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Source: Times-News, Burlington, N.儲存C.July 16--Burlington city councilmen want to gather input from other municipalities that may wish to be involved from the get-go before moving forward on a bus system in the city.During a work session Monday night, Transportation Planning Manager Mike Nunn brought figures from the city's 2006 survey and 2010 census data, an example of an existing fixed-route system in a city comparable to Burlington, and funding options for city councilmen to review, as requested at April's work session.Based on the 2006 survey, which was sent in Burlington water bills to 20,000 customers, 71 percent of respondents were between 45 and 65 and older, and 25 percent of households with people older than age 16 don't have cars or driving licenses.According to 2010 census results, 55 percent of Burlington's population are in the education and health care, manufacturing and retail trade employment sectors, which creates a large portion of the system's expected ridership, Nunn said.He also reminded councilmen that the "Section 5307," federal grant provides 90 percent of all start-up costs for a public transit system, and a $5 Municipal Vehicle Registration fee could be used to help fund the city's transportation system. Currently, 40,987 vehicles are registered in Burlington, which would yield $204,935 if the city implemented the tax, Nunn said.The Concord/Kannapolis bus system, which Nunn helped begin, was used as a funding example, since Concord's tax rate and population are similar to Burlington's. Begun in fiscal year 2004-05, Concord spent $225,000 from its general fund, plus $175,000 from the $5 Municipal Vehicle Registration fee.Concord's general fund transfers for fiscal year 2013-14 were greatly increased to $576,042, with $310,000 from the Municipal Vehicle Registration fee -- but Nunn said those monetary increases were due to service expansions, including hybrid fleet replacements and weekend service additions, the city deemed important.Nunn said for Burlington, "Just like everything else, it'll be an annual decision," where and whether to expand services, and that every municipality has different needs.The concern about how citizens would react to seeing "empty buses" on the street was raised. According to the 2006 survey responses, 39 percent said they wouldn't use the bus each week, and 20 percent said they'd never use the bus.Councilman Celo Faucette said, "Those numbers are troubling to me." Nunn said, "That's pretty typical of transit operations," and that there will always be a populati新蒲崗迷你倉n within the city that won't opt to use the system."Quite honestly ... you would hope that there are that many that wouldn't need it" because there wouldn't be room on the 28-passenger buses, said Councilman Jim Butler.Wall said if Burlington went ahead with the system they'd have two things to "stomach": empty buses and the fact that the system would be a "loser," in that it won't be making the city any money."Parks and Rec could be a loser from that standpoint, but it's a winner for the city," said Butler. "There are recreation fields that are empty. There are police cars that are empty," he said, adding that it's the nature of the services.Nunn presented a five-route system as a possible template, but said the details -- like timing the routes, naming and assigning colors to them, and addressing complaints, comments and compliments -- would fall to a Transit Advisory Commisison, a public body consisting of elected officials and technical staff.Before forming that commission, Mayor Ronnie Wall said Burlington should send the 2006 survey out to members of other municipalities to see if there's interest in expanding the route to include Mebane, Elon, Graham and Gibsonville."We're kicking the can down the road in regards to more studies," Butler said."I'm trying to get my hand around what's productive," said Wall."We're not going to be helping any of our neighbors" if Burlington sets up the bus system just within city limits. "I still think we need to let other municipalities in on the ground floor," said Wall. Councilman Bob Ward said he, too, wanted input from other municipalities before planning the system.Mayor Pro Tem David Huffman said he agreed with Butler and said, "I think we need to be very careful as we expand into new areas," and that doing so would mean a whole new service area. Huffman said Burlington should structure the bus system to meet the needs of those who need it the most, mainly those below the poverty line and in the education, health care, manufacturing and retail employment areas.City Manager Harold Owen said he will begin contacting the other municipalities to see if they want in on the bus system. Faucette said the next time public transit comes up, he wants to see that all of the municipalities have given their input."I want to see something happen now," Faucette said. "Either we're going to do it, or we're not going to do it."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Times-News (Burlington, N.C.) 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