By james art Durham City Council voted unanimously to adopt new design guidelines for streets and bike lanes and stressed the importance of the vote during its meeting Monday.
Adoption of guidelines for urban development
The new design standards — Urban Street Design Guide and Urban Bikeway Design Guide — come from the National Association of Public Transportation Officials and seek to clarify requirements for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure around Durham.
Transportation Department Assistant Director Bill Judge said the department “uses [NACTO] guidelines in all [its] projects that are city-initiated.” According to Judge, the new standards will “formalize [the city’s] existing best practice standards and rapid revision of outdated municipal development guidelines.
He added that the city could also use NACTO’s standards to better implement projects funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Multiple residents expressed support for the resolution during the public hearing session, arguing that the updated standards will encourage cycling and increase the walkability of Durham. According to one resident, the new guidelines will provide private developers with “clear expectations” from the city during the construction planning process.
Calling Durhamites to vote
The passage comes as a $115 million bond referendum designed to fund new sidewalks and bike paths is on the city’s Nov. 5 ballot. Council members encouraged residents to vote and expressed support for the referendum, which includes provisions affecting parks and recreation.
“You’ve got to vote, folks,” said Mayor Leonardo Williams, noting that although the state broke a record for voter turnout, “the numbers [still] are not representative” of the state. “We’ve got to make sure we vote… Let’s show people how to show up and show up.”
Council member Javier Caballero appealed specifically to young residents, noting that “often our younger voters don’t turn out in the numbers we need.”
“I really hope that Gen[eration] Z appears,” she said.
In another business
Williams briefly recognized several Duke students who attended the meeting as part of a Duke program.
He also informed attendees of the upcoming visit of the Mayor of Kunshan, China to Durham. Xiaogang will meet a delegation of local officials on November 14 and 15 as part of a regular exchange between the two “friendship cities”.
The council read a number of ceremonial messages from Williams. One declared October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and highlighted four businesses that are helping people with disabilities by creating job opportunities and developing the skills of young people.
Another proclamation recognized October 2024 as National Arts and Humanities Month. Williams noted that the arts and humanities “enhance and enrich everyone’s life [and] play a unique role in the lives of our families, our communities and our country.”
Williams also recognized Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran from September 15 to October 15. According to the proclamation, this year’s theme of “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together” recognizes Latin American “pioneers” and “community resilience in creating solutions for future generations.”
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.
| Local/National News Editor
Samanyu Gangappa is a sophomore at Trinity and local/national news editor for the news department.