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Durham-Orange Light Rail Environmental Impacts The goal of this article is to highlight some key environmental and community is- sues associated with the proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail Project (DOLT). The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was issued in 2015 and is cur- rently available to the public on the project website (http://ourtransitfuture.com/deis/) and in local libraries. This article will concen- trate on the DOLT’s potential impacts on energy usage, green spaces and transport options, as well as touch on potential social implications of the project. Energy Usage Triangle Transit predicts an annual savings of 23 million vehicle miles traveled once the light rail system is built. This equates with an annual energy consump- tion savings of 83 billion British Thermal Units (BTUs). In the DEIS, this is re- ported as a total percentage and hence the savings looks somewhat small com- pared to overall energy consumption. However, that percentage is calculated in terms of energy consumption in the entire metropolitan area including Wake, Durham, Orange and parts of surrounding counties. To put 83 billion BTUs in context, the US Dept. of Energy reports US total consumption in BTUs in 2016 was 97.4 quadrillion BTUs. Assuming there are roughly 325 million people in the US, that is a per capita usage of 300 million BTUs. This means that DOLT is projected to equation to the entire annual energy consumption of roughly 275 people. Truthfully, this projected amount of energy savings does not compen- sate for the initial price tag by replacing current vehicle trips with light rail trips at current energy rates. However, it initiates a more sustainable approach to land use by establishing new development and transportation patterns for the Re- search Triangle that will have long term economic and environmental benefits. Impact on Green Spaces and expanded transport options No new park space will be built specifically for the light rail line itself, though many green spaces appear in the designed communities that will arise around various stations. The DEIS states that roughly 13.4 acres of park space will be affected. Triangle transit is working with residents to take mitigating actions when any park or trail access will be effected. Essentially all local greenways have been built with federal government assistance, meaning that any of them disrupted will be re-built and updated. There are also plans to extend Greenway access to the Downing Creek neighborhood and the planned Woodmont Sta- tion. Pedestrian/bicycle access are being assessed for possible connections as well. For instance, the line is being designed such that existing cross country trails will continue to be connected and accessible. Also, since plans are consid- ered only 30% designed at this point, many aspects of community building and