on transit. He noted that it is a lot 142 of information and while very helpful it would be more helpful if the report included the principle challenges being 143 faced and the assistance needed from this Board, addressing what feedback or support is needed. 144 145 Heidi Perry asked if there was a requirement that the Board have a quarterly update. 146 147 Peter Murphy replied that there is a requirement that there be a quarterly meeting not necessarily a report or an 148 update. He noted that they will be looking for more feedback as things progress, and NCDOT is going for a more 149 performance evaluation model so one thing for next quarter will be to have goals and targets that are measured. 150 Those will be easy to share with the OUTBoard. 151 152 AGENDA ITEM 5D: TRANSIT ADVISORY SERVICES (TAS) COMMENTS /QUESTIONS — Opportunity for TSB 153 members to offer transit related comments and ask questions. 154 OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Provide comments and questions, receive 155 feedback. 156 157 Meredith McMonigle commented that the Health Department was interested in coming to the quarterly meetings 158 because they work with families and hear a lot about transportation barriers. She would like to share that 159 information with the group. 160 161 Peter Murphy replied that this meeting venue is perfect for that. He noted that departments meet and discuss 162 transportation but OPT is not present at those meetings and often does not get the feedback they need. 163 164 Meredith McMonigle noted that they are working with those that use and need the services, and working 165 together to address some of these needs and barriers is important. 166 167 Peter Murphy agreed. 168 169 Abigaile Pittman suggested it would be a good subject for a follow -up special meeting. 170 171 REGULAR AGENDA 172 173 AGENDA ITEM 6: STAFF UPDATES 174 175 OUTBOARD INPUT FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' ANNUAL PLANNING RETREAT 176 Discussion and completion of the activities and emerging issues lists for 2016, to be 177 included in the BOCC Annual Planning Retreat Input Form. 178 OUTBoard Action: Review, comment and recommend the activities and emerging 179 issues lists for 2106, to be included in the BOCC Annual Planning Retreat Input 180 Form. 181 182 Abigaile Pittman reviewed the annual work plan and focus for next year. 183 184 Heidi Perry related that she was under the impression from the Commissioners that the Board could add things 185 to the agenda that they want to study for the year and that it didn't have to come from the BOCC. 186 187 Abigaile Pittman asked if she was talking about bicycle safety. 188 189 Heidi Perry referred to the language that says if directed by the BOCC and elaborated that her understanding 190 from them was that they can actually add topics the Board wants to address or study. 191 192 Abigaile Pittman responded that bicycle safety is addressed under the emerging issues section of the input 193 report because staff has not yet received specific direction from the BOCC, but expects that will happen in 2016. 194 195 Heidi Perry asked about the BOCC's request for additional work on bicycle safety. 196 197 Abigaile Pittman continued, stating that the BOCC asked staff to return to them with a recommendation about 198 creating a task force versus subcommittee, and what staff recommends the charge would be and how to 199 proceed in operating, and what level of staff involvement is needed. This will be happening early next year, after 200 the holiday break. 201 202 Alex Castro asked if that is not part of the last page that asks what are the concerns. 203 204 Abigaile Pittman responded that it is an item that hasn't become a fully developed staff project yet but they think 205 it is moving in that direction. 206 207 Alex Castro asked about signage for bus stops. 208 209 Peter Murphy replied that they have been adding stops and on the signs they have added it includes the bus 210 schedules, what routes it serves and if it is served by multiple routes. At present for the circulator routes they 211 have signs up at 16 of the 23 stops. Some are missing poles and they have been ordered. He thinks they will 212 all be up within a couple of weeks and then they will work on the new routes. 213 214 It was agreed by all that the emerging issues list should include a recommendation to identify major route stops 215 requiring bus stop amenities. 216 217 Alex Castro asked if copies of schedules would be available on the buses so people could have the various 218 times and stops. 219 220 Peter Murphy replied that they should be able to get that from any of the bus drivers and also at all the senior 221 centers. 222 223 Alex Castro commented that he wanted to add the light rail issue to the work plan so that if funding doesn't come 224 in, alternative transportation improvements needs could be studied. He referred to the commuter rail in Wake 225 County. 226 227 David Laudicina added that is the same thing just rapid transit as opposed to light rail transit. 228 229 Alex Castro replied that it already exists. The infrastructure is in place for commuter rail. 230 231 David Laudicina responded that if you do light rail you are going to have to put up tracks and if you do commuter 232 rail you need to install a second track if you are going to do it right. The commuter rail is on NCRR right -of -way. 233 He added that the advantage to it is that if it gets to Durham, how soon will it get to Hillsborough, how soon will it 234 get to Mebane and Efland and Greensboro. You could conceivably commute anywhere between High Point and 235 Raleigh on a daily basis. 236 237 Heidi Perry noted you can take it from Cary and Raleigh on Amtrak. She asked if it should be added as number 238 eight to reevaluate transit options particularly if light rail funding falls through and asked it that is the only time 239 they should consider it. 240 241 Alex Castro replied that it would be a good one and could include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or commuter rail as 242 an alternative. 243 244 245 David Laudicina added that it won't be easy because it would probably mean starting all the way back at the 246 beginning and going through the whole federal thing. They are well along the way for the light rail and if you go 247 back to the beginning you are starting all over again. He added that the plan was commuter rail at one time and 248 that went away. He added that BRT requires infrastructure and that means you have to build the infrastructure 249 between Chapel Hill and Durham. He noted that the people of Orange County voted for the sales tax on the 250 premise it would be for the purpose of light rail. 251 252 Heidi Perry commented that since they don't know what will happen with the funding, if the cap is lifted and the 253 study they did may have some problems with it too. She asked if it should be included or not. 254 255 Abigaile Pittman replied that if it is added as number 8 it be very generic. 256 257 Ted Triebel commented that his reading is the funding for light rail will up in the air for a year or two. He doesn't 258 think it is realistic to think that funding in 2016 is going to go away. 259 260 Heidi Perry suggested that it not be added and if it falls through it can be added. 261 262 The consensus was not to add the item to the list. 263 264 Heidi Perry asked if there is always a public hearing every year for transit. 265 266 Peter Murphy replied that the BOCC will have a hearing but the hearing they did here last year was because of a 267 change. He informed the Board they have to because one of the grants requires it. 268 269 Ted Triebel noted that he thought number three for shelters and benches was going to be brought before the 270 BOCC in 2015. He wondered what needs to be done to stress that this is something that needs to get done. 271 272 Abigaile Pittman responded that it was a matter of prioritizing funding for the initialize starting on the bus routes. 273 274 Ted Triebel noted that it needs to be done and put into the funding and the budget. He added that if it doesn't 275 get put in the budget it won't be funded. 276 277 Heidi Perry suggested making a recommendation. She noted that they can go ahead and prioritize the ones they 278 think need it the most and present it as a report and if there is no funding then either it gets left until next year or 279 they fund it as they have money. She added that they could have the list ready so they don't have to wait until 280 there is funding and then go back and make the list. 281 282 The consensus was to create a priority list. 283 284 The board voted unanimously to approve the annual work plan with a word change in the emerging issues list to 285 include a recommendation to identify major route stops requiring bus stop amenities. 286 287 AGENDA ITEM 7: STAFF UPDATES (ABIGAILE PITTMAN) 288 289 A. Highlights of the NCDOT /Orange County luncheon meeting (October 19, 2015) 290 B. State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Development Process 291 C. Bicycle Safety Plan 292 D. Request for Qualifications & Proposals Conceptual Design — Train Station 293 Hillsborough, NC 294 E. Piedmont Triad Freight Study 295 OUTBoard Action: Receive information. 296 297 Abigaile Pittman amended the update due to time and gave a quick update on items. 298 299 AGENDA ITEM 8: YEARLY ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR 300 OUTBoard Action: Elect Chair; elect Vice Chair 301 302 Ted Triebel nominated Alex Castro 303 304 Alex Castro declined and nominated Heidi Perry 305 306 John Rubin seconded 307 308 Heidy Perry was elected OUTBoard Chair by unanimous vote 309 310 Heidi Perry asked for nominations for Vice Chair 311 312 John Rubin nominated Alex Castro 313 314 Ted Triebel seconded 315 316 Alex Castro was elected Vice -Chair by unanimous vote 317 318 AGENDA ITEM 9: ADJOURNMENT 319 320 The meeting was adjourned by consensus. 321 322 323 324 325 Heidi Perry, Chair