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April Staff Working Group

Orange County · OCPT Staff Working Group
Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Other TransitBudget and appropriationsIntergovernmental agreementsRoads and transportation

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved Approval of March 19 Minutes Approved unanimously

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

The Orange County transit staff working group met on 16 April 2025 to recommend the fourth-quarter FY25 work program amendments to the county commissioners and to settle the final FY26 annual work program. Its members are staff from the county, Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, GoTriangle, UNC and the regional planning organisation.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The fourth-quarter amendments for Orange County and GoTriangle drew no public comment during the period opened at the March meeting, and the group recommended them to the commissioners unanimously. On the FY26 work program, members asked for maps showing the full transit network against funded projects, and for information identifying who benefits from each project so regional effects are clearer. A training session on project sheets and cost-per-hour calculation is planned for August or September.

Chapel Hill and the county use different accounting software when reporting increased cost for existing service, and a meeting may be scheduled in autumn 2025 to update the formula and allocation percentages.

Project reports: the southernmost segment of Chapel Hill's north-south bus rapid transit corridor is nearing draft design review, and the town is considering asking NCDOT to take over construction management to ease its own burden on right-of-way, inspection and contracting. A risk workshop with the Federal Transit Administration, required before a full funding grant agreement, is set for autumn 2025. Hillsborough's train station is waiting on indemnification clauses between NCDOT and Norfolk Southern; the middle segment of the Ridgewalk trail will be built by the Collins Ridge developers and is permitted, with FY27 funding secured for the north and south connections. Carrboro's Estes Drive bicycle and pedestrian project has risen significantly in cost and the town is working with NCDOT on a new estimate.

GoTriangle reported that its operator shortage is resolved, that routes 400 and 405 expand in August 2025 to frequencies matching major urban routes, and that Raleigh Union Station bus facility is on schedule and under budget with a ribbon cutting in late July. Its Transit Assistance Program, which lets low-income residents ride free, is under review on annual re-enrollment and on avoiding duplication with university and town passes.

How the votes went

Two unanimous votes: the March minutes and the recommendation to the county commissioners on the FY25 fourth-quarter amendments.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

No members of the public spoke.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (7)

Procedural · 2Staff or committee report · 2Minutes approval · 1Budget action · 1Discussion item · 1
  1. Call to Order and Roll Call
    Procedural
  2. Public Comments
    Procedural
    None received
  3. Approval of March 19 Minutes
    Minutes approval
    Approved unanimously
  4. FY25 Q4 Amendments
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsTransit
    Amendments for Orange County and GoTriangle, released for public comment in March with no comments received.
    Recommended to the county commissioners unanimously
  5. Final FY26 Annual Work Program
    Discussion item Transit
    Members asked for maps of the full network against funded projects and for beneficiary information to clarify regional effects. A training session on project sheets and cost-per-hour calculation is planned for August or September.
  6. GoTriangle Financial Report and Agreements
    Staff or committee report Intergovernmental agreementsTransit
    Global agreements covering capital and operating are signed with each project sponsor, replacing the old memoranda and interagency agreements.
  7. Project Sponsor Updates
    Staff or committee report Roads and transportationTransit
    Chapel Hill's north-south bus rapid transit segment 3 nears draft design review, with the town weighing NCDOT construction management and an FTA risk workshop set for autumn. Hillsborough's train station awaits indemnification terms between NCDOT and Norfolk Southern; the Ridgewalk middle segment will be built by the Collins Ridge developers. Carrboro's Estes Drive project has risen sharply in cost. GoTriangle expands routes 400 and 405 in August with its operator shortage resolved.

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