The Chapel Hill Town Council kicks off 2015 with a meeting on Monday to discuss future funding for the Chapel Hill Transit system.

The bus system that serves Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC has seen big growth as ridership increased more than 100 percent in the past decade.

But at the same time, state and federal funding for operations, maintenance and new bus purchases has been dropping, leaving the funding partners in a fiscal crunch.

A consulting firm hired to help evaluate the situation estimates an additional $80 million could be needed in the next ten years to update the aging fleet of buses and keep them on the road.

The Council will receive the report tonight, but delay any decisions until later in the budget planning process.

Council members will also get an economic update from the Town Manager.

The work session starts at 6 o’clock at the Chapel Hill Public Library. You can read the full agenda here.

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