Transit

News release from the Town:

A public input meeting on the expansion of the Eubanks Road Park and Ride lot will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the Great Hall of the Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Road.

Park and Ride is an important component of Chapel Hill's transportation system. To allow adequate time for the planning, design and construction of an expanded park and ride lot in the north end of Martin Luther King Boulevard, the six-month process will begin with a feasibility study.

Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) desires adequate park-and-ride capacity developed in an environmentally-friendly, financially-efficient manner that supports transit-compatible redevelopment of adjacent properties. The objectives of the study are to:

• Confirm the level of demand for park-and-ride spaces in the Eubanks Road facility for both CHT passengers and other users; 
• Review the site suitability and configuration options presented in the Eubanks Road Concept Plan in relation to an expanded park-and-ride facility and formulate alternatives for park & ride expansion in the planning area; 
• Develop an effective access plan including determination of impacts and service requirements so that transit service, walking and biking access, and traffic needs are addressed; 
• Understand financial strategies and implications of park-and-ride development; 
• Define a variety of potential alternatives, test the alternatives, complete NEPA requirements and select a preferred alternative for environmental permitting, funding, construction and operation; 
• Define and manage an inclusive public and agency process to develop consensus around the Eubanks Road Concept Plan, facility options and study outcomes.

To be included in future notifications, send an email to transitplanning@townofchapelhill.org with "Eubanks Notifications" in the subject line.

For more information, visit www.chtransit.org and click on "Projects."

CHT wants to hear from you! If you are unable to attend the meeting, there are several ways to share your thoughts and suggestions:

1. Call CHT at 919-969-4900, press 1
2. Email us at transitplanning@townofchapelhill.org
3. Fax to 919-968-2840 (Attn: Transit Service Planner)
4. Mail to CHT, Attn: Transit Service Planner, 6900 Millhouse Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is hosting open house sessions in Durham, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough where residents can provide input on the proposed Durham and Orange Counties Bus and Rail Investment Plans.

The plans address the need for enhanced public transportation in the Triangle to serve its growing populations as well as provide opportunities for low-to-moderate income families to get to work, educational opportunities, and other cities in the region. The plans outline the variety of revenue sources necessary to support the proposed light rail, commuter rail, and expanded local and regional bus services.

Open house sessions for residents to learn more about these proposed plans are scheduled at the following locations:

• June 7 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Southwest Library, 3605 Shannon Road, Durham 
• June 8 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Holton Career and Resource Center's Senior Room, Second Floor, 401 N. Driver St., Durham 
• June 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill 
• June 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - North Regional Library, 221 Milton Rd., Durham 
• June 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Orange County Library, 137 W. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough

A short presentation will be given periodically at each open house session and staff will be available to discuss the proposed plans on a one-on-one basis with the public.

Residents who are unable to attend the open house sessions are encouraged to view the proposed investment plan for Durham on the DCHC MPO website at www.dchcmpo.org. The proposed Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan will be available on the DCHC MPO website beginning Tuesday, June 7. Residents may submit comments by e-mail until June 17 to comments@dchcmpo.org or at the open house sessions.

The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will host a public hearing on the Durham Bus and Rail Investment Plan during its regular session meeting on June 13 at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers, located in the Durham County Administrative Complex, 200 E. Main St., Durham. The Durham BOCC is expected to take formal action on the Durham County Bus and Rail Transit Investment Plan during the Durham BOCC meeting on June 27 at 7 p.m.

The Transportation Advisory Committee, which is the policy-making board of the DCHC MPO, will consider approval of both investment plans at its June 22 meeting at 9 a.m. in the Committee Room of City Hall, located at 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham. The public is also invited to provide comments on the plans at this meeting.

For more information about the proposed investment plans, visit the DCHC MPO website at www.dchcmpo.org or contact Andy Henry at (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419.