AGENDA #6a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Resolution Providing Conditional Authorization to Proceed with Transit Service Expansion

DATE:             June 26, 2000

The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to proceed with implementing plans to expand transit service during fiscal year 2000-01 contingent upon sufficient funding from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

BACKGROUND

On May 17, 2000, representatives from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the University of North Carolina considered several options for expanding transit service. Consensus was reached to support Option 1A that would:

  1. Provide full service weekday “daytime” service year round.
  2. Operate evening service, during traditional “reduced” service periods, until 8 p.m.
  3. Extend service on the U and R/U routes until 8 p.m., year-round.
  4. Add a total of 9,330 annual hours of service at a cost $419,850.

Implementation of this option would provide service that has been frequently requested by patrons who are year-round residents and those who work in the Town.  We believe that a consistent level of service also would encourage others to use the bus system.  It also would provide a system-wide expansion of transit service that benefits all partners and each share in the cost proportionately. Chapel Hill’s share of the costs to expand service would total $166,841.   

DISCUSSION

During the June 5, 2000 budget work session, the Council reviewed Transit Service Expansion Option 1A and endorsed its implementation, provided the North Carolina General Assembly is successful in funding the State’s Urban Transit Maintenance Assistance program at a level similar to the current allocation.  It is expected that continuation of  State funding at the FY 1999-00 level would result in Chapel Hill receiving sufficient funding to implement this service expansion without requiring an increase in the Transportation Fund tax rate.  If authorized by the Council, we would proceed to execute an amended agreement with the University and Carrboro and would bring a budget amendment to the Council for consideration on August 28, 2000.

RECOMMENDATION

The Manager recommends that Town Council adopt the attached resolution, authorizing implementation of the Transit Service Expansion Option 1A, contingent upon the level of funding approved by the General Assembly for urban transit systems.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH TRANSIT SERVICE EXPANSION PLANS CONTINGENT UPON FUNDING FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (2000-06-26/R-7)

WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council met with the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and a representative from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on April 26, 2000 to discuss transit service expansion plans; and

WHEREAS, staff from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the University of North Carolina have evaluated various transit service expansion options and recommended Option 1A, which would:

  1. Provide full service weekday “daytime” service year round,
  2. During traditional “reduced” service periods, evening services would end at 8 p.m.,
  3. At the request of the University, we would plan to extend service on the U and R/U until 8 p.m., year-round,
  4. Add a total of 9,330 annual hours of service at a cost $419,850; and

WHEREAS, authorized representatives from each jurisdiction have expressed their desire to implement this transit service expansion option during fiscal year 2000-01; and

WHEREAS, under our agreement with Carrboro and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s share for this service expansion cost would be $166,841;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the  Chapel Hill Town Manager is authorized to proceed with implementing Transit Service Option 1A, contingent upon the North Carolina General Assembly adopting a budget for fiscal year 2000-01 that includes funding for the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Urban State Maintenance Assistance program for Public Transportation, the same level as in fiscal year 1999-00, with the expectation that this level of State funding would provide sufficient funds to offset the cost of the service expansion.

This the 26th day of June, 2000.