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159 <br /> SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL L A CENTER <br /> Telephone 919...967...1450 601 WEST ROSEMARY STREET, SUITE: 220 FdcsimIle 919...929...9421 <br /> CHAPEL H I L L, NC 27516.-2356 <br /> October 13, 2015 <br /> VIA E-MAIL <br /> D-O LRT Project—DEIS <br /> c/o GoTriangle <br /> Post Office Box 530 <br /> Morrisville,NC 27560 <br /> info @ourtransitfuture.coin <br /> Re: Comments on Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project Draft Environmental <br /> Impact Statement <br /> These comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement("DEIS") for the <br /> Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit("D-O LRT")project are submitted by the Southern <br /> Environmental Law Center on behalf of Clean Air Carolina, Medical Advocates for Healthy Air, <br /> and the Orange-Chatham Group of the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club. SELC is a <br /> 501(c)(3)non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the natural resources of the Southeast. <br /> In particular, SELC works with groups throughout North Carolina to promote transportation and <br /> land use decisions that strengthen our communities,protect our natural resources, and improve <br /> our quality of life. Clean Air Carolina is a non-profit committed to improving North Carolina's <br /> air quality through education and advocacy efforts to reduce pollution in our state. Medical <br /> Advocates for Healthy Air is an initiative of Clear Air Carolina comprised of health <br /> professionals dedicated to educating others about the health impacts of poor air quality and <br /> advocating for stronger policies that will promote clean and healthy air for North Carolinians. <br /> The Orange-Chatham Sierra Club Group is a local division of the national nonprofit Sierra Club, <br /> which promotes protection of wild places and responsible use of natural resources through <br /> education and advocacy. Orange-Chatham Sierra Club Group's members live in Orange, <br /> Chatham, Alamance, and Caswell Counties. <br /> We are pleased to indicate our enthusiastic support for the D-O LRT project and the <br /> National Environmental Protection Act("NEPA") Preferred Alternative identified in the DEIS. <br /> We see this project generating many benefits to the region, and we appreciate that GoTriangle <br /> has identified light rail as the best-fit solution for the growth demands of the Durham-Orange <br /> Corridor("D-O Corridor" or"the Corridor"). In addition to our strong support for the project, <br /> we submit the following specific comments regarding the DEIS. <br /> L Light Rail Creates Significant Benefits Beyond Public Transportation Improvement <br /> We are thrilled by the prospect of a light rail system within the Triangle Region. Light <br /> rail lines have been successfully implemented in cities across the country to enhance public <br /> Chdrlo tesullllle 0 Chapel D-iiillll 0 Atlanta 0 Asheullllle BirmIng;hdm 0 Charleston 0 Richmond WdshiIng;lon, DC <br />