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C. Fewer Harmful Effects Correspond to the Farrington Road Rail Operations and <br />Maintenance Facility <br />In addition to studying different alignment routes, the DEIS reviewed different possible <br />locations for a rail operations and maintenance facility ( "ROMF "), where trains will be serviced <br />and stored, and where the technical operations for the system will be based. The Farrington <br />Road ROMF included in the NEPA Preferred Alternative surpasses each of the alternative <br />ROMF locations. Leigh Village would permanently impair use of the historic Walter Curtis <br />Hudson Farm, and the Patterson Place ROMF is incompatible with the Preferred Alternative <br />New Hope Creek Element ( "NHC 2 "), as well as the perhaps "second best" New Hope Creek <br />route possibility of NHC 1.61 Because the Patterson Place ROMF would rule out these two <br />environmentally - preferable routes, we oppose the Patterson Place ROMF and strongly concur <br />with the NEPA Preferred Alternative's selection of the Farrington ROME While the Cornwallis <br />and Alston Avenue ROMF locations may result in fewer impacts to water resources, and natural <br />resources in the case of the Alston Avenue ROMF, the resulting operational difficulties, higher <br />costs, and community impacts render these locations less desirable to the NEPA Preferred <br />Alternative location. 62 Specifically, the Cornwallis Road location would have significant <br />impacts on the Judea Reform Congregation, Levin Jewish Community Center, and the Lerner <br />Jewish Community Day School .63 The Alston Avenue Location would be located in an area <br />with high low- income and minority populations, result in a net loss of jobs, and displace multiple <br />businesses. 64 Such significant community impacts would undermine the community support and <br />longevity of the D -O LRT project. <br />In sum, the NEPA Preferred Alternative utilizes existing transportation right -of -ways and <br />follows a route that minimizes new impacts to sensitive environmental resources. By sticking <br />close to established transportation corridors, most of the NEPA Preferred Alternative's <br />environmental impacts are to already disturbed environments. As such, we are pleased with the <br />identified NEPA Preferred Alternative and strongly support GoTriangle's continued selection of <br />this route and ROMF location as the NEPA Preferred Alternative. <br />III. GoTriangle Should Continue to Analyze Certain Environmental Impacts and Develop <br />Further Mitigation Measures <br />On the whole, the DEIS carefully and thoroughly documents the possible impacts to <br />natural resources, streams and wetlands, water quality, and air quality within the project area. <br />We are pleased with the consistent recommendation of best management practices to avoid and <br />reduce certain environmental impacts. The below comments applaud some of the specific <br />aspects of the DEIS's discussion of the affected environment and environmental consequences, <br />61 Id. at 8 -20. <br />61 Id. at 8- 21 -8 -22. <br />63 Id. at 8 -21. <br />64 Id. at 8- 22 -8 -23. <br />11 <br />