Orange County and Hillsborough officials met Thursday night to discuss what has become a contentious plan to expand transit services.
The plan, which will be funded by a half-cent sales tax increase approved by voters in November, will bring expanded bus services, a Hillsborough Amtrak Station and a 17.3 mile light rail to Orange County.
The transit plan drew harsh criticism from residents who believed the light rail would not benefit the rural parts of the county equally.
At Thursday’s meeting, commissioners proposed an East-West bus route, connecting Mebane, Hillsborough and Durham.
Commissioners also discussed amending boundaries within the county in an efforts to designate urban and rural areas.
The plan will be rolled out in a two-step process.
First, commissioners will adopt a land-use plan with designations and descriptions of changing boundaries. Then commissioners will hold public hearings in order to incorporate these changes into the town and county’s public ordinances.
Commissioner Alice Gordon questioned whether notifying the areas that will be affected by the changes after the public hearings take place would be too late.
Notable
The board also heard an update on the Safe Routes to School Action Plan for Grady Brown Elementary, Cameron Park School and C.W. Stanford Middle School. The plan will improve safety for walking and bicycling in the school areas.
Quotable
When discussing the Interlocal Agreement to Protect Archaelogical Resources on Town and County Properties, Barry Jacobs, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, posed the question; “Found any kings under the parking lot, yet?”
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