The Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC) was formed by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to recommend a plan for major transit investments in the Triangle area. The Special Transit Advisory Commission met sixteen times from May 2007 to April 2008. The Commission's recommendations are in a final report titled "Regional Transit Vision Plan: Recommendations for North Carolina's Research Triangle Region". These recommendations have been forwarded to the Transportation Advisory Committees (TACs) of both the DCHC MPO and the CAMPO for consideration during the formulation of their 2035 Long Range Transportation Plans.
Special Transit Advisory Commission Report
The final report of the Special Transit Advisory Commission is available for download on the Special Transit Advisory Commission website. This report is also available at the public libraries and planning departments in the DCHC MPO.
The TAC of the DCHC MPO held a public hearing on the Special Transit Advisory Commission's report at the June 11, 2008 TAC meeting at 9am in Council Chambers in Durham City Hall.
Transit Vision in the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan
The 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan was approved May 13, 2009. This plan includes all transportation projects envisioned in the DCHC MPO to the year 2035. The recommendations of the STAC were fully incorporated in the transit vision for the 2035 plan. The 2035 LRTP can be viewed at this link: 2035 LRTP.
In late January 2007, the LPA sent letters to 49 boards and organizations requesting that they recommend up to two candidates for the committee by February 7, 2007. The LPA received 24 nominations for the committee. On February 14, 2007 and March 14, 2007, the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) appointed members to serve on a Joint MPO Special Transit Advisory Commission.
In developing the list of appointments, the MPO tried to balance several factors. At least one appointment was made from each of the five interest areas (university, business, neighborhood, government, and environment). An effort was made to include geographic and demographic diversity in the appointments as well. The TAC appointed twelve members, and four ex-officio members to the committee. All TAC members and alternates can attend committee meetings. The role of the ex officio members is subject to agreement between the DCHC MPO and CAMPO.
Committee Members
The following twelve people were appointed to the Joint MPO Special Transit Advisory Commission. Information on their background and organizational affiliations is listed.
Cassandra Atkinson, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration
Director of Community Research and Technical Assistance Initiative
Project Director, Transportation Management Bachelor's Degree Program
North Carolina Central University (Chancellor Ammons' nominee)
She has written several grants with the NC Department of Transportation and conducted research on transportation management needs.
George Cianciolo, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Member, Chapel Hill Planning Board
Member, Chapel Hill Community Design Commission
Former chair and member, Chapel Hill Transportation Board (six years)
Former member, University of North Carolina Leadership Advisory Committee
Associate Professor of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center
Carolyn Elfland Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Services
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chancellor Moeser's nominee)
The University's transportation planning, transportation demand management, and transit functions are within her area of responsibility.
Member of the partnership committee that guides the Chapel Hill Transit system
Represented the University on the 15-501 and 54 corridor studies
Robert ("Bo") Glenn (Co-Vice-Chair) Chair, Durham Open Space and Trails Commission
Member, Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission
Member, Tarwheels Bicycle Club
Served on the Durham Housing Authority for over 20 years
Chris Harder Vice chair, Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) Board
Senior Budget Analyst, Office of the Governor, State Budget and Management
Former Congressional Fellow for Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Portland, Oregon)
Master's in Regional Planning and Public Administration
Cal Horton Former Town Manager (16 years, until 2006), Town of Chapel Hill
As Manager, he has been a regional leader on transportation issues.
Sam Nichols Jr. Senior Vice President, First Citizens Bank Durham Chamber of Commerce, Transportation and Economic Development Committees Sandy Ogburn Member of the Board of Directors of several organizations in the Durham community, including the Durham Community Land Trust and the West End Community Center
Former member of the Durham City Council, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO, and the Triangle Transit Authority Board of Trustees
Bernadette Pelissier, Ph.D. Chair, Orange Chatham Group of the Sierra Club
Member, Orange County Planning Board
Member, Orange County Commission for the Environment
Former member, University of North Carolina Leadership Advisory Committee
Ph.D. in Sociology. Recently retired from the Federal government
Roger Perry Chair, Triangle Tomorrow
President, East West Partners (member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Transportation Alliance)
Member, Board of Trustees, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Served on the Board of Visitors of UNC and Executive Committee of the Center for Real Estate at UNC's Kenan Flagler School
Past chair, Triangle United Way
Holly Reid President, Board of Trustees, Eno River Association
Co-Founder, Walkable Hillsborough Coalition
Former member, Orange County's Economic Development District
Transportation Task Force
Mike Shiflett Member, Durham Inter-Neighborhood Council, Northgate Park
Member, Board of Directors for the Coordinating Council for Senior Citizens
President and CEO, American Labor (member of the Durham Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Transportation Alliance)
Member, Durham Chamber of Commerce, Transportation Committee
Served on US 40 HOV task force, Durham Comprehensive Plan, Travel Demand Ordinance Task Force
Ex-Officio Members
James Carnahan Founder of the Village Project Town of Carrboro Planning Board UNC, Carolina North, Leadership Advisory Committee
Dianne Reid Executive Director, Chatham County Economic Development Corporation
TAC Chair, Alice Gordon
TAC Vice Chair, Becky Heron/Mike Woodard
Due to the considerable interest expressed concerning service on this commission, the DCHC MPO was not able to include a representative of all organizations on the commission. However, during the development of the recommendations from this group there will be other opportunities for organizations and members of the public to comment on the proposed plan.
If you have any questions about the commission, please contact Mark Ahrendsen at or 560-4366 or Ellen Beckmann at or 560-4366.
