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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 112818DRAFT 1 MINUTES1 ORANGE COUNTY OUTBOARD2 NOVEMBER 28,20183 REGULAR MEETING4 5 MEMBERS PRESENT:Art Menius, At-Large Representative (Chair); Brantley Wells (Vice Chair), Hillsborough Township 6 Representative; David Laudicina, Cheeks Township Representative; Jenn Sykes, At-Large Representative; Alyson West, 7 At-Large Representative; Donna Musson, Eno Township Representative; Heidi Perry, At-Large Representative; Johanna 8 Birckmayer, At-Large Representative; Eric Broo, At-Large Representative; Amy Cole, At-Large Representative, Ram 9 Athavale, Chapel Hill Township Representative; Randy Marshall, Bingham Township Representative.10 11 MEMBERS ABSENT:Ed Vaughn, Cedar Grove Township Representative.12 13 TRANSIT ADVISORY SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT:Theo Letman, Allyson Coltrane, Teleishia Holloway, Lisa Berkley,14 Meredith McMonigle.15 16 STAFF PRESENT: Abigaile Pittman, Transportation/Land Use Planner; Nish Trivedi, Transportation Planner; Tina Love, 17 Administrative Assistant III;18 19 OTHERS PRESENT: Nikki Catalano, Minutes Preparer.20 21 AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER,DETERMINATION OF QUORUM AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS22 Heidi Perry called the meeting to order and introductions went around the room for the new members.23 24 AGENDA ITEM 2: ELECTION OF CHAIR/VICE-CHAIR25 MOTION by Brantley Wells to nominate Art Menius as Chair of the OUTBoard. Seconded by Jenn Sykes.26 VOTE:UNANIMOUS27 28 MOTION by Art Menius to nominate Brantley Wells as Vice-Chair of the OUTBoard. Seconded by Heidi Perry.29 VOTE:UNANIMOUS30 31 AGENDA ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES32 MOTION by Heidi Perry to approve the September 19, 2018, OUTBoard Minutes. Seconded by Donna Musson.33 VOTE:UNANIMOUS34 MOTION by Heidi Perry to approve the October 17, 2018, OUTBoard Minutes with correction to line 97. Seconded by Erik 35 Broo.36 VOTE:UNANIMOUS37 38 AGENDA ITEM 4: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA -There were none. 39 40 AGENDA ITEM 5A:OCPTADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES (THEO LETMAN)-41 Theo Letman reported on the Orange County Public Transportation projects and updates42 43 AGENDA ITEM 5B: OCPT/OCCOUPDATE (ALLYSON COLTRANE)-44 Allyson Coltrane gave a PowerPoint presentation 45 46 Allyson Coltrane: We have a 10% discount at bicycle shops in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, starting in January I will be 47 handing out those coupons. The coupons currently show ending in December however they will be updated once that 48 cycle has ended. New Year New Commute will start mid-January, I will also give out those coupons at that time. Chapel 49 Hill and Carrboro are giving some out now. Chapel Hill does this campaign year-round, so you will be able to have 50 discounts all year round. 51 52 Lisa Berkley: What about Earn Cash for commuting; what does that mean?53 DRAFT 2 54 Allyson Coltrane: It’s not technically cash in hand, but you can get GoPerks. To get GoPerks you must log your 55 commute through our ShareTheRideNC page; it’s there you can get free Joe VanGo coffee, free Dunkin Donuts, etc. 56 57 Allyson Coltrane: Below is the operating costs annually and the revenue hours need to all of this. 58 59 Johanna Birckmayer: What are revenue hours?60 61 Allyson Coltrane: DOT allots us certain hours that we can dedicate to certain routes and services, so those are hours 62 you would need to make the Hillsborough circulator run every 30 minutes, or to expand the service to 8:00 P.M. 63 64 Art Menius: How far short is our capacity, people, and money compared to the excellent goals laid out in the 65 PowerPoint?66 67 Theo Letman: We are very far apart. There was a discussion a year ago regarding the light rail in the transit plan. A lot 68 of the money is going toward the light rail and not a lot towards bus. Part of the transit plan is to push what the needs 69 are in the area and what the folks want. Myself; Travis Myren, the Deputy County Manager; as well as Craig Benedict go 70 to the staff working group meetings with GoTriangle and the other transportation providers, and we push for this and as 71 much dollars as we can to get out the transit plan for these projects, but there is a huge gap between what is proposed 72 and allocated. Negotiations are still going on between the entities to finalize what our cut should be.73 74 Heidi Perry: So the circulator is out, was that one of the ones they took off the plan in order to only have the light rail go 75 forward for funding?76 77 Theo Letman: There was a proposal that I put out to have a reverse circulator and that is what they took off, but I am not 78 letting it die. I do have another plan. The idea is to divide the circulator into two intersecting routes. We currently have 79 one loop and it is a very long ride for everyone. So my thought is to break it into two different routes.80 81 Heidi Perry: Like a figure 8?82 83 Theo Letman: Exactly. Bisecting in the middle of the town and they can make their connections. It would provide more 84 frequent service and will require more hours. I am working on getting it done.85 86 AGENDA ITEM 5C:TRANSIT ADVISORY SERVICES (TAS)COMMENTS/QUESTIONS (THEO LETMAN)-87 88 Theo Letman: To follow Allyson on the status of the transit plan, it is in final draft mode and is currently being reviewed. 89 Once reviewed by staff, it will be brought to the OUTBoard for review. Our concern has always been that we provide 90 more on-demand services than fixed routes. Both GoTriangle and Chapel Hill Transit provide fixed route services. In 91 our rural county, we do a lot of on demand; a lot of Medicaid transportation and a lot of paratransit services that provide 92 for the elderly and the disabled. My focus is to meet the needs of those populations and provide as much service as 93 possible. To organize services that are both cost effective and meet those needs is not always possible because of 94 ridership. Part of the transit planning is to bring those ideas and efforts forward in a comprehensive plan that articulates 95 the needs of this community. We are going through the review process with GoTriangle. We will bring that report 96 forward for the OUTBoard to review. Staffing is almost back up to full staff since the last meeting. We are currently 97 hiring for part time and full-time drivers and a full-time, operations assistant. It has been grant season with NCDOT since 98 our last meeting, and for the first time, we applied for a 5307 grant which is an urbanized area grant. The grant provides99 dollars for more positions, and it provides for the transit amenities that we are planning for. We have a semi-seat project 100 that we are working with the Department on Aging on, and as of a year ago, the project is still on going so the grant 101 provides money to make sure the labor is still there. It will purchase bike racks and vehicles that were purchased without 102 bike racks. Mobile pay will be a way for people to use an app on their cell phones to pay the fare as they board the bus. 103 We are just about finished with our procurement for upgrading our software that will help us manage the internal the day-104 to-day services and scheduling and provide external means for passengers to look up when their ride will arrive. They 105 DRAFT 3 will be able to track the vehicles themselves utilizing the app. Hopefully by the end of December we’ll start going through 106 the process of transitioning our services to the new software. 107 108 Randy Marshall: Allyson seemed to be saying that with the additional needs for funding for Orange County Public 109 Transportation, some of those funding sources were being pulled off for the light rail project. What’s the relationship 110 between the funding of each of those, and is it true that there’s competition and public transportation is losing funding to111 the light rail? Is the light rail just banking the funds that they are getting, or do they actively have things that they are112 spending it on? How does that work?113 114 Theo Letman: A concise answer would be that in the original Transit Plan called the (BRIP) Bus, Rail Investment Plan; 115 there was a negotiation done way before my time here. Each entity within the counties was designated or allotted 116 certain amount of funds. 117 118 Heidi Perry: From the Transit tax?119 120 Theo Letman: From the Transit tax. As well as funding going toward the light rail which takes the lion’s share of those 121 funds. At the time there was very little leadership at Orange County Public Transit and so was got a paltry amount of 122 funds. Now as we see the demand growing and increasing over the years, we are going back and renegotiate this 123 arrangement so that we get more funding. I think the Commissioner as well made it very clear that there needs to be 124 more investment in bus transportation because a huge part of the county will probably never utilize the light rail. It’s in 125 the rural areas, some of the urban areas that don’t connect with the light rail, so the Commissioners pushed that there 126 should be more investment in bus.127 128 David Laudicina: Isn’t it true though that the plan has provided quite a bit of service already for Orange County?129 130 Theo Letman: Yes. The Transit tax is doing what it is supposed to do. 131 132 Heidi Perry: There were also a couple of projects that were in the running for state funding and they were all pulled so 133 that the light rail would be the only project that was in contention for the funding. They didn’t get any funding, so that 134 means it can’t be implemented.135 136 Dave Laudicina: Was it just pulled or postponed?137 138 Theo Letman: It was part of the SPOT process that things have to go before the state and the state Board of 139 Transportation for approval. The reverse circulator scored better than both the light rail and the BRT and it got pulled 140 because it was taking votes away from the light rail.141 142 Heidi Perry: How is a Transit Uber superior to a regular Uber? Is it more efficient? It is because you’re piling up rides 143 and doing more than one at a time?144 145 Theo Letman: Uber is not even in this area from what I understand, so I am trying to capitalize on that and provide some146 type of service. 147 148 Randy Marshall: Has the OUTBoard as a group had discussions about light rail?149 150 Art Menius: We have and it’s generally relative toward the concept of light rail with the issues towards where this 151 particular light rail services. 152 153 Randy Marshall: Especially regarding funding?154 155 Art Menius: And how that impacts the rest of the county.156 157 AGENDA ITEM 6: REGULAR OUTBOARD AGENDA158 DRAFT 4 159 AGENDA ITEM 6A:ANNUAL REPORT (2018)AND WORK PLAN (2019)(ABIGAILE PITTMAN)160 Abigaile Pittman reviewed the OUTBoard Annual Report 2018 and Work Plan 2019. Responding about activity #1, High 161 Impact-Low Cost projects, Abigaile Pittman stated that these projects do not go through a SPOT scoring process, but are 162 prioritized by criteria and the OUTBoard comments but does not vote on candidate projects.163 164 Heidi Perry: Could High Impact-Low Cost projects put shoulders on roads?165 166 Abigaile Pittman: That is possible, and some of the county’s candidate projects are shoulder road widening. These 167 projects are a separate item on the agenda tonight. 168 169 Heidi Perry: Referring to #8 on the list, I see we are going to go back and look at the Efland-Mebane Access 170 Management Plan. I don’t see Hwy 54, but we are going see Hwy 54 again too, right? Nish said he was going to come 171 back to us with that. We just approved the Minutes that said he was going to do that. I want Hwy 54 included on the list 172 in case it comes before us again. There was consensus among the Board to add Hwy 54 plan review to the list.173 174 Abigaile Pittman: I’ll review this with Nish.175 176 Heidi Perry: Aren’t they putting a park and ride at White Cross? 177 178 Abigaile Pittman: Park and rides have been discussed as part of the Hwy 54 plan179 180 Abigaile Pittman: The OUTBoard continues to press for improvements of the safe process goal. The safety fencing on 181 the bridge on Orange Grove Road came from this group and a group in Hillsborough. How high is the railing?182 183 Amy Cole: It is 32 inches, which was to code when it was built but is no longer.184 185 Randy Marshall: Referring to #9 on the list, my recollection is that we were going to try to get the Town of Hillsborough 186 to put in the sidewalks as part of the Save Routes to School plan implementation efforts.187 188 Amy Cole: We met with the Town of Hillsborough and the dilemma was who funds sidewalks, who puts them in, and189 who maintains them.190 191 Abigaile Pittman: And who owns the road.192 193 Randy Marshall: Do the Hillsborough town limits extend to that bridge?194 195 Amy Cole: The Hillsborough town limits extend to the bridge. The county cannot maintain a sidewalk, so we need an 196 agreement where the Town of Hillsborough will maintain the sidewalk for the County. We have asked for them to come 197 to an agreement. 198 199 Randy Marshall: What about getting the school district to ask for voluntary annexation? It should be dense enough.200 Could the school board ask for annexation? 201 202 Amy Cole: The high school is the property abutting up to the highway. And there is a lot of foot traffic every day that 203 goes over that bridge. I consider the fence a stepping stone but would also like to see the speed limit reduced there and 204 to put a stop light. I would love to see something that slows the traffic down during the morning and afternoon when 205 students are walking to and from school, and at the Oakdale intersection. Has NCDOT reviewed safety measures for the 206 Oakdale Drive intersection?207 208 Abigaile Pittman: This is not something that needs to go in the OUTBoard’s work plan though. Spot safety 209 improvements at the Oakdale intersection could be discussed at an upcoming NCDOT luncheon agenda. 210 211 DRAFT 5 Heidi Perry: Can we not include this in the High Impact Low Cost project submissions?212 213 Abigaile Pittman: There are specific criteria for High Impact Low Cost program projects, and it may best be discussed 214 with NCDOT and evaluated for spot safety program improvements first.215 216 Abigaile Pittman reviewed the Emerging Issues section of the Work Plan.217 218 Randy Marshall: Are the state bridge improvements that are projected to be done pretty much completed?219 220 Abigaile Pittman: There are remaining bridges scheduled on the NCDOT project list through 2020, and probably more to 221 come after that.222 223 Jenn Sykes: I’d like to add to #5 regarding promoting alternative transportation modes that we work to ensure there is a 224 focus on helping to promote anything via the bus or bike in areas that are struggling economically in town. 225 226 Johanna Birckmayer: I was wondering if you could join with the Health Department and Social Services to do more and 227 educate about bus routes.228 229 Jenn Sykes: I know from another board that I am on that they are trying to become more consolidated to provide more 230 outreach to these areas.231 232 Abigaile Pittman: What we come up with has to fit within the context of the OUTBoard’s charge, and not overlap with 233 OPT’s work projects.234 235 Randy Marshall: Are some of these areas on fixed routes? What about requesting a bus stop? There could be a fixed 236 advertisement with a schedule on the inside of it. I don’t know what the shelters cost, but even just a bench to start with. 237 Maybe pull funds from Parks and Recreation. Maybe the Health Department could buy half a bench. If you get multiple238 sources of funding for those things which have fairly finite costs, you may be able to do something.239 240 Jenn Sykes: Yes, some of these areas are on fixed routes and some of them are as simple as saying this stop is here 241 and improving the sign on it. 242 243 Abigaile Pittman reviewed the OUTBoard’s charge and initiatives.244 245 Heidi Perry: Maybe literature posted at the Fairview Park, or churches in the area or stores in the area.246 247 Jenn Sykes: Or at the Efland Ruritan Rodeo once a year.248 249 Abigaile Pittman: I think the concept for the OUTBoard would be to collaborate or support Orange Public Transportation 250 (OPT) efforts.251 252 Art Menius: We want to work with OPT to reach underserved populations with transportation resources that are253 available to them as citizens.254 255 Abigaile Pittman: I suggest we leave the ‘as citizens’ off.256 257 Eric Broo: Is the I-40 widening project something we should be discussing and adding to this list of emerging issues258 since it is going to be one of the larger projects for this year that will be on the minds of the Board of County 259 Commissioners and the NCDOT? 260 261 Abigaile Pittman: I don’t believe the OUTBoard has any additional role now; it’s really the NCDOT and the County 262 Commissioners at this stage.263 264 DRAFT 6 Heidi Perry: My understanding is that the new I-40 project route was requested by the developer that had just put in the 265 apartment complex. They asked to have it rerouted and now it’s been rerouted through the subdivision.266 267 Randy Marshall: There was an issue several years ago about getting an AMTRAK stop and a train station in 268 Hillsborough. Is that still something?269 270 Abigaile Pittman: The Hillsborough train depot has its funding approved and it is on the TIP.271 272 MOTION by Heidi Perry to approve the Annual Report and Work Plans as amended. Seconded by Jenn Sykes.273 VOTE:UNANIMOUS274 275 AGENDA ITEM 6B:BICYCLE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT (ABIGAILE PITTMAN)276 Abigaile Pittman reviewed the Bicycle Safety Subcommittee progress. 277 278 Amy Cole: Is the website for the bicycle safety currently maintained by Orange County staff?279 280 Art Menius: It is maintained by the subcommittee.281 282 Amy Cole: Can I ask the subcommittee to make the videos accessible so that there’s actually transcription with closed 283 captioning?284 285 There was a general discussion among Board members about the posters.286 287 AGENDA ITEM 7: STAFF UPDATES 288 289 AGENDA ITEM 7A: MPO/RPONCDOTPROJECT UPDATES (ABIGAILE PITTMAN)290 291 Abigaile Pittman: We have monthly updates from NCDOT. We don’t normally go through all these projects unless 292 someone has a question. The abstract starts on page 35 of the agenda packet.293 294 AGENDA ITEM 7B:OUTBOARD ORIENTATION MATERIALS (ABIGAILE PITTMAN)295 Staff reviewed and revised OUTBoard Orientation materials with the Board. The proposal was to bring all information up 296 to date, add new topics that have arisen over the past several years, and provide materials for the Board members. The 297 orientation materials are available online through the Planning Department’s web 298 page: http://www.orangecountync.gov/2005/OUTBoard-Orientation-Materials. Links are also provided within the 299 orientation sections to information provided elsewhere and/or regularly updated by other agencies.300 301 AGENDA ITEM 7C:CALL FOR HIGH IMPACT –LOW COST PROJECTS (ABIGAILE PITTMAN)302 Abigaile Pittman provided handouts and discussed. There was a list of staff-generated projects.303 304 Alyson West: Can we add something that is already in the STIP that’s been failing? Widening the shoulders on Old 305 86/Fayetteville Road from Farm House to Calvander intersection with Dairy Land.306 307 Heidi Perry: The existing shoulders are less than two feet wide.308 309 AGENDA ITEM 8:ADJOURNMENT310 No meeting for December 2018. Next meeting January 16, 2018.311 312 OUTBoard meeting was adjourned.313 314 ____________________________________ Art Menius, Chair