Public Notice Comments_20181117

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL �UPLITV
Public Notice Name
DWR - NC 540 Triangle Expressway Southeast E�ension (Complete 54 0) - 11/8/2018 - 12/8/2018
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Check all that apply:*
rJ I want to provide my contact information
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First Name
Melissa
Last Name
McCullough
Phone Number
19193570333
Email*
[e-mail]
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Please pick the response below that represents your stance on the above mentioned project? *
C' Yes
�' Yes with Comments
�' Yes with Attachment(s)
Comment
C' No
�' No with Comments
�' No With Attachment(s)
My favorite quote from a smart growth conference I regularly attend is "trying to solve congestion by adding
lanes is like trying to cure obesity by putting another hole in your belt."
This extension of 540 isn't going to solve any problems, it will only exacerbate the problems and e�enses that
sprawi has saddled us with in the Triangle. And this at a cost of 60 acres of valuable, stormwater-absorbing
wetlands, disturbing more than 55,000 feet of streams and cutting right through some of the last remaining and
irreplaceable urban wild spaces critical to rare, endangered wildlife. These losses of carbon-sequestering
natural land just for MORE pavement also means more air and water pollution and a giant step backwards from
the solutions we need to enact to try and minimize the damage of climate change. NC has a LOT to lose with a
changing climate, and we need to step up, as the Governor has said.
Finally, this is incredibly e�ensive at a time when we need to spend money on useful things serving many
more people. $2.2Billion to shave 10 minutes off some people's commutes. REALLY?!? With all these negative
externalities?? The toll would not begin to pay for it.
The Southern Environmental Law Center has provided a proposal, Access 2040, that would serve the same
purposes at much more reasonable costs, and much less burden on the environment. And maybe we can have
some more money to put into workable mass transit! !
So, please, spend our money wisely, protect our remaining natural areas and their critical functions, and do
something that looks toward NC's future needs, not counterproductive patterns from the past.
Melissa McCullough
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