The City of Durham is seeking public input on a series of proposed bike lanes that promise to make downtown more accessible for cyclists. Planned to thread through the heart of the city's bustling streets, these lanes are aimed at connecting key points such as neighborhoods and greenways. According to an announcement on the City of Durham's official website, the open houses scheduled for March come as an opportunity for residents to drop their two cents on the project's preliminary designs.
Durham's cyclists are looking at a future with smoother rides, thanks to traffic calming and the addition of on-street bike lanes along Foster Street, Corcoran Street, Blackwell Street, from Trinity Avenue to the American Tobacco Trail, Chapel Hill Street, and Club Boulevard. The project is set for design wrap-up in fall 2025, with construction pegged for the summer after. For those wishing to join the conversation, they can do so at one of the three open house sessions or online via an interactive map from March 10 to April 18.
The open-house sessions are as follows: March 20 at the Durham Armory, March 27 at E.K. Powe Elementary, and March 28 at a pop-up event at Durham Co-op Market. Each gathering allows for a meet-and-greet from 5 – 7 p.m., during which time residents can familiarize themselves with the designs and share their feedback. Should you be unable to make it in person, the project team encourages digitally submitted comments through the project's webpage.
This biking infrastructure enhancement traces back to the 2017 Bike+Walk Implementation Plan which, identified key corridors in need of development to bolster connectivity around Durham. The Transportation Department of the city, which spans services from traffic signs to pedestrian planning, is orchestrating the project. The team futuristically eyes boosting the local and regional connectivity, while also expanding transportation choices for Durham's populace
Questions pertaining to the project's timeline, design, or costs can be directed to the project team via the email listed on the project webpage.
