20181249 Ver 1_NC 540 Triangle Expressway (Complete 540)_20181116

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November 16, 2018
Dear North Carolina Division of Water Resources,
I hope you will listen to the concerns expressed today for the health of our water quality and
environment here in Wake County and down river, in eastern North Carolina. I want to share my deep
disappointment about the NCDOT hearing that I attended back on February 25, 2018.
NCDOT held several informational meetings in our area (where this project will be constructed)
but did not allow any discussion from the audience during these meetings. Logically that should have
been a time for public input and honest discussion. Then the February hearing allowed us 3 minutes to
present our thoughts. No meaningful discussion took place at any of these public meetings.
What made me so sad was listening to all of the speakers.
First came Nick Jimenez, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, SELC. He
expressed concern that roads like this usually harm the often poor, often minority, communities through
which they are built.
Next came a number of business people, including many realtors, from Wake County and
Johnston County - all praising this project. Then an array of our Southern Wake County and Johnston
County mayors. All were very happy about this project. All of these officials got up and left after they all
had their say. They had no interest in hearing what others tfiought.
A man with some trouble speaking made a clearly thought out protest about the effect of the
road on the environment - urging wetland protection and suggesting that NCDOT elevate the road over
sensitive wetlands. A woman spoke simply and intelligently in favor of Access2040, which is an
alternative road plan designed with southern Wake County's good, healthy growth in mind.
Several southern Wake County landowners complained about communication or lack thereof
from NCDOT. The project began 20 or more years ago and they have been sort of in limbo for many of
those years. How will they be affected? There were 21 registered speakers. Plus a few additional
speakers after all the registered ones. I was #20 out of 21 registered speakers. I attach what I read, and
later put into the NCDOT comments box. There were not many left in the audience by then, but I got a
hearty round of applause!
Ramona McGee, another attorney with SELC, spoke after me and held up her copy of the
ACCESS2040 plan as she spoke. She spoke well, and I think if she had been able to actually show the
maps and present the Access2040 plan up on the big screen, folks would have really applauded.
(Especially since the Mayors had left the room by then.)
Please act on behalf of the people, animals, and plants living in Wal<e County and further
downstream in Eastern North Carolina. Deny certification for this costly and damaging road. We deserve
better.
Sincerely, ��
�
Anne Runyo
1116 Poole Drive
Garner, NC 27529

Anne Runyon
11 16 Poole Drive
Garner, NC 27529
Dear NCDOT staff,
February 22, 2018
1 am a natural science illustrator and long-time resident of Wake County. I have
completed tnany illustrations used throughout Nortl� Carolina in our county and state
parks, in museum exhibits, and in publications like Wi1dli/e in No�•d� ('urulr�2u magazine.
Through this work, I have leamed how important it is to protect the integrity of the
natural resources, especially our streams.
1 appreciate your work on Complete 540. The planning for mussel propagation as a
mitigation effort may prove very usefu] as we continue to build structures where we will
damage streams in North Carolina.
But we do not need to add this six-lane toll road, 540, to improve transportation
here in Southern Wake County. We should stop, reconsider, and study the Access 2040
plan. Improving the roads that we already have in place, with some new connections
added, seems a much better plan than building this 540 outer-loop.
I also want to see better mass transportation developed for our region.
I appreciate the work you do to maintain and improve our roads, and bridges, and
ferries here in North Carolina. Please seriously consider the Access 2040 plan. Find the
time and the courage to make wise decisions for our present, and our future, transportation
needs.
Sincerely,
Am�e Marshall Runyon
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