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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-01-2008 - 10dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 1, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. ) ~ -~ SUBJECT: Hillsborough Area Rail Station Task Force Appointment DEPARTMENT: Planning PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Clerk to the Board ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: OCTSB Applicant Name, Phone Number Craig Benedict 245-2592 Donna Baker 245-2130 Karen Lincoln 245-2594 PURPOSE: To make an appointment to the Rail Station Task Force. BACKGROUND: Some appointments were made by the Board of County Commissioners on October 28, 2008. Volunteer applications are on record now. One position from Orange County remains. Orange County Transportation Service Board (OCTSB). The first meeting was November 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the Town of Hillsborough Town Barn. HISTORY: A group of Hillsborough and Orange County citizens have met regularly to discuss the potential for passenger train service in Hillsborough. The meetings grew out of acitizen-sponsored petition begun during the town's review of the Boone/Collins project and demonstrated significant local support for returning rail service to Hillsborough. Recently, Amtrak and NCDOT have indicated passenger train service is financially feasible in the Hillsborough area. This group of citizens is now asking the elected boards of both Hillsborough and Orange County to establish a joint Rail Station Task Force to move the planning process forward. The train stop is of county if not regional value and is noted within our Long Range Transportation Plan goals. The citizen group suggests the Task Force be charged to undertake the following work: • Define best practice criteria for recommending the selection of a location for a train station • Apply these criteria to selected parcels in Hillsborough area to recommend to both government Boards the best location for a Hillsborough station • Prepare a report; investigate the established funding criteria and procedural steps to proceed with station development and collect/report those items already prepared or readily available for submittal to funders. These include but not limited to: connectivity to other services and infrastructure, such as buses, roads, and parking which may not yet be in place; walkability; supporting partner organizations; documented or anticipated benefits to the community (i.e. develop a Rail Station Planning Document) Describe a schedule of tasks to be accomplished prior to initiation of service for this train station The citizen group recommends that the Rail Station Task Force have nine representatives from the following organizations with Orange County Planning and Hillsborough Town Planning staff made available to assist and consult with technical details. There was one Orange County position that was not appointed on October 28, 2008 and it was the Orange County Transportation Board position. ^ Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Elizabeth Read ^ Citizen Representatives (3) one from each of: o West End Neighborhood Watch (West Hillsborough) Jennifer Williams Stephen Whitlow, Alternate o At-large Hillsborough Rick Brewer o At-large Orange County Art Mines ^ Hillsborough Town Planning Board Tom Campanella ^ Orange County Economic Development Commission (OCEDC) Bryant Colson ^ Orange County Transportation Services Board (OCTSB) Dan Barker ^ Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) Paul Guthrie ^ Walkable Hillsborough Coalition Holly Reid Recommended Schedule: October 13 Task Force established and appointed by Hillsborough Town Board (Approved with Mayor to make Town of Hillsborough appointments) October 28 Task Force established and appointed by Board of Orange County Commissioners. Agriculture needs resumes. November 14 First Task Force meeting at 10 a.m. at Town of Hillsborough Town Barn Early-mid November Set precedence Public Workshop to discuss selection criteria and potential sites Committee meetings to formalize criteria and apply them to suggested sites February Report of selection recommendation to joint Town/County meeting Public follow-up meeting March-April Investigation of funding criteria and requirements Visit to similar community to learn best practices Public follow-up to release draft Task Force report May Final Task Force report including implementation steps and schedule FINANCIAL IMPACT: Planning Staff (land use/transportation) will provide staff services from both local governments. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board make an appointment from the Orange County Transportation Services Board (OCTSB).