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CABARRUS ! S. ROWAN TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Cabarrus / S. Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization (IMPO), in cooperation with the Public Transit Division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, contracted with Gannett Fleming, Engineers and Planners (the Consultan0, in July of 1998 to conduct a study as to the feasibility of implementing public transit service in the urbanized area. The purpose of the study was to determine the need for transit services over and above that currently being operated by Cabarrus and Rowan counties in providing transportation services through their respective departments of Social Services and Aging. The study area includes the municipalities of Concord and Kannapolis in Cabarrus County and that portion of Kannapolis in Rowan County and Landis and China Grove, which are in Rowan County. To assist the Consultant in the study, the MPO appointed a Steering Committee of local staff, community leaders, industry representatives and others to provide input, guidance and support during the study process. The Committee met four (4) times over a six month period of time and provided valuable assistance to the Consultant and staff. Through the assistance of the Steering Committee, residence addresses of employees of major industries, institutions and governmental agencies in the study area were provided through Zip Code. This information allowed broad-brush conclusions to be made about travel patterns in the region as well as potential transit ridership. Again, ,through assistance of the Committee, a survey form was developed and provided to several groups to determine potential ridership. The survey results are contained in this document in Chapter 2 and the survey forms are included in the Appendix. Almost 800 responses to the survey were returned with those indicating that they would use public transit, if it were available, ranging from about 30% to more than 80% of respondents depending upon the group being surveyed. Funds within the project budget did not exist to allow for a totally scientific survey of the overall community. Even with such a survey, however, experience has shown that many ' respondents will indicate a desire to use whatever service or product is being offered, but in fact, do not. On the other hand, experience has also shown that many who do not respond are the ones who need and will use the service or product. During the course of conducting the study, the Consultant met with the Managers and Town Administrators of all the municipalities involved with the project; with various elected officials; and, with the Rowan County Manager and officials of the Rowan Co. Transit Service. In the meetings with the Rowan County officials, they indicated that there were many more requests from their clientele for travel into the Concord/Kannapolis area than they could Gnnnett Fleming ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS