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173 <br /> affordable housing; a few pages after identifying this problem, the DEIS includes "[a]ffordable <br /> housing near transit" as one of the offsetting beneficial impacts the project will have on low- <br /> income and minority populations.83 Affordable housing should be eliminated from this list of <br /> benefits in the FEIS, unless concrete and enforceable policies are instituted that guarantee access <br /> to affordable housing proximate to light rail stops. <br /> The DEIS observes that acquisitions and displacements required by the D-O LRT project <br /> might"be perceived as a disproportionately high and adverse effect on the east Durham <br /> community in particular."84 The DEIS lacks documentation or analysis of the businesses and <br /> community resources that may be displaced due to the project. This missing information creates <br /> an incomplete picture of the nature and extent of the adverse effects such displacements and <br /> acquisitions will have on affected people of color and low- income communities. As such, we <br /> urge GoTriangle to devote detailed discussion in the FEIS to the precise businesses and resources <br /> to be displaced in the affected areas. Further, as much as possible, GoTriangle should select <br /> routes that will require as few business, community resource, and residential displacements as <br /> possible. Retaining community pillars is key for community cohesion. <br /> We are mindful that community members have expressed concerns that the current D-O <br /> LRT project does not reach East Durham, where low-income and minority populations are in <br /> dire need of better access to public transportation. Instead, light rail will reach these <br /> communities only during a possible later phase of light rail expansion. In the transportation <br /> mitigation section, the FEIS should address coordinating connecting bus service from East <br /> Durham communities to the nearest D-O LRT stop as well as provide realistic numbers on the <br /> ridership projections for D-O LRT from East Durham. Because community members have <br /> expressed that the D-O LRT will not serve the East Durham community due to the local nature <br /> of community travel, these additional actions would work toward establishing how East Durham <br /> residents would get to the D-O LRT, assessing the level of current East Durham community <br /> transportation need, and firmly determining how this project can actually provide transit to those <br /> lower-income, less mobile households. Indeed, since a prime part of the Purpose and Need for <br /> the project is providing public transit access to lower-income, less mobile households, <br /> connecting East Durham communities to this light rail project should be prioritized. <br /> Finally, we urge GoTriangle to study and include in the FEIS information about the <br /> estimated fares for light rail passengers. We note that the DEIS stated Go Triangle will work <br /> with public transportation staff to "engage the public and complete a Transit Service and Fare <br /> Equity Analysis"prior to initiating revenue service.85 If the light rail service is cost-prohibitive <br /> for low-income populations, the project will not satisfy its stated Purpose and Need, and may not <br /> yield as many positive benefits for target populations as forecast by the DEIS. <br /> 83 DEIS at 5-35. <br /> 84 Id. at 5-30. <br /> 85 Id. at 3-14. <br /> 15 <br />