PUBLIC TRANSIT COMMITTEE ACTION SUMMARY

 

 

 

Subject:                       Triangle Regional Transit Consolidation/Implementation Plan

 

Meeting Date:           November 18, 2003

 

 

Recommendations:    The Transit Committee discussed the Regional Transit Consolidation/Implementation Plan and agreed to provide the Chapel Hill Town Council with the following comments and recommendations:

 

·        The Committee recognizes that increased regional coordination and collaboration might be beneficial to Chapel Hill Transit.

 

·        The Committee cannot support implementing the proposed consolidation of Chapel Hill Transit with the Triangle Transit Authority as outlined in the Triangle Region Transit Consolidation /Implementation Plan.

 

·        The Committee believes that the Local Partners in the Chapel Hill Transit system, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were asked to participate in a regional transit consolidation study to identify the advantages and disadvantages of improved coordination and consolidation of regional transit services.

 

·        The Committee is concerned that the study resulted in an Implementation Plan component which the Committee believes to be premature and developed without allowing for the thorough discussion and exchange of ideas on the impacts to Chapel Hill Transit.  

 

·        The Committee finds it unacceptable that the proposed governance structure under the Triangle Transit Authority would not allow for full participation and representation on the proposed new governing board by Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University.

 

 

·        The Committee believes that Chapel Hill Transit should continue to be a designated recipient for federal transit funds and work with the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee to secure equitable federal funding for Chapel Hill Transit if the Durham Area Transit and the Triangle Transit Authority consolidate transit services.

 

·        The Committee is concerned that desired service improvements within the present service area may not receive sufficient and timely funding from the consolidated system because of Chapel Hill Transit’s existing service levels.

 

·        The Committee believes that Chapel Hill Transit has a long history of close cooperation among Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University to provide transit service to the community. Chapel Hill Transit also has coordinated its service with other transit services such as the Triangle Transit Authority. We expect that cooperation and coordination to continue in the future.

 

 

 

 

Members Present:     Pat Evans, Mayor pro tem Chapel Hill; Edith Wiggins, Council Member Chapel Hill; Carolyn Elfland, Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Services UNC; Derek Poarch,  Chief UNC Public Safety; Diana McDuffee, Alderman Carrboro; Alex Zaffron, Mayor pro tem Carrboro

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:               Pat Evans, Chair

                                    Florentine Miller, Assistant Town Manager

                                    November 21, 2003