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166 <br /> Durham and Orange Counties is exploding; indeed,"[b]etween 2010 and 2040, the population of <br /> each county is expected to grow by 64 percent and 52 percent, respectively."38 We agree with <br /> and applaud the DEIS's acknowledgment that"[t]he existing built and natural environments limit <br /> the ability to widen the roadways to accommodate additional travel lanes," and that"[i]f left <br /> unmanaged, this rapid growth will not only continue to constrain corridor mobility, but will also <br /> result in sprawling development patterns, which would lead to the reduction of open space and <br /> farmlands." 39 Building more roads is not the answer to population growth and increased <br /> transportation demands, and expanding such roads would result in environmentally harmful <br /> development patterns and further exacerbate dependence on automobile travel. We further agree <br /> with the DEIS's conclusion that"[e]ven with implementation of all roadway projects <br /> programmed in the 2040 MTP, the capacity of the roadway system will not keep pace with the <br /> increase in traffic volumes."40 Importantly, building new roads can sometimes paradoxically <br /> cause an increase in congestion. Travelers who previously avoided congested roads by foregoing <br /> discretionary trips or by traveling at non-peak hours might now opt to take more trips at different <br /> times. Moreover, development might expand along the new road, creating new communities and <br /> new travel demands. As such, building roads entices new vehicle trips, creating what is known as <br /> "induced demand" and in turn causing more, not less, congestion. <br /> Light rail is uniquely suited to meet the transportation needs in the D-O Corridor. <br /> GoTriangle analyzed a variety of different transit system options in the Alternatives Analysis <br /> phase, and correctly concluded that they would not meet the identified Purpose and Need of the <br /> project.41 As identified in the earlier Alternatives Analysis, "the flexibility in the delivery of <br /> conventional bus services fails to provide the permanency in routing and stop placement <br /> necessary to shift current development patterns."42 Furthermore, adding additional buses on <br /> already congested roadways will not address increased travel demands.43 As observed by the <br /> DEIS, "[t]he number of buses serving each of these areas [near UNC hospitals and/Durham VA <br /> Medical Center/Duke University Medical Center] has surpassed or is approaching the feasible <br /> limit of the number of buses that can be accommodated on the roadways."44 We have been <br /> pleased by the increased bus ridership in the region, as identified by the DEIS, and believe this is <br /> indicative of the shift in the public's desire and willingness to utilize public transportation <br /> options. However, the DEIS correctly identifies that the current bus system at our present-day <br /> population levels is increasingly inconsistent and unreliable in adhering to bus schedules.45 <br /> 38 DEIS at 1-5. <br /> 39ld.at 1-6. <br /> 40 Id. at 1-17. <br /> 41 Alternatives Analysis,ES-4β€”ES-8, 5-113-5-118, (2012);see 42 U.S.C. § 4332(C), (E)(requiring evaluation of <br /> "appropriate alternatives"when preparing EIS);40 C.F.R. § 1502.14(limiting EIS review of alternatives to those <br /> that are"reasonable"). <br /> 42 Alternatives Analysis at 3-8. <br /> 43 DEIS at 1-18-1-19. <br /> 44Id. at 3-9;see id. at 1-22. <br /> 45 Id. at 1-10. <br /> 8 <br />