AGENDA #4a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Regional Transit Consolidation Study
DATE: March 3, 2003
The attached resolution would endorse the Town’s participation in the Regional Transit Consolidation Study and authorize the Manager to pay the Town’s share of the consultant study from federal transit planning grants.
BACKGROUND
On October 7, 2002, Mayor Foy reported to the Council on efforts to evaluate opportunities for improved coordination and possible consolidation of public transit services in the Research Triangle Region (Attachment 1). At that time the Council authorized the Mayor and Town Manager to participate in regional discussions of possible benefits to Chapel Hill of improved coordination and consolidation of regional transit services. At the same time the Council indicated that the Town was not committed to consolidation of Chapel Hill Transit with any other regional transit provider and that any decision to consolidate some or all Chapel Hill Transit services would occur only after thorough study and opportunity for public comment.
DISCUSSION
The firm of AECOM, Inc. has been selected to conduct the Regional Transit Consolidation Study. The consultant has met with representatives of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the City of Raleigh, City of Durham, Town of Cary, Town of Chapel Hill, Triangle Transit Authority and Triangle J Council of Governments to review the scope for the project (Attachment 2). The Triangle J Council of Governments will manage the Study. The estimated cost of the study is $400,000. Funding for the Study is proposed as follows:
North Carolina Department of Transportation $320,000
Town of Chapel Hill $16,000
City of Raleigh $16,000
Town of Cary $16,000
City of Durham $16,000
Triangle Transit Authority $16,000
Project Total $400,000
The scope of work for the Consolidation Study proposes to identify opportunities for improving regional public transit services through better coordination of services and will evaluate different possible institutional arrangements for coordinating or consolidating public transit services. The consultant will review different models from other areas of the United States that have instituted some level of regional coordination and consolidation of public transit services. The Study will provide the Research Triangle Region with a range of options for pursuing increased coordination and possible consolidation of some or all public transit services. Attachment 3 is an update from the consultant on progress to date.
We propose to provide the Town’s share of the project cost, $16,000, from federal transit planning grants.
RECOMMENDATION
We believe that the Study will provide useful information and that the Town will benefit from participation. Participation in the Study is not a commitment to consolidation of services. The implementation of any recommendations from this Study would require thorough review by the Town Council and opportunities for comment by the public and the Town’s transit partners.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town to participate in the Transit Consolidation Study and authorize the Manager to pay the Town’s share of cost from federal transit planning grants.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL TRANSIT CONSOLIDATION STUDY (2003-03-03/R-3)
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has initiated the Triangle Regional Public Transportation Coordination Project to study of the impacts of improved coordination and possible consolidation of regional transit services; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill operates the largest local transit system in the Research Triangle region and serves the largest number of daily riders; and
WHEREAS, the impacts of improved coordination of transit services could be beneficial to the citizens of Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Regional Transit Consolidation Study may identify benefits to the citizens of Chapel Hill through the consolidation of transit services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby authorizes the Manager to pay up to $16,000, for the Town’s share of the Regional Transit Consolidation Study using federal transit planning grant funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council reaffirms its previous position that the Town has made no commitment to consolidate Chapel Hill Transit services with other regional transit providers and that any decision by the Chapel Hill Town Council to consolidate some or all of Chapel Hill Transit services would occur only after thorough study and opportunities for comment by the public and the Town’s transit partners.
This the 3rd day of March, 2003.
AGENDA #12a(1)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Town Council
FROM: Kevin Foy, Mayor
SUBJECT: Report on Proposal for Coordination of Triangle Transit Systems
DATE: October 7, 2002
The attached resolution would authorize the Mayor and Town Manager to participate in discussions concerning improved coordination and possible merger of existing transit systems in the Research Triangle region. The resolution further states that the Town Council has not committed to consolidation of Chapel Hill Transit services and that any decision by the Council regarding this matter would occur only after thorough study and public comment.
In August 2002, the Triangle J Council of Governments and the North Carolina Department of Transportation organized a series of meetings to discuss opportunities for improved coordination of the existing transit system in the Research Triangle region. Mr. Thomas Larwin, General Manager of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board, spoke to several groups, including elected officials, Managers, and Transit Directors and their staffs concerning the experience of San Diego in consolidating transit services. The Town Manager prepared a Quick Report on those meetings and the study, proposed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, to identify areas of possible coordination and consolidation. (Attachment 1) A description of the Triangle Region Public Transportation Coordination Project is included in Attachment 1.
In discussions subsequent to the meetings in August 2002, several Mayors within the Triangle region, including Charles Meeker of Raleigh, have suggested that full merger of the regions existing transit systems should be completed by January 2008. (Attachment 2) The Triangle Transit Authority Phase I Rail System is expected to open in January 2008.
As noted in the Manager’s August 23, 2002 Quick Report, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has initiated the Triangle Region Public Transportation Coordination Project to explore the opportunities for improved coordination of the region’s transit systems. That study will also review the issues surrounding possible merger of transit services. At the August 21, 2002 meeting, both the Town Manager and I expressed our support for better coordination of transit service, but pointed out that Chapel Hill Transit is a unique system. We noted that the conditions that might recommend a merger of the Raleigh or Durham transit systems may not be relevant in Chapel Hill. We pointed out that the initiation of the fare free policy, which had resulted in significant increases in ridership, was an example of the special nature of the Chapel Hill system.
While I support the North Carolina Department of Transportation study of transit coordination and possible consolidation, I cannot support, at this time, the adoption of a policy statement committing the region to full merger of transit systems by January 2008. I believe that any effort to merge the Chapel Hill Transit system with others in the Triangle region must be the result of a thorough review of the issues. The impacts of a merger on service levels, local responsiveness, and financial impacts must be explored. The public must be given an opportunity to provide the Town Council with comments and recommendations. In addition, our partners in the transit system, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro, should be consulted and given the opportunity to comment. While I suggest we participate in the development of the study, I would make it clear that Chapel Hill would consider the recommendations of the study in light of local needs and would retain the option to remain independent.
It is anticipated that with the completion of the Triangle Region Public Transportation Coordination Project in late 2003 or early 2004, further discussions will be initiated to review the results of the study. At the same time, the Regional Mayors’ Committee will continue discussions on possible regional funding sources for regional transportation improvements. I will report to the Council the results of the regional transit coordination and consolidation study, and discussions of regional funding options.
I request that the Council adopt the attached resolution which would authorize the Mayor and Town Manager to participate in the ongoing discussions on improved transit coordination and possible merger. The resolution identifies the goal of these discussions as finding the best service arrangements for the citizens of Chapel Hill and makes it clear that no action will be taken without full Council discussion and agreement.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND TOWN MANAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL DISCUSSIONS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED COORDINATION AND POSSIBLE CONSOLIDATION OF TRANSIT SERVICES (2002-10-07/R-11)
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has initiated the Triangle Regional Public Transportation Coordination Project to study of the impacts of improved coordination and possible consolidation of regional transit services; and
WHEREAS, a proposal has been advanced to implement consolidation of the regional transit systems by January, 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill operates the largest local transit system in the Research Triangle region, in partnership with the University of North Carolina and the Town of Carrboro; and
WHEREAS, the impacts of improved coordination of transit services could be beneficial to the citizens of Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the ongoing study of regional transit services may identify benefits to the citizens of Chapel Hill through the consolidation of transit services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby authorizes the Mayor and Town Manager to participate in the regional discussion of possible benefits to Chapel Hill of improved coordination and consolidation of regional transit services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council has not committed to consolidation of Chapel Hill Transit services with other regional transit providers and that any decision by the Chapel Hill Town Council to consolidate some or all of Chapel Hill Transit services would occur only after thorough study and opportunities for public comment, and consultation with the University of North Carolina and the Town of Carrboro.
This the 7th day of October, 2002.