Record of Decision Attachment C FEIS Comments and Responses FEIS Comments and Responses Table of Contents I Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 II Summary of Comments Received from Federal, State, Local, and County Agencies ...................................... 8 A Federal Agency Comments ....................................................................................................................... 8 A.1 Environmental Protection Agency ........................................................................................................ 8 A.2 National Capital Planning Commission ................................................................................................. 9 A.3 U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick ........................................................................................................... 9 B State Agency Comments ........................................................................................................................... 9 B.1 Maryland Department of the Environment .......................................................................................... 9 B.2 Maryland Department of Natural Resources ....................................................................................... 9 B.3 Maryland Department of Planning ..................................................................................................... 10 B.4 Maryland Historical Trust ................................................................................................................... 10 C Local and County Agency Comments ..................................................................................................... 10 C.1 Montgomery County Planning Board ................................................................................................. 10 C.2 Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation ....................................... 11 C.3 Prince George's County Planning Department of M-NCPPC .............................................................. 11 C.4 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ............................................................................. 11 III Agency Correspondence and Responses ........................................................................................................ 12 IV Comment Summaries and Responses ............................................................................................................ 55 A General Support for or Opposition to the Purple Line ........................................................................... 55 A.1 Support for the Project ....................................................................................................................... 55 A.2 Opposition to the Project ................................................................................................................... 56 B Purpose and Need for the Project .......................................................................................................... 56 B.1 Project Need and Justification ............................................................................................................ 56 B.2 Other Projects ..................................................................................................................................... 57 C Alternatives Considered ......................................................................................................................... 58 C.1 Mode of Transportation or Alternative Technologies ........................................................................ 58 No Build Alternative ................................................................................................................................... 59 Bus Rapid Transit ........................................................................................................................................ 59 TSM Alternative or Expanded Bus Service.................................................................................................. 61 Metrorail ..................................................................................................................................................... 61 Use of Two Modes (Metrorail and light rail) .............................................................................................. 62 Streetcars .................................................................................................................................................... 62 Wire-Free Light Rail .................................................................................................................................... 63 FEIS Comments and Responses 1 Purple Line Record of Decision March 2014 C.2 Alternative Alignments ....................................................................................................................... 63 Jones Bridge Road Alignment ..................................................................................................................... 64 Tunnel Alignments ...................................................................................................................................... 65 Paralleling the Capital Beltway ................................................................................................................... 65 East West Highway ..................................................................................................................................... 66 Single Track ................................................................................................................................................. 66 Different Termini ........................................................................................................................................ 66 River Road ................................................................................................................................................... 67 C.3 Georgetown Branch Right-of-Way and Capital Crescent Trail ........................................................... 67 Completion of the Trail into Silver Spring ................................................................................................... 68 Loss of the Trail ........................................................................................................................................... 68 Original Intent of Georgetown Branch Right-of-way Purchase and whether the Trail is a Park ................ 69 Removal of Trees and Vegetation in Georgetown Branch Right-of-Way ................................................... 70 Popularity of Trail ....................................................................................................................................... 70 Vibration Effects on Residences along Georgetown Branch Right-of-Way ................................................ 74 Safety .......................................................................................................................................................... 74 Public Health ............................................................................................................................................... 76 Bethesda Tunnel ......................................................................................................................................... 76 Trail Access.................................................................................................................................................. 77 Trail Design and Amenities ......................................................................................................................... 78 Visual and Aesthetics .................................................................................................................................. 79 Speed of Train ............................................................................................................................................. 79 Bethesda Tail Track ..................................................................................................................................... 79 Property Acquisition along Georgetown Branch Right-of-Way .................................................................. 80 Capital Crescent Trail should be a National Park ........................................................................................ 80 Trail Construction ....................................................................................................................................... 80 C.4 Traction Power Substations ................................................................................................................ 80 Traction Power Substation Noise ............................................................................................................... 81 Potential Health Impacts ............................................................................................................................ 82 Underground substations ........................................................................................................................... 82 Kansas Avenue ............................................................................................................................................ 82 D Transportation