transit

DCHCMPO public workshop on alternative transportation

Ruby Sinreich — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:57:10 -0500

George C: The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is currently evaluating transportation Alternatives for the region that list future highway, bus transit, light rail, bicycle, pedestrian and other transportation projects to be implemented through the year 2035. Citizens are encouraged to review the Alternatives and provide feedback.

A Hands: The workshops consist of DCHCMPO planners meeting with the public to answer questions and discuss the plans--i.e. you don't need to be there for the full three hours, and you won't be asked to "do" anything (except that that they'll give you a simple one page feedback form with five questions about investment priorities, funding and policies.)

If We're Ever Going To Get Serious About Developing Alternative Transportation Modes...

George C — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:34:24 -0500

The Durcham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is beginning the process of seeking public comments on the various transportation Alternatives which it will incorporate into its 2035 plans to be submitted to the federal government later this year. These meetings will be the last opportunities for public comment before the plans are finalized and submitted so now is the time to make your voices heard.

Public forum on Chapel Hill Transit's D & CL routes

Ruby Sinreich — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:57:13 -0500

Do you ride the D or CL bus? Let Chapel Hill Transit know what you think.

Chapel Hill Transit will hold a public forum Thursday, July 17, to discuss suggested improvements to the D route and CL routes in the U.S. 15-501 area.
The forum will be held Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Bible Church, 260 Erwin Road.
Chapel Hill Transit seeks input on ideas to improve service on the two routes as a result of the BCX bus route being discontinued on Aug. 15.
The public is invited to also share thoughts via e-mail to blitchfield@townofchapelhill.org, by calling 969-4900 or by mail to: Brian Litchfield, Chapel Hill Transit, 6900 Millhouse Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
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Is Hillsborough ready for rail?

Ruby Sinreich — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:50:45 -0500

A recently-completed feasibility study has smiled upon the idea of rail service in HIllsborough, and the town is purchasing land for a future station. Amtrak and NC DOT say it makes financial sense, but they also say that it can only work if the town gets serious about long-term planning.

Just in time for the Orange County Comprehensive Plan, which some think is overly reliant on sprawling growth and not doing enough smart land use planning!

The town would need to further develop and adopt a concept plan of how rail service would fit into overall community development, such as plans for land use, road networks and transit, bike and pedestrian access. The rail service would need to coordinate well with other modes of transportation.
A comprehensive review of the local rail infrastructure, including nearby road and pedestrian crossings, would be needed.
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The Orange Bus

Robert Peterson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:19:47 -0500

I see that the BOCC has decided to rename OPT as The Orange Bus, with resultant web-site and advertising changes as well as painting all their vehicles OP-orange. As a side-note, perhaps OP should think about taking out some advertising on the buses. Commissioner Barry Jacobs was against the idea, according to OrangeChat, calling it "too precious" and saying that he thought OPT was just fine. C'mon Commissioner Jacobs, this is a web 2.0 world! I am totally in favor of OPT becoming The Orange Bus. First off, how many of you knew what OPT was the first time you heard the acronym? How many of you know what OPT actually does? But, The Orange Bus, that's easy to understand and by playing on the county name it becomes catchy.

This does raise a question in my mind though and that is, what changes will be made on the website to make it a better tool for potential customers. As it stands right now, I think most people have no idea what OPT does unless they are already using it. How will the website make this information more accessible? I had the opportunity just this morning to tell a coworker moving to Hillsborough about the Hill-to-Hill route - she had no idea that it existed and was very excited about the possibility of not driving every day. How will The Orange Bus get this information out to the public?

Special Transit Advisory Commission releases planning blueprint

brynsmith — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:26:03 -0500

The Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC) is made up of citizens and transportation specialists from throughout the Triangle area. The Capital Area MPO (CAMPO) and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO (DCHC-MPO) have formed this advisory board to come up with a new set of transit and fixed-guideway (rail) plans to bring more and better transit options to the Triangle region. The report, with recommendations and some terrific maps of the options, is available for download from the Regional Transit Infrastructure Blueprint page.

I saw a presentation on this report last night from Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG), and I can't wait for a chance to read it carefully. I look forward to hearing your comments and questions as well, and would be happy to forward them to TJCOG, which is one of the report-generating entities which worked with the STAC in generating studies and gathering data.

Bus ridership up trianglewide: CH up 30%

Mike Swaim — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:09:06 -0500

Given the rising cost of gas, it's not surprising that riding the bus has become increasingly popular. Of interest is the idea that in wealthy CH bus riding has increased 30%, whereas in Durham bus riding has only increased just 9.5%.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1073429.html

Is it a case of those who are most able to afford it taking advantage of CH's fare free system? Is it purely different demographics? Or is it different levels of service?

What's Happening with Regional Transit?

George C — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:04:26 -0500

The Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC), appointed by the two Metropolitan Planning organizations (Capitol Area MPO and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO) is close to finishing up its work after nearly a year and 15 meetings to date. This has been a longer process than I think most initially envisioned (it was originally scheduled to be completed by October 2007) due to the amount and complexity of data that had to be reviewed, the different backgrounds of the 29 official members, and the thoroughness of the discussions that ensued.

The STAC members hope to approve a final draft of their report at their meeting on April 25th. The most recent (2nd) draft of this report can be obtained at http://www.transitblueprint.org/stac.shtml

Meeting the Access Management Challenges of Downtown Carrboro

Patrick M — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:44:35 -0600

I was going to try to re-hash the following into a column for the Citizen, but the issue of access in downtown Carrboro has generated so much discussion this week I figure I might as well put this out now. Below the jump is an email I sent to Mayor Chilton and all members of the BOA regarding the broad issue of access to downtown, and a sampling of several Transportation Demand Mangement strategies the town could pursue.

Letters take liberties with logic

Ruby Sinreich — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:48:36 -0600

A couple of recent letters to the editor are stretching logic and hyperbole in order to make their points. I think they end up having the opposite effect. In today's Daily Tar Heel for example, senior Chris Garrison complains that "if Benito Mussolini can get public transportation to run on schedule" why can't Chapel Hill? Do we really have to answer that, Chris?

In last week's Independent Weekly, Sharon Cook wrote a letter taking issue with that paper's October 2007 characterization of her as a newcomer to the issue of justice for the African-American neighbors of the landfill. She accused the Indy of shoddy reporting, and explained her history of supporting her Rogers Road neighbors.