We Talked About Trams
As it turned out, people had some strong feelings to express about the passenger ferry concept as well, and they did, though the ferry division doesn't consider it a topic of debate. As William Howard mentioned, "That ship has sailed." The water transportation aspect is figured out; the only issue to be discussed at these meetings is the ground transport support system. It didn't stop us from discussing the passenger ferries anyway. The takeaway: they might work, they might not. It might be too expensive. The convenience might be worth the expense for some, especially childless couples without ORVs. Riders might get stuck her in inclement weather. Worst-case scenarios abound. Then again, passenger ferries could get people here if there was ever another (almost inevitable) breach on Hwy. 12. There's fear that the car ferries won't get replaced and repaired and run as much if there are passenger ferries. And that the Hatteras–Ocracoke channel will never get dredged. Feelings are mixed. Islanders are hopeful, but wary; wary, but hopeful.
This particular meeting was facilitated by Ocracoke's county commissioner Tom Pahl, along with county planner and assistant county manager Kris Noble and the director of Hyde County Transit, Beverly Paul. Watching and commenting from across the sound via teleconferencing equipment were county manger Bill Rich, commissioner Earl Pugh, and NCDOT representative Ed Timmoney.
The purpose of the meeting was to let the planning group (the county peeps and Beverly from Hyde County Transit, which is not actually a county department, but its own non-profit) hear the grievances, comments, and suggestions from Ocracokers about the tram system proposal.
The discussion could also be summed up as "Will trams make Ocracoke great again?" (Hat tip to my seat neighbor Leslie Lanier for the "MOGA" slogan. T-shirts and hats coming soon.) Will the combination of passenger ferries and trams restore visitation to 2007 levels? Will the visitors walk off the walk-on ferry and enrich the island economy? Will they need a publicly-funded way to get around the small, maritime village of Ocracoke?
Tom started off by summing up the two prior meetings on this topic, and said that after the first meeting he and the other planners felt it was a "fairly positive" meeting, but then, the rumblings of discontent reached their ears. The county decided to kick in some cash for the tram project, but that offer didn't quell the "growing sense" that the community was unsatisfied. So they had a second meeting, which was just for the Occupancy Tax board members to ask questions (and the rest of us to bite our tongues), and after that meeting, the planning group decided to hold two more meetings – one of which is the one we're talking about now.
"We are prepared to drastically alter the proposal," Tom said. "In such a way that will satisfy some or most of [the community's] concerns."
They originally wanted $216,000 from Ocracoke to fund a 3-tram village-wide transit system, but now "everything's on the table – routes, source of funding – it's all eligible to modify," Tom explained.
Thus ensued two hours of Q and A. (I held out to the bitter end and even put my chair away, but I'm a glutton for meetings. Some less stalwart community members dropped out sometime after hour one, but a solid group of us hung in there.)
Vince O'Neal and Darlene Styron kicked off the questions asking, respectively, why Ocracoke has to fund operations costs for the trams and whether the planning group knew from the beginning that they would make that request?
Bill Rich explained that the $9.2 million grant ("getting it was a miracle") is just for capital expenses. The state is responsible for the operating costs of the passenger ferries, and the county is responsible for the operating costs of the trams. A $7 per passenger fee would cover the cost of trams, but the professional planners that the DOT hired believe the trams should be fare-free. Bill admits they never discussed the funding of tram operations until recently.
"We assumed it would cover itself," he said. "We thought it would be $80,000 and now it's $216,000."
"Can we try a year [of passenger ferry service] without the trams?" asked Finley Austin.
Maybe. "The money is there now to purchase the trams," Tom said. "If we decide not to have a tram we may lose the opportunity to access the funds."
"What if [the passenger ferry/tram system] doesn't work out?" asked B.J. Oelshlegel.
"The ferry division will figure out what to do with the passenger ferries," said Bill. "The tram vehicles would go away. Our only risk is the operating expense."
The ferry division feels strongly that there must be a ground transportation plan to accommodate passenger ferry riders. That plan could be to let the private sector handle it. Golf carts, rental bikes, scooters, pedicabs, Javier's Fast Taxi, skateboards, Uber, horses, feet – there are myriad ways that people can move around the village without a public transit system.
"If it's private sector only and we can handle it private sector, that's okay," said Bill, and Tom added that the private sector was always going to be a significant part of the plan. "The tram alone does not meet the need," he said. "And we never intended that it could do that."
Tom explained how the tram route has been possibly re-routed per the feedback at the OT meeting. The "Highway 12 Express" would be a single tram route running from the ferry docks (at the NPS Visitor Center) to Howard's Pub and back. The benefit of that route is that the only stops could be in places where the tram could pull completely off the road. Folks that live Down Point expressed strong dismay at a tram route on the Loop Road. They had strong support from their Back Road neighbors and other community members. The gist was: stay off the side roads. Stick to the main drag. Let riders know how to access points of interest and give them a map. Don't even think about stopping in the road to let them off at Spinger's. (For the record, I completely agree with that. Springer's Point is worth the effort; there's no need to make it easier for the masses. If you want to experience it, you'll find your way there on foot or bike.) The tram route to the lifeguard beach was nixed because of concerns about having to lower the speed limit to 25mph, and opinions that beachgoers will likely bring their own vehicles.
Even a Highway 12 Express tram has its detractors.
"It's going to be a cluster-mess," said Sue O'Neal, coining a new, safe-for-public-meetings phrase. "The trams will clog our roads up right where the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries come in. The majority of island residents do not want the tram. We don't want to look like every other beach town. We live here, we're not Key West, this is a community. And our visitors want us to be unique, too."
Beverly from Hyde County Transit answered many questions about the costs and regulations for a public transit system. For instance, the American Disabilities Act would require that the tram deviate from its fixed route to pick up any disabled person more than 1/4 mile from the route. Such requests would have an impact on the tram keeping to its schedule. She says that's one reason the original plan took the tram down side roads. She's been down this metaphorical road with Ocracokers a few times before, having researched possible tram stops on Ocracoke back in the aughts when we had so many people coming to the island we wanted to get cars off the road and didn't have golf carts yet and thought a tram might help.
"I don't care what you do, if you get a tram or don't get a tram," she said at one point. (Did I mention it was a long meeting?)
A smart person suggested that if the county was determined to spend the grant money while it's available and buy the trams, why not mothball them for a season and see if the passenger ferries catch on and if the private sector can or can't handle the load? Bill said it was a excellent idea, and one they would consider, along with asking if they could get the money over three years.
Sitting as I was down among the plebians and not in the rarified air of the press box, I got to hear lots of asides and sotto voce comments that I can't post here. I may have even indulged in some giggling and eyerolling. After an hour, there's got to be some levity.
William Howard took it to the next level with some philosophizing about Ocracoke's sense of self.
"We're getting to be like everyone else," he said. "In the summertime, we've exceeded our carrying capacity and everybody suffers. Full is full regardless of what the numbers say. We've been open arms to everyone, 'come here and get you some,' but a lot of people come here and don't realize what it is they get here: no cell phone, no internet connection, a walk on the beach, a good meal, quality time with your family, peace and quiet. We've lacked a plan on this island for so long of what we're gonna do and who we're gonna be. It was always live and let live, and unfortunately, those days have run amok."
Since announcing his candidacy for county commissioner last year, Tom says all he heard was that the "long route is killing us." Now, he says, "There's another group saying maybe enough is enough."
Vince spoke up again saying that the silent majority on Ocracoke want "quality of life."
"More and more and more isn't always better," he said. "Tight O'cockers don't want to spend occupancy tax money on the trams."
Albert O'Neal spoke up to agree. "It shouldn't be funded by the occupancy tax," he said.
Vince also added that most residents oppose a raise in occupancy tax rates or adding a food tax. (A food tax for Ocracoke would have to be decided by the state legislature.) The county could enact a .25% increases in sales tax, but it has to be done by voter referendum.
Bob Chestnut, who is the president of the occupancy tax board, said he thought a $3 fare on the Highway 12 Express might work. "It would leave a shortfall of $49,000, which would be $25,000 or so over the next two years and a lot more doable than $70,000 a year." (In a texting conversation after the meeting, Bob told me he supports further discussion on public restrooms. It's time to agitate, people.)
Tom brought it all to a close some 45 minutes into the other meeting (with the Joint Session of Congress) I was trying to get to, and we headed home, but not before he thanked everyone for coming and got in the last word:
"This was really useful. The planning group is going to go back and talk about all this," he said. He also promised to support the decision of the 5-person occupancy tax board (Bob Chestnut, Trudy Austin, Stephanie O'Neal, David Styron, and Marlene Mathews) when their recommendation is put before the board of commissioners.
We'll do it all again on March 9th at 7:30pm at the Community Center. Be there or be square!
