Additional Information for Agenda Item #4

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Long Range Transit Plan Discussion Paper

DATE:             January 13, 2005

We have contracted for preparation of a Discussion Paper on prospects for pursuing a Long Range Transit Plan for Chapel Hill.  The paper, prepared by Mr. John Bonsall of McCormick Ranking International, is attached.

We suggest that the Council review this Discussion Paper and schedule a time for consideration of it at a Town Council meeting.  The paper describes an approach to transit planning that is more aggressive than has been pursued to date in Chapel Hill.  It suggests that, in addition to working with our regional partners on a regional transit system, Chapel Hill also consider developing more intensive transit strategies in our community now, which could then tie into regional transit. 

Several issues are key in the report:

• It offers consideration of the Horace Williams property as an example of how “Higher Order Transit” planning can be placed on the table as initial decisions are being considered.

• It suggests deciding first on a goal for how many trips in a particular corridor (or what percentage of trips) could/should be shifted from automobiles to transit;  working from that, decisions should follow about possible technologies and route alignments.

• It acknowledges the importance of arranging for funding of any new system, and the importance of working with our regional partners in securing funding.

• It suggests that the next step in pursuing preparation of such a plan would be consideration of retaining a consultant, and offers recommendations on what should be considered as that decisions is made.

NEXT STEPS

If the Council wishes to proceed with consideration of these ideas, we believe that a productive next step would be to initiate discussions with our transit partners, the Town of Carrboro and the University.   This discussion paper could be transmitted, along with a request for dialogue.

We look forward to the Council’s reactions to these ideas, and to further discussion.