Durham-Orange Friends of Transit kick-off Nov 4

[staffer]

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 is the kickoff event for Durham-Orange Friends of Transit

Come join us to build a grass roots organization for transit

November 4, 2009, 6:45 PM until

at the Eno River UU Fellowship 4907 Garrett Road in Durham (off 15-501 between Durham and Chapel Hill)

http://www.eruuf.org/contact-us/directions-and-parking

Durham-Orange Friends of Transit (DO Transit) is building public support and political will in Orange and Durham Counties for a forward-looking regional transit plan that is convenient, accessible and affordable with expanded local and regional bus service to many communities in the Triangle connected by a system of circulators to our major educational, medical and business centers anchored by light rail connecting the major cities in the Triangle.

With the passage of new enabling legislation for a dedicated source of funding for transit, we have an historic opportunity for citizen input in planning for transit for the next 25 years. Under the new legislation, the transit plan must include provisions for affordable housing, relief of congestion, protections for the environment, requirements for bicycle and pedestrian access, mixed use transit oriented development and enhanced access for low income residents.

On November 4, 2009, we will have some of the best minds in transit to answer our questions and brief us on the transit legislation and the status of transit planning in the Triangle. We also will hear the concerns from advocates for affordable housing, bike/ped, seniors, the environment, business, TOD developers and others. And, we will take steps to organize our campaign to bring transit to the Triangle.

agenda:

6:45 Information Stations

Ø Regional Growth: The Link to Transit

John Hodges-Copple,

Regional Planning Director, Triangle J Council of Governments

Ø What Was The STAC? Process & Conclusions

George Cianciolo,

Co-Chair Special Transportation Advisory Commission

Holly Reid,

Special Transportation Advisory Commission Member; Walkable Hillsborough

Ø State Transit Legislation: A New Opportunity

Damien Graham,

Government Relations Manager Triangle Transit

Gerry Cohen,

Director of Bill Drafting NC General Assembly

Ø Transit Plans & the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plans

Patrick McDonough,

Senior Transportation Planner Triangle Transit

Mark Ahrendsen,

Transportation Manager, City of Durham; Chair, Technical Coordinating Committee DCHC MPO

7:30 Welcome

-Bo Glenn, Co-Vice Chair Special Transportation Advisory Commission

7:35 Need, Benefits, Risks, Challenges of Doing Nothing-

John Hodges-Copple, TJCOG Regional

Planning Director

7:45 Legislative Update

Damien Graham, Triangle Transit Government Relations Manager

7:50 Orange County Welcome

-Alice Gordon, Orange County Board of Commissioners

7:55 Durham Welcome

-Mike Woodard, Durham City Council; Chair of DCHC MPO Transportation

Advisory Committee

8:00 Community Voices

Why transit is important to you? Speak up: share your ideas: add your

voice to these community group representatives

MaryAnn Black,

Research Triangle Regional Partnership

Andrew Holton,

Emerging Tar Heel Leaders

Dan Clever,

Triangle Rails to Trails

Julie McClintock,

Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth

Fred Foster,

Durham NAACP

Roger Perry,

Triangle Tomorrow

Kevin Foy,

Mayor Town of Chapel Hill

Lorisa Seibel,

Durham Affordable Housing Coalition

David Harris,

Durham People’s Alliance

Gail Souare,

Durham Council for Senior Citizens

8:15 Small Group Discussions

8:30 Report Back

8:45 Closing Comments

FAST FACTS

The Proposed Regional Transit Vision Plan

·

51 miles of light rail stretching

from North Raleigh to Cary, the

Research Triangle Park, Durham

and Chapel Hill

· A major expansion of bus

service in Cary, Chapel Hill,

Durham, Raleigh and along

Triangle Transit routes

· Increased express service

from outlying communities