Orange County is getting closer to forming a plan to expand bus service to central and rural residents over the next five years.

The Board of Commissioners approved the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan back in 2012, and voters approved a half-cent sales tax and vehicle registration fee to fund it.

At Thursday night’s Commissioners meeting, Transportation Planner Brett Martin presented two bus-service options to commissioners. The second option is a response to public comments regarding the initial plan that was presented during four outreach meetings.

Option 2 provides service two days per week to the low-density rural areas of northern and southern Orange County, whereas Option 1 provides service only to rural northern Orange, and that’s only one day a week.

Another difference is that Option 2 provides shorter wait times than Option 1 for midday service on U.S. 70; and offers a fixed-route connection between Mebane, Hillsborough and Efland.

Option 1 offers two things the second option does not: an extended connection to Durham; and the Efland-Hillsborough commuter loop.

The loop would provide peak-period service that links Efland to the Triangle Transit Orange-Durham Express in Hillsborough; and provide a Hillsborough Circulator for commuters in Northern Hillsborough traveling to service jobs in the southern part.

Some commissioners that voiced support for Option 2 also said they liked the loop in Option 1. So a consensus formed around a hybrid plan.

“I realize that Option 2 takes out the Hillsborough-Efland Commuter Loop,” said Commissioner Earl McKee. “I’m not so sure why we can’t eventually build that back in as revenues increase.”

Commissioner Renee Price also expressed support for Option 2. She also made a suggestion about the $12.75 one-way fare charged for the county’s demand-response service.

The service allows county residents to call Orange public Transportation two business days in advance to arrange curb-to-curb service within the county.

She said she hopes the county can come up with something more affordable for the residents most likely to use that service.

“People that need it are folks that probably don’t have money,” said Price. “Otherwise, we’re just allowing them to go to medical appointments, and to the grocery store, and that’s their life.”

Commissioners Chair Barry Jacobs directed county staff to draft a resolution that combines Option 2 with the Efland-Hillsborough loop.

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