HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-22-2019 7-a-1 - Attachment: OPT SRTP Final ReportOrange County Public Transportation
Short Range Transit Plan
Final Report [DRAFT] October 2018
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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Table of Contents
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... ES-1
1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1-1
2 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND MARKET ANALYSIS ..........................................................2-1
Key Findings ............................................................................................................................................ 2-1
Transit in Orange County ..................................................................................................................... 2-2
Document Review ................................................................................................................................... 2-2
Market Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 2-3
Route Profiles .......................................................................................................................................... 2-6
3 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ....................................................................................................3-1
Phase I Outreach.................................................................................................................................... 3-1
Phase II Outreach................................................................................................................................. 3-10
4 RURAL TRANSIT SERVICE TYPES .....................................................................................4-1
5 SERVICE PRIORITIZATION ...............................................................................................5-1
Prioritization Process ............................................................................................................................. 5-1
Implementation ..................................................................................................................................... 5-14
Appendix A: Open-Ended Comments
Appendix B: Change Sheets
Table of Figures
Page
Figure 2-1 Population and Employment Density in Orange and Durham Counties ..................... 2-3
Figure 2-2 Commute Travel Demand for Workers Living in Orange County that work in
Orange or Durham Counties ............................................................................................... 2-5
Figure 2-3 Existing OPT Service Network .......................................................................................... 2-6
Figure 2-4 Route Map, Hillsborough Circulator .................................................................................. 2-7
Figure 2-5 Hillsborough Circulator Average Daily Boardings ......................................................... 2-8
Figure 2-6 Hillsborough Circulator Boardings by Trip ...................................................................... 2-9
Figure 2-7 Route Map, Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector .................................................. 2-10
Figure 2-8 Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector Boardings by Trip ...................................... 2-11
Figure 2-9 Route Map, Orange-Alamance Connector .................................................................... 2-12
Figure 3-1 Phase I Public Meetings ....................................................................................................... 3-1
Figure 3-2 Reasons to Use Transportation other than Transit (OPT) ............................................... 3-3
Figure 3-3 Reasons to Take Transit (OPT) ............................................................................................ 3-3
Figure 3-4 What improvements would cause you to use transit more often? ............................... 3-4
Figure 3-5 What improvements would cause you to use transit more often? – Transit Users
vs. Non-Transit Users ............................................................................................................ 3-5
Figure 3-6 What improvements would cause you to use transit more often? – Age Group
Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 3-6
Figure 3-7 Age of Survey Respondents ............................................................................................... 3-7
Figure 3-8 Primary Mode of Transportation ....................................................................................... 3-8
Figure 3-9 Ridership Frequency ............................................................................................................. 3-8
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Figure 3-10 Length of Ridership ............................................................................................................... 3-9
Figure 3-11 Phase II Public Meetings .................................................................................................... 3-10
Figure 3-12 Pick the top five improvements you’d like us to focus on ............................................ 3-11
Figure 4-1 Rural Transit Service Types ................................................................................................. 4-1
Figure 4-2 Fixed-Route Transit Vehicles in Orange County ............................................................. 4-2
Figure 4-3 Smaller Demand Response Vehicle Used for Senior Transportation .......................... 4-2
Figure 4-4 Example of a Flex Service Alignment ............................................................................... 4-3
Figure 4-5 Zone Service Example from Mason County, WA ........................................................... 4-3
Figure 4-6 Existing GoTriangle Vanpool Vehicle ............................................................................... 4-4
Figure 4-7 Volunteer Driver Programs May Provide a Variety of Services ................................. 4-5
Figure 4-8 Ride Share Partnerships Could Fill Service Gaps in Low-Density Areas of
Orange County ..................................................................................................................... 4-6
Figure 5-1 OPT Service Prioritization Summary ................................................................................. 5-2
Figure 5-2 Proposed OPT System Map ............................................................................................... 5-3
Figure 5-3 Demand Response Zones ..................................................................................................... 5-5
Figure 5-4 Hillsborough Circulator ........................................................................................................ 5-6
Figure 5-5 Orange-Alamance Connector ............................................................................................ 5-7
Figure 5-6 Additional Hillsborough Circulator Route ......................................................................... 5-8
Figure 5-7 Orange-Chapel Hill Connector .......................................................................................... 5-9
Figure 5-8 Hillsborough-Durham Connector ...................................................................................... 5-10
Figure 5-9 Cedar Grove Peak Connector ......................................................................................... 5-11
Figure 5-10 White Cross Commuter Service ........................................................................................ 5-12
Figure 5-11 Additional Transit Amenities ............................................................................................. 5-13
Figure 5-12 Improvement Prioritization and Annual Operating Cost within Existing Budget .... 5-14
Figure 5-13 Improvement Prioritization and Annual Operating Cost Requiring Additional
Funding.................................................................................................................................. 5-15
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Orange County Public Transportation (OPT) provides transit service throughout Orange County,
including both demand response and fixed-route service. Identifying performance of the existing
system, areas of unmet transit demand, assessing priorities of passengers, and prioritizing service
improvements with a limited budget are keys to addressing the needs of the community. To
ensure integrated, high performing transit service across the region, OPT’s Short Range Transit
Plan (SRTP) assesses the market for transit service, operations in Orange County, and prioritizes
future recommendations.
Existing Conditions
OPT currently operates three midday/off peak, weekday, fixed-route bus services in Orange
County—the Hillsborough Circulator, the Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector, and the Orange-
Alamance Connector, as shown in Figure ES-1.
As part of the SRTP, an analysis was conducted to provide an overview of the operating context
for OPT, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and general system performance.
Findings included the following:
There is opportunity to improve ridership on existing services. The Hillsborough
Circulator and the Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector serve approximately 64 and 15
average daily riders, respectively.
Population density in Orange County outside of Chapel Hill and Carrboro is relatively
low. The majority of the county does not have the population or employment density to
support fixed-route transit.
The most common commute destinations for north Orange County residents are to
Hillsborough, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
Public Outreach
Two phases of outreach were conducted as part of the SRTP—the first phase took place in
November 2017 to understand the needs of existing riders and non-riders, and the second phase
occurred in September 2018 to confirm future service priorities. Top priorities from each of the
outreach phases included the following:
Improving weekday and Saturday service frequency and providing later evening service
Improving local circulation in Hillsborough and providing connections to Chapel Hill
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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Figure ES-1 Existing OPT Service Network
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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Service Prioritization
Typically, fixed-route transit service is best suited for areas with sufficiently high population and
employment density to provide adequate ridership to sustain the service. In rural or suburban
areas, like much of Orange County, frequent fixed-route service may not be the most effective
method of service delivery. Instead, multiple service types may be appropriate depending on the
density of population and jobs, the distribution of community services, and potential connections
to surrounding areas and transit services.
As such, recommended improvements for OPT represent a combination of service types.
Recommendations were prioritized to provide access to jobs from rural areas, respond to public
feedback by expanding service hours and improving frequency on existing routes, and improving
connections between Mebane, Efland, and Hillsborough. A summary of these improvements is
provided in Figure ES-2, and the proposed system map is shown in Figure ES-3.
The prioritized recommendations are intended to provide the maximum benefit within current
funding levels and provide a path for future investment should additional funding become
available.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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Figure ES-2 OPT Service Prioritization Summary
Improvement Description Funded
1 Regional Vanpool
Program
Expand GoTriangle vanpool program to other areas of Orange County,
provide marketing and subsidies
Yes
2 Community Van
Program
Lease vans to non-profits and government agencies to provide access to
social services in the community
Yes
3 Zone Services Three demand response zones operating two days per week for five hours Yes
4 Hillsborough
Circulator
Continue to provide service that operates hourly on weekdays from 8:00 AM
to 5:00 PM
Yes
5 Orange-Alamance
Connector
Alter alignment to provide bi-directional service on US 70 between
Hillsborough, Efland, and Mebane
Yes
6 Orange-Chapel Hill
Midday Connector
Continue to provide service that operates hourly on weekdays from 9:45 AM
to 3:50 PM
Yes
7 Vanpool Subsidy
Program
Provide additional vanpool subsidy for Orange County residents No
8 Expand
Hillsborough
Circulator Service
Expand service span and frequency on existing route to operate Monday to
Saturday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
No
9 Additional
Hillsborough
Circulator Route
Alternative alignment for the Hillsborough Circulator with two partially
overlapping loops
No
10 Improve Zone
Services
Improve service on the three demand response zones to operate on all
weekdays from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
No
11 Hillsborough-
Durham Connector
New fixed-route service between Hillsborough and Durham with connections
to the Duke VA Hospital operating hourly on weekdays between 9:00 AM
and 4:00 PM
No
12 Cedar Grove Peak
Connector
New peak only fixed-route service between Hillsborough and Cedar Grove
on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM
No
13 White Cross
Commuter Service
New peak only fixed-route service between Chapel Hill and White Cross
operating on weekdays between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM and between 3:30
PM and 6:30 PM
No
14 Transit Amenities New transit amenities in Hillsborough including a new transfer center and a
new park-and-ride facility
No
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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Figure ES-3 Proposed OPT System Map
1INTRODUCTION
Orange County Public Transportation (OPT) provides transit service throughout Orange County,
including both demand response and fixed-route service. Identifying performance of the existing
system, areas of unmet transit demand, assessing priorities of passengers, and prioritizing service
improvements with a limited budget are keys to addressing the needs of the community. To
ensure integrated, high performing transit service across the region, this report assesses the
market for transit service, operations in Orange County, and future recommendations.
Report Organization
In addition to this Introduction, the report is organized into four chapters—existing conditions
and market analysis, public involvement, rural transit service types, and service prioritization.
Chapter 02 Existing Conditions and Market Analysis. This chapter highlights
previous planning studies, provides an assessment of population and employment density
and travel demand within the Orange County and Durham County areas to assess the
distribution of the transit ridership market, and analyzes the performance of existing
fixed-route service operated by OPT to identify strengths and weaknesses of the current
system.
Chapter 03 Public Involvement.This chapter summarizes the public involvement
and outreach efforts conducted for Phase I and Phase II outreach, as well as specific
comments and feedback received.
Chapter 04 Rural Transit Service Types.Given the rural nature of the OPT service
area, the agency faces different challenges than urban transit providers. This chapter
highlights some potential rural transit service types that may function as part of a
coordinated approach to transit service in the area.
Chapter 05 Service Prioritization.This chapter builds on the market analysis,
service analysis, and rural transit service types chapters to identify potential service
improvements. These service enhancements are prioritized to provide the maximum
benefit to passengers and address the unique needs of Orange County given limited
financial resources.
Appendix A provides open-ended comments received during the public outreach process.
Appendix B provides change sheets that summarize alignment modifications for existing OPT
routes with proposed changes—the Hillsborough Circulator and Orange-Alamance Connector.
2 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND
MARKET ANALYSIS
This chapter is intended to summarize the background conditions in which OPT operates and
provide an evaluation of existing service characteristics and system performance. This chapter
provides an overview of the operating context for OPT, demographic and socioeconomic
characteristics, and general system performance.
OPT is a transit organization which operates three midday/off peak, weekday, fixed-route bus
services in Orange County—the Hillsborough Circulator, the Orange-Chapel Hill Midday
Connector, and the Orange-Alamance Connector.
In addition to these fixed-route services, OPT also offers on-demand and paratransit services.
OPT offers on-demand transportation for seniors (60+) or disabled residents from their residence
to their medical care providers or to go shopping; however, shopping trips are limited to one trip
per week, while there is no limit to medical trips. This service requires 48 hours’ notice prior to
scheduled pick up. This service is also offered to the general public on a seat-available basis. OPT
also offers complementary paratransit service for eligible individuals who can demonstrate that
they are unable to travel to or from an existing bus stop. This service is provided from any origin
and to any destination within ¾-mile of existing fixed-route service.
KEY FINDINGS
The Hillsborough Circulator and the Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector have low
ridership, approximately 64 and 15 average daily riders respectively.
Population density in Orange County outside of Chapel Hill and Carrboro is relatively
low. The majority of the county does not have the population or employment density to
support fixed-route transit.
The most common commute destinations for north Orange County residents are to
Hillsborough, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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TRANSIT IN ORANGE COUNTY
Orange County is primarily characterized by rural development, with the majority of the county
outside of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area developed at fewer than three jobs per acre and fewer
than seven people acre. This low density development presents challenges for sustaining ridership
for traditional fixed-route transit services and is best suited for demand-response type of services.
One method utilized in Orange County to “create density” is the provision of park-and-ride
facilities. Outside of Chapel Hill-Carrboro, there are two park-and-ride lots, including in Mebane
and at the Durham Tech Orange County. These facilities support regional transit service to
Durham County and to Chapel Hill.
On-Demand dial-a-ride transit, like OPT’s Elderly/Disabled Medical Transportation and Senior
Center Transportation services, provides lifeline services for those unable to drive in Orange
County.
DOCUMENT REVIEW
2015 Orange County Public Transportation Assessment Study
The 2015 Orange County Public Transportation Assessment Study is a comprehensive review of
the current conditions, costs, funding, existing and planned services, and organizational structure
for OPT. The assessment found that OPT has significantly improved its administration and
management over the past several years due to restructuring and emphasizing planning, data
reporting, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations.
The emphasis on data reporting and record keeping resulted in more accurate ridership and
operating cost estimates. The assessment proposes additional service expansion to provide more
hours and days of service in rural areas and to provide more specialized demand response service
to address the needs of the aging baby-boomer population. Additional planned services include:
Rural Zone Route-Deviation Services
Later Senior Center Service
Efland-Hillsborough Commuter Loop Service
Route 420 Expansion
The assessment also recommends further reorganization to move OPT operations out of the
Planning and Inspections Department and into its own Transit Department. This proposed
reorganization would also require a dedicated staff member to provide ongoing transit planning
support either through a new hire or reclassifying an existing comprehensive planner.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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MARKET ANALYSIS
Population and Employment Density
Population and employment densities are key drivers of transit demand. In general, a population
density of seven people per acre is needed to support fixed-route transit. In Orange County,
Chapel Hill, particularly around UNC, and downtown Carrboro have the greatest densities of
population and employment in the county (Figure 2-1). There is very low population and
employment densities in Orange County outside of downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
The low densities suggest that two different service delivery types may be successful—park-and-
ride based commuter services and lifeline demand response type services. OPT operates both
right now.
Figure 2-1 Population and Employment Density in Orange and Durham Counties
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Travel Demand
Figure 2-2 shows the trip lines for the largest commute patterns for Orange County residents that
commute to either Orange or Durham Counties. The strongest commute patterns from the north
and west portions of Orange County are to the Duke University, Duke Hospital, and the Durham
VA Medical Center area. More than 500 individuals make this trip daily. Given the cost of
parking near Duke University, the level of demand is sufficient to support park-and-ride based
commuter type service in the I-85 corridor.
South Orange County residents are more likely to commute into Chapel Hill. While many people
commute into Chapel Hill from north and west of Carrboro, the most common commute trips
originate from neighborhoods on both sides of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Chapel Hill.
The demand pattern suggests that commuter type service from Hillsborough and the NC 54
corridor may be viable. Currently, the NC 54 corridor is not served by park-and-ride based
service. Given some of the additional demand to UNC-Chapel Hill coming from Alamance
County, some additional consideration to a park-and-ride in this location should be considered.
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Figure 2-2 Commute Travel Demand for Workers Living in Orange County that work in Orange or Durham
Counties
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ROUTE PROFILES
OPT currently operates three fixed routes, as shown in Figure 2-3. This section discusses
alignment characteristics, service span, headway, destinations served, and ridership for these
routes.
Figure 2-3 Existing OPT Service Network
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Hillsborough Circulator
The Hillsborough Circulator service connects origins and destinations throughout the Town of
Hillsborough with hourly headways between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
This route provides connections to the Weaver Street Market, the Hillsborough Historic
Courthouse, Hillsborough Commons, and Durham Technical Community College (Figure 2-4).
Ridership for the route is low with approximately 64 daily riders on average. Stops serving
Walmart and the Gateway Apartments have the highest boardings of the route (Figure 2-5). The
11:00 AM trip has the highest average ridership of all trips, shown in Figure 2-6, at approximately
11 riders.
Figure 2-4 Route Map, Hillsborough Circulator
Source: OPT
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Figure 2-5 Hillsborough Circulator Average Daily Boardings
Source: OPT
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Figure 2-6 Hillsborough Circulator Boardings by Trip
Source: OPT Manual Passenger Counts August, 2017.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PMPassengers
Trip Time
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Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector
The Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector service connects Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Cedar
Grove in northern Orange County with hourly service provided in both the northbound and
southbound direction (Figure 2-7). This route is a midday complement to the GoTriangle/Chapel
Hill Transit Route 420 service, which operates from 6:00 AM to 9:15 AM and from 3:40 PM to
6:50 PM, Monday through Friday. The Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector has very low
ridership, averaging eight total daily riders. The highest ridership is the 1:45 PM trip in the
outbound direction, averaging approximately three riders per trip, shown in Figure 2-8.
Figure 2-7 Route Map, Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector
Source: OPT
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Figure 2-8 Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector Boardings by Trip
Source: OPT Manual Passenger Counts August, 2017.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
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Orange-Alamance Connector
The Orange-Alamance Connector service connects major origins and destinations in
Hillsborough, Efland, and Mebane with hourly service provided in both the eastbound and
westbound directions, operating between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday through Friday (Figure
2-9). This route is relatively new to the OPT system, and ridership data was not available for
analysis and inclusion in this report.
Figure 2-9 Route Map, Orange-Alamance Connector
Source: OPT
3PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
This chapter provides an overview of the key themes and takeaways from Phase I and Phase II
outreach related to the OPT SRTP process. Phase I outreach was primarily targeted at gauging
perceptions of the existing transit network and priorities for service improvements. This phase
was used to develop potential service improvements, which were evaluated during Phase II
outreach. Phase II outreach was targeted at addressing how the public perceived proposed
changes to the transit system to develop a prioritized list of proposed future service
improvements.
Open-ended comments for both Phase I and Phase II outreach are contained in Appendix A.
PHASE I OUTREACH
In addition to three public meetings conducted in November 2017 in Efland, Hillsborough, and
Cedar Grove (Figure 3-1), Phase I outreach consisted of the GoTriangle-OPT Transit System
Survey, a joint survey used to discern priorities and preferences for transit riders using both
GoTriangle and OPT services. Where practical, survey respondents were separated into
GoTriangle riders and OPT riders. The online survey was open for public comment from late
September through the end of November 2017. Nearly 550 individual responses were gathered,
42 of whom identified as OPT users.
Figure 3-1 Phase I Public Meetings
Date Place Address
11/13/2017 Efland-Cheeks Community Center 117 Richmond Rd, Efland
11/14/2017 Orange County West Campus 131 Margaret Ln, Hillsborough
11/21/2017 Cedar Grove Community Center 5800 NC-86N, Hillsborough
Key Findings
The highest priorities for OPT riders were improving weekday and Saturday service
frequency and providing later evening service.
Additional priorities include more park-and-ride availability and more frequent service at
night and/or Sundays.
The primary reasons OPT users ride the bus is because parking is too
expensive/unavailable and to save money.
Schedules not matching riders’ needs and the service taking too long are the main reasons
OPT riders don’t use transit.
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More weekday or Saturday frequency is a high priority for both transit users and non-
transit users. Non-transit users’ priorities are focused on service alignments moving
closer to their homes and jobs, while transit users focus on improving service and
extending service later in the evening.
Survey Results
GoTriangle Users and OPT Users
Survey responses were analyzed separately for respondents who identified as “OPT Users” and
“GoTriangle Users” to identify unique priorities and preferences between the two services.
GoTriangle Users and OPT Users are defined as anyone who indicated that they use the service on
a regular basis, not anyone who exclusively uses the service (i.e., GoTriangle Users may also use
Chapel Hill Transit, and OPT Users may also use GoTriangle). This distinction was made to avoid
a small sample size for exclusive OPT Users (N = 4).
Overall Results
Why or Why Not Use Transit?
When asked why respondents choose to use means of transportation other than transit (Figure
3-2), the most common response was that the schedules don’t match their needs (62%), the
service takes too long (62%) and the service is inconvenient (38%). This indicates that
convenience and timeliness are important factors when deciding to take transit or not.
The majority of respondents indicated that they take transit for financial reasons (Figure 3-3),
including parking is too expensive/unavailable (65%) and they save money riding the bus (61%).
Forty eight percent of respondents indicated they take transit to avoid traffic congestion, and 45%
take transit because it is a better use of time. This suggests that the two primary reasons
respondents take transit is for financial savings and more productive use of their commute.
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Figure 3-2 Reasons to Use Transportation other than Transit (OPT)
Figure 3-3 Reasons to Take Transit (OPT)
0%
15%
15%
23%
38%
62%
62%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
I prefer to use my own vehicle
Bus stop is not conveniently located
Don't know how to use the system
Other
Transit does not go to where I need to go (or is
not convenient to use)
Takes too long
The schedules don't match my needs
N = 13
0%
10%
13%
13%
19%
45%
45%
48%
48%
55%
61%
65%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
My car isn't working properly
Other (please specify)
Can't afford to purchase or maintain a car/auto
No driver's license/can't drive
High gas prices
Better use of time
Prefer not to drive
Avoid traffic congestion
Enjoy riding the bus
Better for environment/air quality
I save money by riding the bus
Parking is too expensive/unavailable
N = 31
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Improvements to Transit Service
The highest improvement priorities for OPT riders, as shown in Figure 3-4, were more frequent
service during the day (45%) and later evening service (45%). OPT users also prioritized more
park-and-ride availability, more frequent service at night and/or Sundays, and improved transfer
connections.
Figure 3-4 What improvements would cause you to use transit more often?
0%
6%
6%
6%
13%
13%
19%
19%
23%
32%
35%
39%
45%
45%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Route closer to my job/school
Route closer to my job
Better service information
Earlier morning service
Route closer to my home
Other (please specify)
Reduced travel times
More comfortable bus stops
More direct service
Improved transfer connections
More frequent service at night and/or Sundays
More park-and-ride availability
More frequent service during the day Monday-Saturday
Later evening service
N = 31
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Transit Users vs. Non-Transit Users
Survey responses were analyzed independently for transit users and non-transit users to
determine priorities and preferences for each group. In order to avoid a small sample size, this
assessment does not separate GoTriangle and OPT users; instead, this should be viewed as a
trend for the overall region. Transit users’ selected improvements were generally more focused on
improving service frequency and expanding service later in the evening, while non-transit users’
priorities were focused on convenience and relocating routes closer to their homes and jobs, as
shown in Figure 3-5. Both groups of users have strong preferences for expanding service on
weekdays and Saturdays.
In a direct comparison between the differences of transit users and non-transit users’ selected
improvements, 52% of transit users selected more frequent Monday-Saturday service compared
to only 36% of non-transit users. Similarly, 36% of transit users selected later evening service
compared to 15% for non-transit users. Transit users also preferred improving night/Sunday
service frequency—28% compared to 13% of non-users.
The most commonly selected improvements for non-transit users were routes closer to their
home (41%), more frequency service Monday-Saturday (36%), and routes closer to their job
(33%). Non-transit users also prioritized improved transfer connections (28%) at a higher rate
than transit users (18%).
Figure 3-5 What improvements would cause you to use transit more often? – Transit Users vs. Non-
Transit Users
7%
9%
10%
10%
11%
17%
18%
24%
26%
27%
28%
28%
36%
52%
15%
10%
8%
18%
33%
21%
28%
26%
23%
41%
23%
13%
15%
36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Route closer to my job/school
Earlier morning service
Other (please specify)
Better service information
Route closer to my job
More comfortable bus stops
Improved transfer connections
More direct service
More park-and-ride availability
Route closer to my home
Reduced travel times
More frequent service at night and/or
Sundays
Later evening service
More frequent service during the day
Monday-Saturday
Non-Transit Users
Transit Users N = 384
N = 39
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Age Group Analysis
The selected improvements were also analyzed for respondents in four age groups: 18-24, 25-34,
35-54, and 55 or older (Figure 3-6). These age groups represent the college age (18-24), young
professional (25-34), professional (35-54), and approaching retirement or retired (55 or older). In
order to avoid a small sample size, this assessment does not separate GoTriangle and OPT users;
instead, this should be viewed as a trend for the overall region. Ridership frequency is relatively
similar across the four age groups, with 79% of the college age group, 84% of young professionals,
78% of professionals, and 73% of the retired/approaching group regularly use transit (at least
three days per week).
Overall, all four age groups prioritized more frequent Monday-Saturday service and later evening
service. In addition to this preference, the college age population also prioritized more frequent
night service. The young professional population prioritized more direct service and reduced
travel times at a higher rate than the other groups. The retired/approaching retirement group
prioritized routes closer to their home and improved transfer connections at higher rates than the
other populations.
These stated preferences suggest different commute behaviors for the age groups, with the
younger college age population likely living near campus with shorter, less predictable commutes,
the young professional population living closer to the downtown area commuting with local
service. The retired/approaching retirement group may have limited mobility and may be less
reliant on private automobiles in general and thus prioritize expanding service spans, frequency,
and route proximity to their homes.
Figure 3-6 What improvements would cause you to use transit more often? – Age Group Analysis
19%
8%
15%
8%
23%
19%
15%
23%
42%
23%
8%
23%
38%
38%
9%
21%
10%
12%
15%
16%
31%
34%
31%
39%
16%
30%
35%
51%
10%
9%
5%
10%
9%
18%
28%
19%
25%
23%
18%
24%
32%
51%
6%
8%
8%
10%
20%
27%
30%
32%
32%
33%
34%
44%
52%
75%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Earlier morning service
Better service information
Route closer to my job/school
Other (please specify)
Route closer to my job
More comfortable bus stops
More park-and-ride availability
More direct service
More frequent service at night and/or Sundays
Reduced travel times
Improved transfer connections
Route closer to my home
Later evening service
More frequent service during the day Monday-Saturday
55 or older
35-55
25-34
18-24
N = 111
N = 160
N = 119
N = 26
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Who Responded to the Survey?
Age of Respondent
The largest number of respondents to the survey were between the ages of 25 and 34 (27%),
followed by ages 55 to 64 (23%), and then ages 45 to 54 (20%), as shown in Figure 3-7. This
suggests that the majority of the survey respondents are working age, between 25 and 64, and
that a relatively small portion (6%) of the respondents are college age, between 18 and 24.
Figure 3-7 Age of Survey Respondents
18 to 24
6%
25 to 34
27%
35 to 44
19%
45 to 54
20%
55 to 64
23%
65 or older
6%
N = 469
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Primary Mode of Transportation
The primary mode of transportation for online survey respondents, as shown in Figure 3-8, is
driving alone (61%) followed by bus (26%). Bicycling (5%), carpooling (4%), and walking (2%) are
utilized significantly less than driving alone and transit. However, the majority of respondents
(85%) indicated that they use transit. This suggests that many respondents regularly use transit as
a secondary mode of transportation.
Figure 3-8 Primary Mode of Transportation
Ridership Frequency
The majority of respondents (53%) ride transit between five and seven days per week with an
additional 24% riding between three and four days per week (Figure 3-9).
Figure 3-9 Ridership Frequency
Drive alone
61%
Carpool
4%
Bicycle
5%
Bus
26%
Walk
2%
Other (please
specify)
1%
N = 474
Less than 1 day
per month
5%Less than 1 day
per week
6%
1-2 days per
week
11%
3-4 days per
week
24%
5-7 days per
week
53%
Never
1%
N = 443
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Length of Ridership
Of those currently using transit service, the majority of respondents (60%) have ridden for three
or more years. On the other hand, 18% of respondents are relatively new riders and have used
transit service for less than one year (Figure 3-10).
Figure 3-10 Length of Ridership
Less than a month
2%
1-6 months
11%
7-12 months
5%
1-2 years
22%
3-4 years
18%
More than 4
years
42%
N = 433
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PHASE II OUTREACH
As part of Phase II outreach, three public meetings were held in Cedar Grove, Efland, and
Hillsborough in September 2018 to gather additional feedback from customers (Figure 3-11). The
outreach process also consisted of an online survey asking respondents to prioritize
recommended improvements to the system, along with the option of providing open-ended
comments. The online survey was open for public comment from early September through early
October 2018 and received 33 responses.
Figure 3-11 Phase II Public Meetings
Date Place Address
9/18/2018 Cedar Grove Community Center 5800 NC-86N, Hillsborough
9/19/2018 Efland-Cheeks Community Center 117 Richmond Rd, Efland
9/20/2018 Orange County West Campus 131 W Margaret Ln, Hillsborough
Key Findings
The top priority improvements for survey respondents were improving local circulation in
Hillsborough and providing connections to Chapel Hill.
Improvement Prioritization
The online survey was used to gather input from the community about which recommendations
are most important. Respondents were asked to select their five highest priority
recommendations.
As shown in Figure 3-12, a full 70% of respondents selected the Hillsborough Circulator or the
Additional Hillsborough Circulator Route as one of their top five priorities. This indicates that for
OPT users, local circulation within Hillsborough is a key priority. The Orange-Chapel Hill Midday
Connector was also highly prioritized, with 67% of respondents selecting it as a priority.
There was less support for the other recommendations, with zone service, transit amenities, and
the Orange-Alamance Connector receiving support from 43%, 37%, and 37% of respondents,
respectively. The Cedar Grove Peak Connector and the White Cross Commuter Service received
the least amount of support, 13% and 10% respectively, indicating that providing fixed-route
service to these locations is not a high priority for survey respondents.
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Figure 3-12 Pick the top five improvements you’d like us to focus on
10%
13%
23%
30%
33%
37%
37%
43%
67%
70%
70%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
White Cross Commuter Service
Cedar Grove Peak Connector
Community Van Programs
Hillsborough-Durham Connector
Vanpool Programs
Orange-Alamance Connector
Transit Amenities
Zone Service
Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector
Hillsborough Circulator
Additional Hillsborough Circulator Route
N = 30
4 RURAL TRANSIT SERVICE TYPES
Typically, fixed-route transit service is best suited for areas with sufficiently high population and
employment density to provide adequate ridership to sustain the service. In rural or suburban
areas, like much of Orange County, frequent fixed-route service may not be the most effective
method of service delivery. Instead, multiple service types may be appropriate depending on the
density of population and jobs, the distribution of community services, and potential connections
to surrounding areas and transit services.
Rural transit service cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach; certain strategies will be more
effective under certain circumstances. Providing a mix of service types to address specific needs in
the community may be the most effective way of providing robust rural service while constrained
by the limited financial resources. A variety of rural transit service types are described in this
chapter and summarized in Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1 Rural Transit Service Types
Service Type Description
Fixed-Route Regularly scheduled service on a dedicated alignment, operated by a larger
transit vehicle
Demand Response/Dial-a-Ride On-demand service that typically requires a reservation to ride and is
operated by a smaller van or cutaway vehicle
Flex/Deviated-Fixed Route Regularly scheduled service on a dedicated alignment that may make
deviations to pick up passengers who call ahead
Zone Service Demand response service that operates within specific areas, during certain
times, and/or certain days of the week
Van Programs Vanpool or community van programs that are leased to individuals, non-
profits, or government agencies to provide commute transportation or
access to community and social services
Worker/Driver Programs Commute service in which an employee is trained as a bus operator to
transport other employees to and from their employment site using an
agency vehicle
Volunteer Driver Programs Volunteer drivers provide transportation services in the community and may
be paid directly by the users or may be reimbursed for mileage
Transportation Vouchers Transit agencies provide receive transportation vouchers to subsidize the
cost of transit, paratransit, or taxi services
Ride Share Partnerships Passenger subsidies with a ride share or local taxi company
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Fixed-Route Service
Fixed-route service is regularly-scheduled service that operates on a dedicated alignment and may
provide different levels of service, including local circulator, local arterial, feeder, commuter, or
express service. Typically, fixed-route service works best in areas with employment and
population density greater than five people or employees per acre. This service type may be
feasible in the denser areas of Orange County or to connect major destinations in the region.
Figure 4-2 Fixed-Route Transit Vehicles in Orange County
Demand Response
Demand Response or Dial-a-Ride service is an on-demand service that typically requires a
reservation to ride. This service type is frequently used for paratransit programs in rural areas
and can be open to the general public with no eligibility requirements. There are no minimum
population and employment density requirements for this service type to be effective. Demand
response service is typically used as a lifeline to provide connections for riders without access to
fixed-route service or an alternative mode of transportation.
Figure 4-3 Smaller Demand Response Vehicle Used for Senior Transportation
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Flex/Deviated Fixed-Route
Flex or Deviated Fixed-Route service operates as a hybrid
between fixed-route and demand response service. This
service type typically operates with smaller, cutaway bus
vehicles and operates along a fixed route, but makes
deviations within a certain distance from the fixed-route
alignment to pick up additional passengers. Deviations
are typically prearranged with reservations similar to
demand response service. Allowing route deviations
fulfills ADA requirements for the service type.
Flex service may be an appropriate service type for areas
in Orange County with moderate population and
employment density that may not support full fixed-route
service.
Zone Service
Zone service is a reservation-based Dial-a-Ride service
that operates within specific geographic areas during
specific times or certain days of the week. This service
type can provide door-to-door transportation service within their designated zone or make pick-
ups and drop-offs at designated areas to provide connections to established fixed-route services.
Figure 4-5 Zone Service Example from Mason County, WA
Figure 4-4 Example of a Flex Service Alignment
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Van Programs
Vanpool
Vanpools are subsidized ridesharing programs for groups with similar commute patterns.
Vanpools are generally self-organized but may receive assistance from an employer to oversee
vanpool formation. Vans, which are owned or administered by the transit agency, are provided to
the vanpool for individual members to operate as vanpool drivers. Individual fares may vary
based on mileage and the number of riders participating in the vanpool. Vanpools may be an
appropriate service type for areas with sufficient travel demand but low residential densities.
Figure 4-6 Existing GoTriangle Vanpool Vehicle
Community Van Programs
In Community Van Programs, vans are leased directly to qualifying non-profit or government
agencies, which use the vans to provide transportation services to their individual constituencies.
These programs are designed to enhance economic development and enable social service
functions within the community. Potential agencies that would use Community Van Programs
could include human service agencies, the Orange County Department on Aging, and the Orange
County Department of Social Services.
Worker/Driver Programs
Worker/Driver Programs are premium commuter services in which an employee is trained as a
bus operator to transport other employees to and from their employment site using an agency
vehicle. This service type requires accommodations for bus storage during the day and may be an
appropriate service type for large employers. Worker/Driver Programs to serve the Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard in Washington State provide a successful example of this type of program.
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Volunteer Driver Programs
Volunteer Driver Programs provide agency funding for volunteer drivers to provide
transportation to friends, family members, or neighbors. These drivers can be reimbursed at a per
mile rate and may be organized to provide service to specific customers (seniors, people with
disabilities, limited income, human service agency clients) or the general public.
Figure 4-7 Volunteer Driver Programs May Provide a Variety of Services
Transportation Vouchers
Transportation vouchers are a method to subsidize the cost of a ride, regardless of service type.
These programs may be used to reduce the cost of fixed-route, dial-a-ride, or paratransit services
for vulnerable populations. Voucher programs are commonly used to supplement or serve as
paratransit service. The Taxi Scrip program in King County, WA, for example, provides a 50%
discount on select local taxi companies for eligible low-income seniors and people with
disabilities.
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Ride Share Partnership
Ride share partnerships are organizational agreements for the agency to provide passenger
subsidies with a specific ride share or taxi company (e.g. Lyft, Uber, local taxi company). These
partnerships could fill service gaps in low-density areas of Orange County, but may still be more
expensive for passengers than other service types.
There is potential for accessibility and equity issues regarding ride share partnerships since not all
vehicles are capable of transporting people with disabilities, low rated passengers must still be
picked up, and there are barriers for potential riders who are unbanked or don’t own a
smartphone. Existing ride share partnership case studies are primarily in urban areas, so the
effectiveness of this strategy in a rural setting is still largely unknown.
Figure 4-8 Ride Share Partnerships Could Fill Service Gaps in Low-Density Areas of Orange County
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5 SERVICE PRIORITIZATION
The rural nature of much of Orange County necessitates a refined approach to providing transit
based on limited resources and the diverse needs of the community. As such, recommendations
identified for OPT identify and prioritize rural services that combine to provide a transit network
designed for local operating conditions. The prioritized recommendations described in this
chapter are intended to provide the maximum benefit within current funding levels and make
improvements should additional funding become available.
PRIORITIZATION PROCESS
To provide successful transit service in rural areas, a “family of services” approach is
recommended to tailor transit service to specific rider needs and Orange County’s low-density
operating environment. Providing rural service cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach;
additionally, available funding is a constraint that can limit the level and type of service provided.
In Orange County, transit improvements must be carefully considered to provide the most cost
effective benefits and form a complete system to best meet the needs of the community.
Recommended improvements for OPT were prioritized to provide access to jobs from rural areas,
respond to public feedback by expanding service hours and improving frequency on existing
routes, and improving connections between Mebane, Efland, and Hillsborough. A summary of
these improvements is provided in Figure 5-1.
Van programs and zone service are prioritized first as low-cost strategies for providing
connections to jobs and services from rural areas. Improving local circulation and connections
between key destinations that are capable of supporting fixed-route transit emerged as the next
priorities. After providing connections to Alamance County and improving service in
Hillsborough, improving the frequency and service span of existing services to provide all day
connections between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill are a priority. Finally, should sufficient
resources become available, providing new fixed-route services between additional key
destinations including Durham, Cedar Grove, and White Cross, as well as improving transit
amenities in Hillsborough, round out the identified priorities and transit improvement strategies
for the OPT system.
The proposed system map is shown in Figure 5-2. The remainder of the chapter describes each of
the recommended improvements in additional detail, as well as providing cost estimates for each
service type.
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Figure 5-1 OPT Service Prioritization Summary
Improvement Description Funded
1 Regional Vanpool
Program
Expand GoTriangle vanpool program to other areas of Orange County,
provide marketing and subsidies
Yes
2 Community Van
Program
Lease vans to non-profits and government agencies to provide access to
social services in the community
Yes
3 Zone Services Three demand response zones operating two days per week for five hours Yes
4 Hillsborough
Circulator
Continue to provide service that operates hourly on weekdays from 8:00 AM
to 5:00 PM
Yes
5 Orange-Alamance
Connector
Alter alignment to provide bi-directional service on US 70 between
Hillsborough, Efland, and Mebane
Yes
6 Orange-Chapel Hill
Midday Connector
Continue to provide service that operates hourly on weekdays from 9:45 AM
to 3:50 PM
Yes
7 Vanpool Subsidy
Program
Provide additional vanpool subsidy for Orange County residents No
8 Expand
Hillsborough
Circulator Service
Expand service span and frequency on existing route to operate Monday to
Saturday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
No
9 Additional
Hillsborough
Circulator Route
Alternative alignment for the Hillsborough Circulator with two partially
overlapping loops
No
10 Improve Zone
Services
Improve service on the three demand response zones to operate on all
weekdays from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
No
11 Hillsborough-
Durham Connector
New fixed-route service between Hillsborough and Durham with connections
to the Duke VA Hospital operating hourly on weekdays between 9:00 AM
and 4:00 PM
No
12 Cedar Grove Peak
Connector
New peak only fixed-route service between Hillsborough and Cedar Grove
on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM
No
13 White Cross
Commuter Service
New peak only fixed-route service between Chapel Hill and White Cross
operating on weekdays between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM and between 3:30
PM and 6:30 PM
No
14 Transit Amenities New transit amenities in Hillsborough including a new transfer center and a
new park-and-ride facility
No
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Figure 5-2 Proposed OPT System Map
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Regional Vanpool Programs
This recommendation would expand
the existing vanpool program, which is
currently operated through GoTriangle,
by funding a pilot program to subsidize
vanpools for Orange County residents.
Vans would be provided to self-
organized vanpool groups based on
common origins and destinations.
Funding marketing initiatives through
major employers or community
organizations is a key strategy for
raising awareness of the program and
encouraging users to participate.
Vanpool programs would provide
alternative commute modes for Orange County residents without adding significant operating
costs for the agency. Annual costs per van range from approximately $13,000 to $20,000,
depending on the size of the van and the distance travelled by the vanpool. GoTriangle currently
provides annual subsidies of $3,600 to $4,800 per van, and offering an additional subsidy for
Orange County residents would help make the service more attractive to new users.
Community Van Programs
Similar to regional vanpool
programs, community van
programs are a low cost
method for improving access
to jobs and services from rural
areas by providing a
supplemental service to
enhance accessibility. This
recommendation would call
for OPT to provide low-cost
capital improvements in the
form of vans, which would be
leased to government agencies
and non-profit groups in the community. In effect, this program would create partnerships with
community organizations including senior centers, social service agencies, and other non-profit
organizations to provide transportation options for their members or constituencies. By
purchasing and maintaining a small fleet of leased vans, OPT can help provide connections to
vital services for the community without adding significant operating costs.
Demand Response Zones
It is recommended that demand response service be operated in three distinct zones in rural areas
of the county in order to fill in service gaps left by van programs. There is currently funding
available to operate service in these zones two days per week for five hours per day with one
vehicle. This level of service provides connections for transit dependent populations; however,
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expanding service in these zones to operate five days per week between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM is a
priority should additional funding become available in the future. Vehicles would respond to
requested trips for passengers within their service zone. Depending on funding availability, trips
can be door-to-door or used to provide access to fixed-route service.
Figure 5-3 Demand Response Zones
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Fixed-Route Service
Hillsborough Circulator
The existing Hillsborough Circulator route, which currently operates hourly from 8:00 AM to
5:00 PM Monday-Friday, could have expanded hours and operate every 30 minutes from 7:00
AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, if additional funding became available. Additional
information about alignment modifications proposed for the existing Hillsborough Circulator can
be found in the change sheets in Appendix B.
Improvements to the Hillsborough Circulator are highly supported by riders. This route would
continue to provide connections to multiple park-and-ride lots, including the Durham Tech Park-
and-Ride and the future Hillsborough Park-and-Ride. The improved route would have a total
estimated annual cost of $416,000.
Figure 5-4 Hillsborough Circulator
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Orange-Alamance Connector
The Orange-Alamance Connector is a fixed-route service operating along US-70 between Mebane,
Efland, and Hillsborough. The existing Orange-Alamance Connector route currently operates
every 60 minutes between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday-Friday and provides westbound
service on US-70 and eastbound service on I-40. Additional information about alignment
modifications proposed for the existing Orange-Alamance Connector can be found in the change
sheets in Appendix B.
This route would be improved to provide bi-directional service on US-70 operating every 60
minutes from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Expanding the hours of service on
this route will help coordinate with recommended changes to GoTriangle Route ODX, which
proposes to realign service to use I-85 and I-40 instead of US-70. This route would provide access
to Alamance County residents via the Mebane Cone Health Park-and-Ride, provide all-day service
to Efland, and would have a total estimated annual cost of $189,000.
Figure 5-5 Orange-Alamance Connector
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Additional Hillsborough Circulator Route
The Hillsborough Circulator would be altered to create two separate overlapping loops with
transfer opportunities at Walmart and downtown Hillsborough. The proposed loops would
operate every 60 minutes between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
Figure 5-6 Additional Hillsborough Circulator Route
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Orange-Chapel Hill Connector
The existing Orange-Chapel Hill Connector would be continued so that, in conjunction with
GoTriangle Route 420, there is all-day service between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. This route
would continue to provide midday fixed-route service along US 86 between Chapel Hill,
Hillsborough, and Cedar Grove, operating every 60 minutes from 9:45 AM until 3:50 PM,
Monday through Friday. This route provides connections to multiple park-and-ride lots, including
the Durham Tech Park-and-Ride and the future Hillsborough Park-and-Ride. This route has a
total estimated annual cost of $131,000.
Figure 5-7 Orange-Chapel Hill Connector
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Hillsborough-Durham Connector
The Hillsborough-Durham Connector would provide a new fixed-route service operating on I-85
between Hillsborough and Durham with connections to Duke University and the Duke VA
Hospital. This route would provide midday service, operating every 60 minutes between 9:00 AM
and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This route would combine with GoTriangle’s peak only
Route ODX to provide all-day connections between Hillsborough and Durham on weekdays from
6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. This route would have a total estimated annual cost of $102,000.
Figure 5-8 Hillsborough-Durham Connector
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Cedar Grove Peak Connector
The Cedar Grove Peak Connector would provide a new peak service option between Cedar Grove
and Chapel Hill. This route would operate every 60 minutes from 6:00 AM until 9:00 AM and
from 3:30 PM until 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The Cedar Grove Peak Connector would
combine with GoTriangle’s Route 420 to provide peak period connections between Chapel Hill,
Hillsborough, and Cedar Grove. Additionally, these two routes would work in conjunction with
the Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector to provide all day service between Chapel Hill,
Hillsborough, and Cedar Grove. This route would have a total estimated annual cost of $94,000.
Figure 5-9 Cedar Grove Peak Connector
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White Cross Commuter Service
There is potential for a new park-and-ride lot in White Cross with connecting commuter service to
Chapel Hill. Regional growth is expected to continue in Alamance County and Chatham County,
increasing travel demand for trips entering Chapel Hill from the NC 54 West corridor. Pursuing
this strategy would require collaboration between OPT, Chapel Hill Transit (CHT), and Piedmont
Authority for Regional Transit (PART), and/or GoTriangle. This route would operate every 60
minutes from 6:30 AM until 9:30 AM and from 3:30 PM until 6:30 PM Monday through Friday
with a total estimated annual cost of $218,000. Additional capital costs would be required to
construct and maintain a physical park-and-ride lot.
Figure 5-10 White Cross Commuter Service
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Additional Transit Amenities
This recommendation involves constructing a new transfer center and park-and-ride lot in
downtown Hillsborough to serve existing and potential new fixed-route services. The new transfer
center would provide a location for bus layover and make it easier for passengers to transfer to
potential new routes serving downtown Hillsborough and the rest of Orange County. A new park-
and-ride lot in Hillsborough would be accessed by a variety of existing and proposed routes,
including the Hillsborough Circulator, the Orange-Chapel Hill Connector, and the Cedar Grove
Peak Connector.
Figure 5-11 Additional Transit Amenities
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IMPLEMENTATION
Implementing all of these recommended services would come with increased capital and
operating costs. Existing OPT service cots approximately $540,000 annually, and implementing
all of these improvements would result in more than $1 million in additional annual costs. These
improvements would also require up to seven new vehicles and the construction of a new transfer
center.
To balance the financial wellbeing of the agency, it is important to prioritize these improvements
accordingly and invest in new services in the event of an increase in funding availability, as shown
in Figure 5-12 and Figure 5-13.
Figure 5-12 Improvement Prioritization and Annual Operating Cost within Existing Budget
Feasible within Existing Budget
Priority
Number Project Type Description Frequency
Total
Annual
Revenue
Hours
Total
Annual
Operating
Cost
Peak
Vehicles
1 Vanpool
Programs
Continue coordination with
GoTriangle to support
vanpools
----
2 Community Van
Programs
Provide low-cost van leases
to qualifying nonprofit and
government agencies to
promote access to social
services
----
3 Zone Services
Operate three zones for five
hours two days per week - 1,560 $90,480 1
4 Hillsborough
Circulator
Operate every 60 minutes
from 8am-5pm on weekdays 60 2,250 $130,500 1
5
Orange-
Alamance
Connector
Operate every 60 minutes
from 10am-3pm on weekdays 60 3,250 $188,500 1
6
Orange-Chapel
Hill Midday
Connector
Operate every 60 minutes
from 9:45am-3:50pm on
weekdays
60 2,250 $130,500 2
Total 9,310 $539,980 5
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Figure 5-13 Improvement Prioritization and Annual Operating Cost Requiring Additional Funding
Additional Resources Required
Priority
Number Project Type Description Frequency
Additional
Annual
Revenue
Hours
Additional
Annual
Operating
Cost
Additional
Peak
Vehicles
7 Expand Vanpool
Programs
Allocate $150,000 to
subsidize new vanpools for
Orange County residents,
including supporting
marketing
- - $150,000 -
8
Expand
Hillsborough
Circulator service
Operate every 30 minutes
from 7am-8pm Monday to
Saturday
30 4,926 $285,708 1
9
Additional
Hillsborough
Circulator
Operate two overlapping
loops every 60 minutes
from 8am-5:30 pm
60 1,750 $101,500 1
10 Improve Zone
Services
Operate from 7am-6pm on
weekdays - 6,690 $388,020 2
11
Hillsborough-
Durham
Connector
Operate every 60 minutes
from 9am-4pm on
weekdays
60 1,750 $101,500 1
12 Cedar Grove
Peak Connector
Operate every 60 minutes
from 6am-9am and
3:30pm-7pm on weekdays
60 1,625 $94,250 1
13
White Cross
Commuter
Service
Operate every 60 minutes
from 6:30am-9:30am and
3:30pm-6:30pm on
weekdays; additional
capital costs would be
required to construct and
maintain a physical park-
and-ride lot
60 1,500 $87,000 1
14 Additional Transit
Amenities
New transit amenities in
Hillsborough including a
new transfer center and a
new park-and-ride facility
----
Total 18,241 $1,207,978 7
Appendix A Open-Ended Comments
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PHASE I OUTREACH
OPT Users – Are there any areas, currently not served by the bus, where you would like to see service
added?
I train people to ride buses. Between the East Gate CH area and Timberlyne Weaver Dairy Rd area. Erwin Rd. Also
more bus service in Weaver Dairy Area.
Should have bus shuttle from CH-C to Hillsborough and vice versa for BOCC meetings; also, transit to airport and
Amtrak in Raleigh
Briarcliff across Fordham Blvd, also along Willow Dr., as 10 years ago. Even just a few times a day would help,
reduce EZRider needs. The senior shuttle helps, but it doesn't drop off downtown on Franklin. Also even a shuttle
say at 10:00am on SUN at Harris Teeter, that returned back around 3pm, from downtown would be great. Or senior
shuttle on Saturday to Seymour, the usual route. I know it might be expensive, thanks for continuing it.
Stop closer to Burlington vs mebane
I would like to see the OPT connect more often with the CH 420 route. Would like to see the OPT expand its
service hours so the 2 bus systems can work together.
More routes in Hillsborough
For Hillsborough, you should consider reaching more area maybe in conunction with OPT
Just please make sure that the afternoon 420 stops at mason farm. I have missed so many stops there because
driver says its not a stop and I have to wait on next bus. My knees are bad and I cant run to the next stop on
manning.
We need more service in northern orange
bus drivers that know how to drive and not always slamming on brakes. Also be on time and not early or late to bus
stops
Hillsborough on the weekend
Any place NCDOT has meetings should be accessible by transit. Garner should be off the list and their Birch Ridge
Drive offices in Raleigh are very difficult to reach
Southwest Cary and Apex
I would suggest having the Orange Co circulars go by both Orange High School and Cedar Ridge High School. Not
all parents can afford cars for their teenagers and if the transit serviced the high schools it might help with students
going to work or the library
Would like to see a way to connect to other transportation hubs such as the Amtrak station in Raleigh, and more
direct and later/earlier service to the airport.
Better connections to Seymour Center
NEW HOPE COMMONS -- BOTH SIDES ---- Need added BUS service and/or Transfer Connection to Walmart &
stores to/from Chapel Hill
More frequent pick-ups to/from park and ride lots in Hillsborough
Northern Orange County
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-3
OPT Users – Do you have any additional comments about bus service?
It's wonderful, seniors love the access, the EZRider. Just the people who live in Briarcliff feel stranded now, I think
they did a bus use survey over the semester break one year - like Christmas time - less users since students were
gone, faculty/staff away. There are some folks that sleep on the bus/shuttle from assisted living and homeless
ones, that ride around, wet the seats, spill things, drool and also get angry or talk too loud. The drivers and police
sometimes work it out, it's been more quiet lately. The EZRider drivers are always really pleasant, very much
appreciated - trips to Walmart are essential really, along with groceries, and weekends. If the EZrider started at
10:00am or there was some kind of shuttle we could use it to get to church more often (not just home from
services). But we are happy with what we have!!!!
Need better buses.
For Hillsborough, need more covered bus stops and maybe a few more bus stops to be added. The bus schedules
should coincide more in line with the OPT and vice versa. For example if the OPT started its morning schedule 1
hour earlier and met up at Durham Tech and then in the evenings if the OPT ran 1 hour longer and met up with the
Durham Tech schedule I could walk from my home to the nearest bus stop for OPT and catch that bus to Durham
Tech and then catch the Chapel Hill Transit into campus. I know there are others that do not live too far from me
that could probably do the same, but have to drive to either home depot or durham tech to catch the bus.
just dissatisfied with the bus not stopping at 3:40 or 3:45 at mason farm and then I have to wait for the 4:10 bus
We need parking in northern orange.
Special thanks to all our wonderful bus drivers!
It's good you're doing surveys. This area needs to improve bus services
would prefer to see transit tax used on bus service and incentives to not drive over using it for LRT
I wish the town would clear the major bus stops when it snows instead of piling all the snow on top of them!
In most cities in the USA, the population who usually takes public transportation fall into the category of retired, low
income, laborers, individuals who can't afford to own a car or pay for Uber, taxi service, etc. I am included in this
group. We welcome any/all improvements.
Parking offered in northern Orange County for park and ride would be great
Please email kelly.gallagher@unc.edu when the stops at the Chapel Hill YMCA on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd and
the stop at MLK and Airport Rd are active. Thanks so much for approving these! I finally like using the Orange
County system and encourage my friends to use them, too.
love the bus.
More weekend service please - primarily on Saturday
Love riding the bus except when A/C on because it's either freezing or too hot!
Great service. We need a P&R in north Hillsborough. Speaker on bus 1203 in the afternoon is TOO LOUD though it
is fine at other times. Someone is turning it WAY TOO LOUD.
I know other 420 riders need that park and ride north of Hillsborough. I wish the stops on Churton Street were both
in front of Weaver Street!
no
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-4
Additional Comments
Are there any areas, currently not served by the bus, where you would like to see service added?
Mason Farm Rd
We need more service to/from Carrboro Plaza P&R during the weekdays and we need Sunday bus service in
Carrboro and Chapel Hill so folks who have transportation challenges can go to church and shop in downtown
Chapel Hill. The local churches would support Sunday morning bus service to help people get to church and the
local businesses would be helped if people could stay in town for lunch/shopping/a movie/visit Ackland Museum etc.
and still be able to take bus back to Carrboro Plaza and other P&R locations in the mid-afternoon. A small fee could
be charged for a Sunday-only bus pass, if necessary, to help support the service.
I don't know the current service areas. Would to see North Orange County stops.
Additional stops and service in Northern Orange.
The main issue is that the daily schedule is just too varied for public transit.
I live in Bingham Township and don't have public transit in my area at all.
More in Northern Orange County. Actually anything in Northern Orange County.
Apex needs a more direct route to Wake Tech Community College. If I took it from where I live it would take over 2
hours to get to school. I don't have a car and have to carpool (note: schedule my classes around theirs), but by
driving it takes about 20-25 mins--which is a big time difference.
Atlantic Avenue, Raleigh
no
Cotton St./Lindsay St.
more east/west routes would be helpful (e.g. across Estes); botanical gardens;
Eastgate!
US 70 in Hillsborough and Downtown Hillsborough with connections to Durham
No, I think coverage is pretty good.
South of Southern Village (Smith level road)
Calvander area - Dairyland into Carrboro or Chapel Hill
Yes, I'd like for the bus to come to Richmond Hill
Efland to Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Durham
OC Schools
My area is served but due to working hours at the hospital (7am-7pm) the bus schedule does not work.
Duke Campus
Direct Chapel Hill to RDU including late evening, early am and Sundays
Direct line to RDU
It would be nice to have a Mebane or Efland stop
If there was a closer park and ride lot where I do not have to travel through the town of Hillsborough. I come in on
highway 86. It used to be where they could park at the old Maxway, but it was sold and the new owners will not
allowing parking there. It would serve better if I did not have to get tangled up in all of the traffic in the downtown
area.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-5
Are there any areas, currently not served by the bus, where you would like to see service added?
Mebane
Pittsboro
No
Botanical Gardens
Direct to RTP
Direct routes from Chapel Hill to RDU
Morgan Creek/Kings Mill neighborhood of Chapel Hill
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-6
Do you have any additional comments about bus service?
Need safe bus stops on Fordham Blvd and protected crosswalks (i.e. stop lights activated by pedestrians, not a nice
note encouraging car to stop if they feel like it).
I've ridden the bus to work at UNC from Carrboro since 1996. I like riding the bus but I wish there were more CW or
CPX buses in the middle of the day and Sunday bus service into town (downtown Carrboro and downtown Chapel
Hill) during the morning and afternoon so I could go to church more easily and stay to have lunch and/or shop or go
to a movie at the Varsity. North Carrboro is growing and we need more service times and routes generally.
More information about services are needed for the public. We don't have have information or knowledge about the
existing services in the area. More trips to areas of need are needed, particularly Northern Orange County.
Please consider more direct routes.
no
N/A
The bus service is excellent! Bus drivers are professional and friendly, and it mostly fits my needs. The down side
is that if I have to work late, I get stuck at work because the route only runs an hours. Also need more cross walks
to make it safer to cross MLK to reach the bus stop. It's very dangerous at the north part of town.
We really need better Weekend and holiday service!
It is disheartening to see so may FCX buses pass me by as I am waiting for the S bus. I know part and ride
participants are now having to pay a few and parking is no longer free for them but I pay taxes in Chapel Hill which
helps support Chapel Hill transit. I feel like the commuters from outside of Chapel Hill are treated better than the
people that live in Chapel Hill.
If there was a bus stop near us we'd definitely use it!
On Question 7: Much of my driving is to places not served or I have multiple stops to make in multiple locations /
times.
Please help to provide service later in the evening for nurses and others that work shift to be able to ride the bus.
Missing the 7:45pm bus and having to wait an hour for the next bus does not work.
Please install the BRT and feeder routes as soon as possible
I love the bus(es) that I ride. The only issue is if then is rain/hot/cold the bus will run late. We have had to stand in
the pouring rain, thunder and lightening for over 30 minutes when the bus is late with no explanation as to why. I
know that traffic can be delay it for a few but some days, we can be out there long enough for the next 2 buses to
run but they are late as well or the 5:15 never shows. Also, another shelter at the Manning drive stop would be
wonderful and maybe help in those times of bad weather for us to not be soaking wet.
Would enjoy extended daytime hours of the B route as well as later hours for the RU and U routes
Very frustrating when transponder isn't working. Have been standing at bus stop when bus arrives and board
shows 5 minutes to bus and bus left early or other times when bus wasn't tracking on the board
Would still have to drive to bus stop by house; nothing close enough to walk and no sidewalks of I wanted to walk.
Work in Durham
Smoking should not be allowed at bus stops.
love the bus, but it only runs once an hour during the times I ride. It causes anxiety and am always rushing to make
sure I don't miss it.
no
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-7
Do you have any additional comments about bus service?
Sunday bus service in Carrboro would be great (e.g. CW route). Just because it is the weekend doesn't mean that
people don't have places to be. Weekend J route service would also be helpful for getting around town. As a
graduate student, me schedule is often unpredictable, and sometimes I need to go to my office on campus on the
weekend. Currently, it's difficult to plan out those trips with 1 hour headways on the CW.
more frequent time offerings would be helpful for commuter bus riding options. every 15 minutes would be ideal as
opposed to the every 30 minutes current schedule
the J has been running 10 minutes late. the CM sometimes comes early. this causes a lot of scheduling issues.
Make it more frequent!
Adding CCX service starting somewhere between 5 and 5:30 AM would make my life better and would mean that I
don't have to drive to campus three days a week for morning workouts and then drive immediately back ebcause I
can't legally park after 7 AM.
Love that the buses are free. We moved here from Boston where we spent over $150/month on transit, and it's
incredible to have such a great service free of charge.
I used to take the bus from the park and ride at Southpoint to UNC campus and I liked it, but it took longer and I
needed to go to the doctor 3 mornings a week. I got an on campus parking permit, but I moved closer to campus
and am now on the 805 route, but the stop is a bit of a walk from my house. I'm contemplating giving up my parking
permit due to cost and taking the bus again.
I used to ride the go triangle bus, had to stop when I had children.
Some of your drivers are very rude. Your service has downgraded to poor in some areas, especially the drivers.
do not like the new seats on the bus that are green color too small and hard to sit on. the ODX becoming very
crowed suggest adding another bus at busy times
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-8
PHASE II OUTREACH
Help us identify how we might transform our system in the future. Pick the top five improvements you’d like
us to focus on. (Comments)
The Hillsborough Circulator is rushed. The Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector should have a sign at Sportsplex.
The Orange-Alamance Connector needs more riders.
Add bike racks on all buses.
I want more hours on the Hillsborough Circulator.
I want more hours on the Hillsborough Connector.
Stop at BK, in front of Home Depot! Thank you!
Add Bentley Wood stop to replace the Timbers stop.
A bus from Hillsborough to Chapel Hill would more than double the employment and entertainment opportunities for
residents. Each of the other connectors would increase options significantly. But my highest priorities aren't included
on the list: night and weekend service between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, and increased bus frequency between
Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. Hillsborough's a lovely town but it doesn't offer any entertainment for kids and teens
who can't drive, and Chapel Hill is inaccessible during the hours they have free, likewise employment options are
severely curtailed if one can only work narrow weekday hours. In the absence of affordable housing in Chapel Hill
increased bus service would help keep more young and old people independent.
I keep tooting your horn in hopes that Chapel Hill Transit will get a wiff of what your cooking. Chapel Hill transit feels
that those of us without vehicle's don't need to go to church on Sunday's.; I have been singing the praises of OPT
for a while now. It's not so much that I need the transportation, I do. But I really enjoy the ride. You have great
accommodating staff. Wish you ran on the weekends.
Please consider making connections between the circulator and the 420 and ODX route. This would mean running
the circulator earlier and later to make connections with the 420 and ODX.
The zone and community van programs help make transit more accessible while allowing focus on efficient routes.
I would like to see the improved transportation timing so that if a commuter missed the Go Triangle/PART bus in
Mebane, they could catch the O-A connector and Hillsborouh Circulator to get to the Go Triangle stop at DTCC
Hillsborough Campus.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-9
GoTriangle Orange-Durham Online Survey General Comments (Relevant to OPT Service)
I use the ODX and I would love to have the bus run every 30 minutes during times of operation.
Thank you for keeping the ODX route with pick up at Durham Tech in Hillsborough (instead of a route through
northern Hillsborough/US70) and for increasing the service to every 30 minutes.
The lack of a bus route from Durham to downtown Hillsborough would be a loss. ODX has limited utility to me
generally but it would have zero utility if it didn't go to the heart of H'boro.
Really love the ODX Go Triangle Bus, but would really like more frequent times during the day and evening to
accommodate more people.
Need lighting at Cone Health stop because it is pitch black and dangerous.
Extend service hours on the 420 so nurses and other hospital workers who work 12 hour shifts can take the bus.
Perhaps an earlier bus arriving at 6:30 am at UNC hospitals and a later bus leaving UNC hospitals around 7:30 pm.
Route 420 (Chapel Hill / Hillsborough)
Great that there's arrivals at Weaver Street Market-Hillsborough just before 8am and a half hour before that.
Not one county/town employee regularly takes the 420 from downtown Hillsborough at 5pm. Not one!
Bus leaves the Hillsborough PD at 4:55pm & 5:30pm. INSTEAD, people will use it if the bus leaves Weaver Street
Market-Hillsborough at 5:05pm & 5:30pm. Hagee that southbound bus leave ten minutes later and 100 yards
south. Yes, there is space on the west side of 226 South Churton Street for a bus stop.
If you are going to change the 420 to only have the Durham Tech lot for parking, you need to increase the size a
LOT! As it is right now, that lot if full by the time the bus leaving at 7:45am arrives. If you take away Home Depot
and others, there will be no spots. Some folks have trouble walking the distance too from the back of the lot.
I like the proposed change to ODX. there is increasing ridership on that route so the 30 minute schedule at peak
would be great. BTW I really like the stop at Orange County Durham Tech Campus so I hope you maintain that
stop. It is closer to my house than the old stop off of 70.
I see that a N. Hillsborough stop is still planned for the ODX. I would benefit from having this stop added sooner,
rather than later.
I think the proposed changes to route 420 are very wise. The trip will be faster and safer. Eliminating the left turn
onto 86 from Durham Tech will make it safer for sure.
The only heavily used stop we'll lose is the Home Depot stop but that one is unsafe with people crossing in heavy
traffic often in the dark. I'm sure some won't like losing that stop but they will be safer for sure.
On the downside, I'll wager we'll have traffic issues on 40 from time to time. I remember seeing traffic backed up on
40 and being glad we weren't going that way.
I have ridden route 420 since the FIRST DAY on January 3, 2006. It is a great service and a good community of
riders.
Route 420: I see a lot of people waiting to get on, and off, the bus at the Home Depot bus stop. This plan
completely eliminates that stop. The Park & Ride lot at Durham tech is mostly full during the week so one fear is
that the people migrating to the Durham Tech Park & Ride will cause the parking lot to be over full and have people
parking in Durham Tech spots. With possible parking traffic from the new subdivision, the lot would need to be
expanded to accommodate the expanded ridership coming from Durham Tech. Leaving the Home Depot stop
would be a better option as it gives time to consider the impact of the new subdivision on the Park & Ride lot and
how to address any potential needs.
I think the proposed changes to 420 route are spot on!! without benefit of traffic lights or crossing lanes, the
commute has gotten more dangerous and delayed as the buses have had to cross opposing traffic lanes. By using
old 86 and then moving over to I40, you are maintaining a much more streamlined route. And though the Home
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-10
GoTriangle Orange-Durham Online Survey General Comments (Relevant to OPT Service)
Depot p/u and drop off is no longer, i think it is considerably more safer because there is no designated crosswalk
for pedestrians there. May have to consider enlarging the Durham Tech Park and Ride or asking UNC Hospitals for
a few spaces
What about a route to Efland and Chapel Hill. Now I have to catch the ODX from Efland, travel to Mebane and
then get off in Hillsborough in the mornings to catch the 420. The evenings I catch the 420 to Hillsborough and then
catch a ride to Efland. I have no car of my own and it makes it hard on people like me to get to and from work.
Consider a 420 bus to Efland.
We need the Home Depot stop on Hwy 86! Many individuals who live in Northern Orange County (i.e., north of I-
40) use this stop. Having to drive to the Durham Tech park & ride is difficult particularly when the primary schools
are in session (Aug - June - almost the entire year). In addition, the Durham Tech park & ride lot is already full and
having to struggle with traffic in addition to searching for a parking space would require leaving home approximately
20 to 30 minutes earlier than already.
Regular, long-time rider of the 420 route here. It would be *so* great if this bus ran every 20 minutes instead of
every 30 at least for part of the time maybe between 7-9am and 4:30-6.
I would hate to lose the option to catch the bus at Home Depot. Traffic from the north and west part of Hillsborough
to Durham Tech Park & Ride is so congested when school's in session! Not sure if the proposed new route takes
away the Home Depot bus stop or not. Thanks for all you do!!
I think it makes sense for the 420 bus to go on I 40
I ride the 420. Are we still going to be able to park at Home Depot? There are not enough parking spaces as if is at
Durham Tech
420 bus route:
Do not eliminate service on Hwy 86 & keep the Home Depot, Middle School, Allen&Sons stops!
I am also concerned about all the accidents and traffic jams on I-40. Also, traveling on I-40 without seat belts is not
safe!
I am proposing that Route 420 keeps the current route, because of the convenience for those commuters that live
close to the Home Depot stop.
420 (Hillsborough-Chapel Hill) - I am not in favor of the route change. Even though I-40 allows has a higher speed
limit than NC 86, it also has more traffic and backups than NC-86. Most of the traffic that the buses have on NC-86
is from Chapel Hill to I-40, which will not change with the new route.
Eliminating Home Depot stop and future development may quickly max out parking at Durham Tech Park n Ride.
By 7:45 am only the last "tier" of parking is left. We haven't met anyone riding from the new Waterstone townhomes
but there are several people who live in the apartments and townhomes just north of Waterstone drive who are now
taking the bus. Also, it would be grand if the 420 northbound could stop first at the Courthouse across from
Weaver Street to pick up passengers. Finally, can the Orange County mid-day bus start earlier?
I ride the 420 route every day. I like the proposed changes.
We need a route in Orange County for the northern commuters to take the ODX to Duke University. As it stands
now, the ODX services people on the south part of Hillsborough. It’s not fair that Carrboro and Chapel Hill
transit offers more to commuters than Hillsborough.
Hillsborough riders are being left out. Changing both the 420 and ODX routed to I40/I85 means we now need to
drive further to get to the pick up locations for the CRX or DRX.
If the 420 could stop at the Eubanks park and ride, Hillsborough riders could catch the CRX to downtown Raleigh.
Depending on the new park and ride for the ODX, it might be easier to catch the DRX to downtown Raleigh but it
will depend on the schedules. Right now I am driving from north/west Hillsborough to park at the Eubanks Park and
Ride to catch the CRX which adds about 25 minutes to my commute. I know there are other Hillsborough riders
going to Raleigh.
OPT Short Range Transit Plan
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | A-11
GoTriangle Orange-Durham Online Survey General Comments (Relevant to OPT Service)
420 customers would love a better connection to the CRX for a quicker trip to Raleigh.
Additional service on ODX.
ODX and DRX (more ODX times and better connections with DRX)
ODX and 420 (for someone wanting to go from Mebane to UNC)
Hillsborough (Orange Co circulator) with Durham Tech P&R to connect with ODX and 420 (only the first AM
circulator could possibly connect with the 420 to CH and not at all with the ODX to Durham; PM the first afternoon
420 might be able to connect with the last circualtor, not possible for ODX Connection.
Think of route connections PART and CRX at North Capel Hill. Make a stop on MLK and Perkins at Harris Teeter
for CRX to make a connection for PART and 420 so riders can connect without going all the way down to
Franklin/Roosevelt bus stop.
420 bus service on weekends for weekend workers
Longer hours for 420 nurses and other hospital workers working 12 hour shifts from 6am through 7.30pm
North Hillsborough Park and Ride to replace the old Maxway shopping center park and ride is well past due.
A crosswalk with flashing lights for traffic control on NC 86 for bus riders at Home Depot and the new sheetz.
If 420 changes to Churton to I-40, then a stop added on Churton at Orange Grove Rd/St for new Collins Ridge
development.
Bus stop at Weaver St store on Churton going south to Home Depot /Durham Tech. That way people could park in
the parking deck and easily and conveniently catch the bus going to UNC in the morning.
I want a direct trip from Hillsborough to the RTC to connect to RTP.
Chapel Hill Transit after-hours phone number or extended hours after 5:00 PM. Extend hours to 6:30 or 7 PM to
cover evening commute potential problems.
Very much in favor of the proposed increased frequency of ODX from 60 min to 30 min!
I ride the 420 bus from Hillsborough to Chapel Hill and I would like to see stops and buses increased on this route.
Hillsborough is growing rapidly and I don't think that the 420 route is positioned to deal with the increasing needs of
the area.
Appendix B Change Sheets
Short-Range Transit Plan
Hillsborough Circulator
Route type: Operator:
Local Circulator OPT
Existing Proposed
Hillsborough Circulator Hillsborough Circulator
Span of Service
Weekday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday -- --
Sunday -- --
Frequency Buses depart every: Buses depart every:
Weekday
AM Peak 60 minutes 60 minutes
Midday 60 60
PM Peak 60 60
Evening -- --
Saturday -- --
Sunday -- --
Related capital investments:
N/A
Related service investments:
N/A
Project overview: The Hillsborough Circulator
connects major origins and destinations throughout
the Town of Hillsborough with 60-minute service
between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through
Friday. This route provides connections to locations
such as Weaver Street Market, Hillsborough
Historic Courthouse, Hillsborough Commons, and
Durham Technical Community College. Minor
changes to the alignment of the Hillsborough
Circulator are proposed, including removing
service from Orange Grove Road and Oakdale
Drive.
Major destinations: Durham Tech, Orange
County Social Services, UNC Hospital Hillsborough
Campus, Downtown Hillsborough
Connection points: Downtown Hillsborough
Vicinity Map
See
detail
map
Short-Range Transit Plan
Short-Range Transit Plan
Orange-Alamance Connector
Route type: Operator:
All-Day Connector OPT
Existing Proposed
Orange-Alamance Connector Orange-Alamance Connector
Span of Service
Weekday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday -- --
Sunday -- --
Frequency Buses depart every: Buses depart every:
Weekday
AM Peak -- 60 minutes
Midday 60 minutes 60
PM Peak -- 60
Evening -- --
Saturday -- --
Sunday -- --
Related capital investments:
N/A
Related service investments:
N/A
Project overview: The Orange-Alamance
Connector provides a regional connection between
Hillsborough and Mebane via Efland. Service on I-
40 is proposed for elimination, and instead the
route would operate exclusively on US 70. A new
service loop through Hillsborough serving
Lakeshore Drive, King Street, and Church Street is
proposed to be added to the route and will provide
improved circulation within Hillsborough. Service
span would also be extended to provide service
earlier in the morning and later in the evening.
Major destinations: Downtown Hillsborough,
Efland, Mebane Cone Park-and-Ride
Connection points: Downtown Hillsborough,
Mebane Cone Park-and-Ride
Vicinity Map
See detail map
Short-Range Transit Plan