Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-28-2005-c2b1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 28, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. C.2.b SUBJECT: Orange Unified Transportation Advisory Board DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Narrative of Key Orange County Boards With Transportation Interests INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Lincoln, ext. 2594 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane (336)227-2031 PURPOSE: To discuss the creation of an Orange Unified Transportation Advisory Board, BACKGROUND The Board of County Gommissioners (BOCC), on February 12, 2004, discussed the formation of a transportation advisory board that would study transportation issues in Orange County, and as appropriate, advise the BOCC. The BOCC, at that time, decided to defer creating an additional advisory board.. There is a renewed interest in the creation of such a board and the following proposal (with updates as appropriate) is taken from last year's discussion, Function of OUTAB The Orange Unified Transportation Advisory Board (OUTAB) would study transportation issues in Orange County, and advise the BOCC as appropriate. As an ongoing work group composed of members from Orange County agencies dealing with environmental, cultural and economic interests, OUTAB would provide coordination among the various county advisory boards and commissions that deal with issues affected by transportation.. Attachment 1 provides a brief description of each board's relation to transportation issues. Membership Proposed OUTAB membership would be 10 -12 members from existing county boards and commissions having transportation planning interests, For expertise in specialized areas such as air quality, bicycle, ar pedestrian issues, it may be necessary to recnait citizen volunteers, At a minimum, the OUTAB should include representatives (up to two) from each of the following boards and commissions: 1. Board of County Commissioners; 2, Commission for the Environment; 3. Economic Development Commission; 4. Transportation Services Board; and 5, Planning Board, 2 Another option for board membership is to advertise for citizen members who have an interest in transportation issues, with some expertise or interests in a specific transportation mode (i.e, bicyle, pedestrian, transit, etc.) or issue (i.e. air quality, transit oriented development, traditional neighborhood development guidelines, transportation demand management, etc.). Membership should be representative of all geographic areas of the County. The OUTAB would be administered by the Planning Department with primary staff support provided by the Transportation Planner and assistance from Orange Public Transportation (OPT) for issues pertaining to OPT service, The board would meet every other month, with OUTAB determining its regular meeting schedule and scheduling additional meetings as needed, Transportation Planning Activities The OUTAB would advise the BOCC on transportation planning projects/issues including, but not limited to the following: • Update of the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan, including: - Collector Street Plan - Access management - Transportation Demand Management (TDM) • Comprehensive Transportation Plans Developed in conjunction with Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO), and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO): - Highway Element (functional classification and future needs -thoroughfare plans) - Bicycle/Pedestrian Element - Transit Element • Priority projects for inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and major projects programmed in the TIP. • Update of DCHC MPO Long-Range Transportation Plan. • Transportation issues regarding existing and proposed school sites. Regional cooperation for regional transportation issues. CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding) applications, Coordination with Existing Transportation Activities Orange County is a member of two regional transportation planning agencies (Durham-Chapel Hill- Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization and Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization), which rely on input from local jurisdictions for the development of regional plans. The OUTAB could be valuable in developing the local component for priority lists for Transportation Improvement Programs, updates of comprehensive transportation plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans, transportation demand management plans and other transportation matters, The Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO) has recommended that each county in the TARPO form a transportation advisory committee to develop the local priority list for the 2007-2013 Transportation Improvement Program, ,i .. .. -n~- x'21'3 i aLc ~. it ~.I'. Z4 li _...,vil ..~'IiL° ~.. ,1 e:~!,o 3 An existing advisory board, the Orange County Transportation Services Board (TSB), serves as the advisory body to the Orange Public Transportation (OPT) Program, and recommends policy to the BOCC with respect to the delivery of general public transportation services and transportation service for human service agencies. The TSB and the Steering Committee for the Community Transportation Improvement Plan have recommended that Orange County form a separate "formal transportation advisory board" that reports directly to the BOCC regarding "all aspects of transportation to include bikeways, walkways, rights-of-way, community development, etc." FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with this agenda item; however, creation of a Unified Transportation Advisory Board would require additional staff time including assistance for the Transportation Planner. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information, discuss creation of an Orange Unified Transportation Advisory Board, and direct staff on haw to proceed. ATTACHMENTt 4 The following is a list of county boards and commissions that deal with transportation issues. The Economic Development Commission, The mission statement of the Economic Development Commission includes transportation and mass transit goals as ways to achieve its mission: "sustaining A Quality Community Through Balanced Economic Growth Strategic Plan for Economic Development". The commission's interests are planned expansion of support roads to economic development districts, support of regional transportation planning and encouragement of mass transit done in conjunction with changes in the Land Use Plan to develop long-term plans for mass transit service to the Economic Development Districts. The Commission for the Environment. The Environment and Resource Conservation Department provides staff support for the commission, The Air Quality Subcommittee promotes reduction in vehicle miles traveled to reduce air pollution from mobile source emissions, provision of alternative modes of transportation, and the use of alternative-fuel vehicles.. Arange County Public Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). The board is the advisory board for Orange Public Transportation (OPT), which is currently a section of the Department on Aging. The TAB members are appointed by human service agencies (Department of Social Services, Health Department, Orange Enterprises, etc,) and other county agencies, with five at large members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, The board's function is to study transportation needs of human service agencies and how to better serve those needs. Orange County Planning Board. The Planning Department provides staff support to the board. The Planning Board studies Orange County and surrounding areas to determine objectives in the development of the County and recommends plans to achieve that development. Transportation issues are inseparable from land use issues and are a key component in reviewing and planning for development in the county, Land use planning must consider three mayor principles: protection of the natural environment; sustenance and encouragement of economic opportunities; and equitable treatment for all citizens, especially those who, traditionally, have had little voice in community decision-making.