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September 3, 2010 <br />A choice of Alignment 3 would probably require most of those 24 buses in service in the NC 54 corridor <br />to remain in operation in that location, reducing redeployment, feeder bus, and peak period operating <br />cost reduction opportunities. <br />Right-of-Way Availability <br />As previously mentioned, right-of-way has been preserved for Alignment 1, possibly at no cost. <br />Additional right-of-way may have to be purchased for Alignment 2, particularly if the NC 54 corridor <br />study recommendations for road improvements are implemented. An initial review of property maps <br />indicates that the right-of-way width along US 15-501 (Alignment 3), including the parallel service roads, <br />is a minimum of 200 feet. It is possible that right-of-way may have to be purchased in places. It is <br />assumed that the redevelopment of Ram's Plaza will donate right-of-way close to US 15-501 for transit. <br />CONCLUSIONS <br />As outlined above, there are strong arguments for the alignment to remain in the NC 54 corridor. A <br />desktop environmental evaluation of the three alignments does not indicate any environmental fatal <br />flaws associated, with any of the alignments. A detail environmental study and coordination with the <br />federal and state regulatory agencies is needed before a definitive recommendation can be made as to <br />which of the two NC 54 alignments has the least overall environment impacts, particularly as to the <br />preferred location for crossing the Corps land. No permits for crossing federally-owned lands or <br />wetlands have been obtained for the adopted alignment. <br />P:\Transit\2010021 TT Program Management\AA\Durham-CH\NC s4 Alignment Paper 090310.doc <br />7 <br />