Letter: Duke is putting the light rail transit project at risk
I’m writing to express my concern that Duke has not yet signed a cooperative agreement with GoTriangle and is putting the light rail transit project at risk. In addition, I’d like to address the complaints of some local opponents, who question the cost and the benefits of this project for our community. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has a $5 billion annual budget, yet no one questions our ongoing commitment to building roads, fostering dependence on cars, and creating more air pollution from vehicle emissions. Air pollution is a major cause of heart and lung diseases, including cancer, asthma and bronchitis. Some of the populations most at risk for health problems caused by air pollution are infants and children, adults over 65, and people living in poverty, without access to health care. Investing in our transit infrastructure reduces the burden of disease in our community and improves access to health care. Isn’t that what Duke and Duke Health want for the place they call home?