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fe ejohone., 9.3.a)...967...3./350 60.1 WIf:::.S..I.. IRO .SIf:::IMAIf8YS ..I..If8IEIET .St.)IITIE. 220 I:::acsirni e., 9.3.9 ...929 ..942.3.. CII "'II IRIE.11. II "'II1I 11 L, IMC 275.6.2356 October 13, 2015 VIA E- MAIL D -O LRT Project — DEIS c/o GoTriangle Post Office Box 530 Morrisville, NC 27560 info@ourlransiffiulure.com Re: Comments on Durham - Orange Light Rail Transit Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement These comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement ( "DEIS ") for the Durham - Orange Light Rail Transit ( "D -O LRT ") project are submitted by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of Clean Air Carolina, Medical Advocates for Healthy Air, and the Orange- Chatham Group of the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club. SELC is a 501(c)(3) non -profit organization dedicated to protecting the natural resources of the Southeast. In particular, SELC works with groups throughout North Carolina to promote transportation and land use decisions that strengthen our communities, protect our natural resources, and improve our quality of life. Clean Air Carolina is a non -profit committed to improving North Carolina's air quality through education and advocacy efforts to reduce pollution in our state. Medical Advocates for Healthy Air is an initiative of Clear Air Carolina comprised of health professionals dedicated to educating others about the health impacts of poor air quality and advocating for stronger policies that will promote clean and healthy air for North Carolinians. The Orange- Chatham Sierra Club Group is a local division of the national nonprofit Sierra Club, which promotes protection of wild places and responsible use of natural resources through education and advocacy. Orange- Chatham Sierra Club Group's members live in Orange, Chatham, Alamance, and Caswell Counties. We are pleased to indicate our enthusiastic support for the D -O LRT project and the National Environmental Protection Act ( "NEPA ") Preferred Alternative identified in the DEIS. We see this project generating many benefits to the region, and we appreciate that GoTriangle has identified light rail as the best -fit solution for the growth demands of the Durham - Orange Corridor ( "D -O Corridor" or "the Corridor "). In addition to our strong support for the project, we submit the following specific comments regarding the DEIS. Light Rail Creates Significant Benefits Beyond Public Transportation Improvement We are thrilled by the prospect of a light rail system within the Triangle Region. Light rail lines have been successfully implemented in cities across the country to enhance public Charlottesville a Chalo l Bill a Atlanta a Asheville a 1::3irmingharn a Charleston a Richmond a Washington, fDC