BoCC races to hammer out Transit Tax Agreement before election

I just want to say I agree with Jeff's analysis here. My main complaint is that Commissioners should have approved the ballot initiative and had this conversation a long time ago. 

This is a regional plan with a regional governing board with a structure that requires that decisions on spending and priorities within a county be approved by the county board of commissioners. The county is also choosing to require MPO approval of significant changes, which means the Chapel Hill and Carrboro town boards will also have a place at the table. Durham stuck its neck out on the regional plan in 2011 and the voters there approved it 60.2-39.8%.  If Orange approves then it is a two county plan, and hopefully Wake will vote in 2013 or 2014. The regional components include for Durham and Orange bus service and light rail between the major employment and destination centers (UNC/UNC Hospitals and Duke/Duke Hospital/NCCU). The light rail will only be built if there is federal and state funding. If not then the Orange component will solely be increased bus service within the county and Durham-Orange regional bus service as well as bus rapid transit on MLK Blvd.  In either case expanded bus service will come within the first two years, and light rail is 5-10 years down the road. There seems to be some fear that if Wake does not participate then this will somehow slow down Orange and Durham. The opposite would be the case.  Durham is set to fund its share of both Durham to Chapel Hill light rail and Durham to Raleigh(Garner) commuter rail.  The current three county planning is for the commuter rail to come first. If Wake never bought in then more Durham funds would be available for Durham-Chapel Hill rail links early on. Basically, all money stays within a county or pays the the county's share of regional service, that is the purpose of the county by county approval of the financial/service plan.  The only money in the plan that really goes outside the county is that Wake County is likely to pay for several miles of commuter rail service as far as RTP in Durham County since a majority of RTP employees commute from Wake. I am not sure what the fear of TTA is.  Again, this is a regional plan for regional service with a regional governing board. If persons just want more bus service in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, push for a property tax increase. Chapel Hill (1974) and Carrboro (1976) voters approved by wide margins a 10 cent property tax and the two towns are only using half the authorization.

Thanks Gerry! Great summary!

The transit plan grants more than $2.9 million (6000 bus hours annually for 5 years) to Chapel Hill Transit to support existing local service. Although the plan is primarily intended to provide new service, the idea of making more revenue available to support existing service is neither being raised "at the eleventh hour" nor "coming up for the first time." These discussions have been underway throughout the development of the plan and the implementation agreement. The parties should be able to resolve this remaining issue, despite the narrative you're trying to construct in opposition to the transit referendum.Your assertion that the plan will "give control over transit to TTA" is just bizarre. As Gerry notes, because this is a regional plan, TTA will play an important (and state-mandated) role in managing funding disbursements and coordinating collaborations among the various players, including our elected officials. However, the transit plan and the implementation agreement describe the allocation of funds to the transit providers, spell out the responsibilities of the parties and providers, and preserve the roles of the providers in decisions about routes and service improvements.