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155 <br /> SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL L A CENTER <br /> Telephone 919...967...1450 601 WEST ROSEMARY STREET, SUITE: 220 Fdcsimllle 919...929...9421 <br /> CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516.-2356 <br /> December 7, 2016 <br /> VIA E-MAIL <br /> D-O LRT Project—NCCU Station Refinement <br /> c/o GoTriangle <br /> Post Office Box 13787 <br /> Research Triangle Park,NC 27709 <br /> i/ fo(a),our trarisiI/ulurc.con <br /> Re: Comments on Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project NCCU Station <br /> Refinement Supplemental Environmental Assessment <br /> We are pleased to submit these comments supporting the proposed North Carolina <br /> Central University("NCCU") Station Refinement for the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit <br /> ("D-O LRT")project. These comments are submitted by the Southern Environmental Law <br /> Center("SELC") on behalf of Clean Air Carolina and Medical Advocates for Healthy Air. <br /> SELC is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the natural resources of the <br /> Southeast. In particular, SELC works with groups throughout North Carolina to promote <br /> transportation and land use decisions that strengthen our communities,protect our natural <br /> resources, and improve our quality of life. Clean Air Carolina is a non-profit committed to <br /> improving North Carolina's air quality through education and advocacy efforts to reduce <br /> pollution in our state. Medical Advocates for Healthy Air is an initiative of Clear Air Carolina <br /> comprised of health professionals dedicated to educating others about the health impacts of poor <br /> air quality and advocating for stronger policies that will promote clean and healthy air for North <br /> Carolinians. <br /> We see this modification to the original light rail alignment as an improvement that will <br /> result in even greater benefits for the environment and communities in the area. We incorporate <br /> by reference our earlier supportive comments on the D-O LRT Draft Environmental Impact <br /> Statement which continue to apply to this project, specifically with regards to the benefits of <br /> light rail, the general environmental effects of the D-O LRT project, and the importance of <br /> collaborating with affected communities. We provide these brief additional comments on the <br /> Supplemental Environmental Assessment("Supplemental EA") to specifically highlight our <br /> support for and limited concerns about the NCCU Station Refinement. <br /> I. The Refinement Will Result in Negligible Negative Environmental Impacts and <br /> Significant Positive Impacts <br /> The NCCU Station Refinement represents a minor adjustment in terms of additional light <br /> rail line distance but will yield significant benefits, primarily resulting from increased ridership. <br /> The NCCU Station Refinement would extend the D-O LRT line past the original end point of <br /> Ch rlottesvIlllle 0 Chapel NM 0 Atlanta 0 Asl~oevIlllle Birrer Ingham 0 Charleston 0 RIcl~ouioio Washington, DC <br />