Last night, the County Commissioners did a pretty good job of displaying why it has been so easy, maybe even necessary, for the County Manager to be such a policy leader. Fortunately, I did see Barry Jacobs really step up and push the board forward on transit. I think he'll be even more effective when joined by 2 or 3 new allies after the general election.

Big items on the agenda included delaying property revaluation, reappointing the defunct Economic Development Commission, and approving a long-awaited transit plan. They managed to do all three, but not without some kicking and screaming. See my live tweetage and other responses on Storify and below.

This arrived in the last hour from Triangle Transit staff. Interesting timing for the Commissioners' meeting!

The Regional Transportation Alliance is out with its spring 2012 survey of potential voters in Orange and Wake counties on transit improvements.

 In a nutshell:

            Nearly 60% of Orange County voters support a sales tax for transit; this year the number of respondents in Orange opposing the measure fell to its lowest level ever

 In Wake, numbers remain above 50%; support has dropped slightly since 2010; 70% of those questioned say they believe they would benefit from improved transit whether or not they use it. 

A link to the news release and all crosstabs from this year and past polling periods can be found here:

Item 7c on the Orange Couny Commissioners agrenda for Tuesday 5/14 7 pm (Southern Human Services Center):

c. Orange County Transit Plan and Related Agreements

The Board will consider adoption of the Orange County Transit Plan and consider approval of the Durham/Orange Cost Share Agreement, the Orange County/Triangle Transit Implementing Agreement and the Do Not Levy Agreement and authorize the Chair to sign if approved.

http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/1205157c.pdf

Go Chapel Hill - Carrboro presents the Annual Spring Roll Cruiser Ride. Cyclists are invited to meet at the Wallace Deck, 150 E. Rosemary St., at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, for the annual cruiser ride. This no cost event is open to families (2 miles) as well as cruisers (8 miles) to enjoy the spring weather and help promote riding a bike for work, errands and play. There is no registration fee. William Dawson's Band will kick off the evening along with contests, fun and food! Bring your bike, dress it up for the Most Outrageous Bike Contest and wear your most fun cycling clothes!!!

There will be a Public Information Meeting on the Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan starting at noon, Monday, May 14th, in the Council Chamber of Chapel Hill Town Hall.

Chapel Hill 2020: Our Town, Our Vision.

The community and the Council have asked for a new Comprehensive Plan to reexamine the vision for Chapel Hill and to plan together for our community's future. The new planning and visioning document will create a framework for the community to guide the Town Council in managing Chapel Hill's future over the next 20 years.

Chapel Hill 2020 is a plan that involves Chapel Hill, every community, every race, every age, every culture, every corner. What is in Chapel Hill 2020 will directly affect you -- your values, your ambitions, your family, your future. You have made Chapel Hill your town, and we want to hear from you.

A public information meeting on the Carolina North Development Agreement will be held at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

A development agreement for UNC-Chapel Hill's Carolina North Campus was approved in June 2009. It contains guidelines and standards for the development of the first 3 million square feet of a mixed-use research and academic campus on 133 acres. Planning for the first project, the Collaborative Science Building is under way. The early development at Carolina North will be accessed from Estes Drive Extension and a re-aligned Airport Drive.

The agreement also contains guidelines for the rest of the property that will not be developed in the near future.