Resident Input Sought for Proposed Design Options

DURHAM, N.C. – Residents interested in how the City of Durham plans to prioritize bicycle travel along neighborhood streets should plan to attend a community meeting next month to give their input on design options.

The City’s Transportation Department is planning to enhance neighborhood streets to help bicyclists more easily and safely access destinations. The proposed neighborhood bicycle routes, otherwise known as bicycle boulevards, will use signage and pavement markings to better connect residents to existing trails, bicycle routes, and other destinations. The first phase of this project will designate approximately seven miles of roads as neighborhood bicycle routes, and develop the appropriate signage and pavement marking plans. More corridors could also be added in the future.

The drop-in style meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Forest Hills Clubhouse, located at 1639 University Drive. Light refreshments will be served and there will also be free giveaways.

At this meeting, attendees will be able to see a map of proposed routes, learn more about the possible design options to help prioritize bicycle travel, ask questions of Transportation staff and their consultants, and provide comments. The proposed routes are as follows:

• Arnette Avenue/Hermitage Court to connect West Chapel Hill Street and University Drive
• East Forest Hills Boulevard/West Enterprise Street to connect University Drive and the American Tobacco Trail
• Glendale Avenue to connect the Duke Park Trail and West Corporation Street
• Otis Street/Formosa Avenue/Concord Street/Brant Street to connect the American Tobacco Trail and North Carolina Central University
• Spruce Street to connect Juniper Street and Southgate Street
• Southgate Street/Maple Street/Ashe Street to connect Spruce Street and Driver Street
• Taylor Street to connect Elizabeth Street and Maple Street
• Watts Street to connect Main Street and West Club Boulevard
• West Corporation Street/Cleveland Street/Dowd Street/Gurley Street/Gray Avenue/Hanover Street/Juniper Street to connect Glendale Avenue and Spruce Street

According to Bryan Poole, bicycle and pedestrian transportation planner with the City’s Transportation Department, these neighborhood bicycle routes will help fill the gaps in the current bicycle network and encourage bicycling on streets with less car traffic. “Many of the proposed streets are already comfortable for bicycling and this project is intended to encourage people to bicycle these routes and remind those driving cars to anticipate seeing people on bicycles,” Poole said.

The funding for design and construction of these neighborhood bicycle routes is from a combination of federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding as well as local funding. If residents and visitors are unable to attend this meeting, they are encouraged to visit the project website at https://durhamnc.gov/3763/Neighborhood-Bike-Routes to learn more, view a map of the routes, and provide input.

For additional information, residents may also contact Poole directly at (919) 560-4366, ext. 36423 or by email at [email protected]. Persons who require assistance should call (919) 560‐4197 or email [email protected] no later than 48 hours before the event.

About the City of Durham Transportation Department

The Transportation Department is responsible for a broad range of transportation services, which include traffic signs and signals, transportation planning, parking operations, street lighting, taxicab administration, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. The department also oversees GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS as well as leads planning functions for the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO), which is the regional organization that is responsible for planning and programming state and federal transportation projects in the urbanized areas of Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department helps to strengthen the foundation, enhance the value, and improve the quality and sustainability of neighborhoods that are necessary for a strong and diverse community. For more information, follow the department on Twitter.