Chapel Hill Transit

Triangle Transit and Chapel Hill Transit are pleased to join forces to provide the Downtown Chapel Hill Community with updates on the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project as well as Chapel Hill Transit services and projects. Find out how additional transit options will benefit and impact business and residents of Chapel Hill, proposed alignments, and timetable for construction and operation.

WHO:

Presenters:

• Brian Litchfield, Director of Chapel Hill Transit
• Patrick McDonough, Manager of Planning and Transit Oriented Development
• Natalie Murdock, Public Involvement Manager, of Triangle Transit

WHAT:

Prepared presentation and Questions and Answers over light appetizers

WHEN:

Thursday, June 19, 2014, 6:00-7:15 PM

WHERE:

LAUNCH Chapel Hill, 321 W Rosemary St

COST:

Free, Please RSVP Here

By 2035, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro area is expected to add nearly 200,000 residents and approximately 120,000 jobs. In 2011, Durham County residents demonstrated their support for transit initiatives by approving the transit sales tax. In 2012, Orange County residents concurred, approving a transit tax of their own. Light rail transit between the Durham-Orange Corridor’s three main activity centers—UNC (Hospitals and University), Duke (Medical Center and University), and downtown Durham—has been proposed as a means to support the growth. Triangle Transit is pleased to report that planning for the proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit (D-O LRT) Project has reached the project development phase, and Triangle Transit is studying the social, environmental, and human impacts of the proposed project. And Chapel Hill Transit’s North-South Corridor, along with other service changes, will help address growth and congestion. You may learn more about these projects at www.ourtransitfuture.com and www.NSCStudy.org.

Chapel Hill Transit is initiating a study of their North-South Corridor service. More details in the below press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 7, 2014

North-South Corridor Study public meetings on March 26
Chapel Hill Transit invites public participation in the North-South Corridor Study. Two identical public workshops are scheduled on Wednesday, March 26:

•         11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.—Stone Cultural Center, 150 South Road, UNC Campus (Hitchcock Room)

•         4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. —Chapel Hill Public Library (Meeting Room B)

The meetings will be structured in an open house, drop-in format.  At the meetings, the public will be able to talk to project staff, review maps of the study area, and participate in self-paced interactive exercises about transit.   Chapel Hill Transit’s goal is to gather public comment about travel and transit needs in this corridor.  Comment forms as well as laptops will be available to record comments.
An English-Spanish language interpreter will be available at this set of public meetings for anyone who requests translation and interpretation.
The North-South Corridor Study is a transit service planning initiative for the corridor linking Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, South Columbia Street and US Highway 15-501 South.  The purpose of the study is to review the transportation corridor from the Eubanks Road Park and Ride to the Southern Village Park and Ride Lot, to identify and evaluate improved accessibility, capacity, convenience and travel-time for riders.
The public meeting date also launches an online community forum at the NSCstudy.org<http://NSCstudy.org>, where the public can access project information, comment on the project, and view other people’s suggestions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the convenience of a personal computer or a mobile device like a smartphone or a tablet.  Comments will be accepted on the project starting on March 26 through the end of the project, which is anticipated to last 15-18 months.
Additional public involvement opportunities including more public meetings will be announced throughout the project.  There are several easy ways to stay engaged with the North-South Corridor Study through the project website,www.NSCStudy.org<http://www.nscstudy.org/>:

•         Sign up for the updates;

•         Check the website for more technical reports and corridor data as it becomes available; and

•         Comment on the project using a map, answering a poll question, attaching your own narrative or photo, and more.
The study represents a significant step towards achieving the goals established by the Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan. The comprehensive planning work was conducted in six theme groups. “Getting Around” theme group established a set of goals aimed at the development of a well-balanced and holistic transportation system that connects communities, provides a variety of transportation options and places an emphasis on ecological conciseness.
Chapel Hill Transit is the public transportation provider that serves Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For complete information about CHT services, schedules, route changes or directions to the nearest CHT stop, visit us at www.chtransit.org<http://www.chtransit.org/> , email chtransit@townofchapelhill.org<mailto:chtransit@townofchapelhill.org>, or call a CHT customer service representative at 919-969-4900 (press 1).

Chapel Hill Transit invites public participation in developing a strategic and financial plan to guide growth, development and investment for the transit system. Two identical public workshops are scheduled:

• Thursday, March 6, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.-Carrboro Town Hall (Board Room)
• Monday, March 10, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.-Chapel Hill Public Library (Meeting Room A)

The meetings will be structured in an open house format with small group discussions. Attendees will be able to view exhibits and provide feedback between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Presentations will be made at 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. for a plan overview and next steps.

Since 2002, Chapel Hill Transit ridership has doubled to about seven million riders annually, its fleet has expanded to 99 vehicles, and service hours have increased 30 percent. As demand continues to grow, the system faces challenges to maintaining or enhancing current levels of service as funding levels plateau and costs rise. Locally, transit continues to respond to the travel needs of the millennial generation and older adults while also supporting community goals. The development of a strategic and financial plan is an important step in protecting previous investments and setting a course of action for the future growth.

This strategic planning process is among the projects of DESIGN 2020, the implementation phase of Chapel Hill 2020, the community's comprehensive plan. It supports the theme of "Getting Around" and the goal to create a comprehensive transportation system. The planning effort also addresses the top two concerns expressed by residents in the 2013 Community Survey -- 1. Overall flow of traffic and congestion and 2. How well the Town is preparing for the future.

Watch for more outreach events, including web-based activities that will occur throughout the public planning process. Learn more at www.chtransit.org.

The strategic and financial plan is being developed by Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. Nelson\Nygaard is an internationally recognized firm committed to developing transportation systems that promote vibrant, sustainable, and accessible communities. Nelson\Nygaard recognizes that transportation is not an end by itself but a platform for achieving broader community goals of mobility, equity, economic development, and healthy living. Founded by two women in 1987, Nelson\Nygaard has grown from its roots in transit planning to a full-service, award-winning transportation firm with offices across the United States.

Chapel Hill Transit is the public transportation provider that serves Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For complete information about CHT services, schedules, route changes or directions to the nearest CHT stop, visit www.chtransit.org, email chtransit@townofchapelhill.org or call a CHT customer service representative at 919-969-4900(press 1).