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