In advance of the 2023 primary elections, Bike Durham asked City Council and Mayoral candidates for their views on local transportation issues. Below, we have reprinted the responses received thus far. (We have heard from several candidates that they intend to submit responses soon.)
Please note that Bike Durham is organized as a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code which prohibits us from endorsing or opposing individual candidates for public office. We can and do provide education about the candidates’ positions on issues of importance to our community.
Important Primary Voting Information
One-stop early voting: Thursday, October 19 - Saturday, November 4 at 3:00pm. For details on locations, click here.
Absentee-By-Mail instructions can be found here.
Municipal Election: Tuesday, November 7, 6:30am - 7:30pm. To find your polling place, click here.
This year, ID will be required at your polling place. See Durham County Board of Elections for more information.
Click the Names to Jump to Each Candidate
(Listed Alphabetically)
At-Large Council Candidates
Shanetta Burris (has not yet replied)
JJ Campbell (did not advance through primary)
Waldo Fenner (has not yet replied)
Bonita Green (has not yet replied)
Monique Holsey-Hyman (has not yet replied)
Shelia Huggins (withdrawn from race)
Sherri Zann Rosenthal (did not advance through primary)
Renee Vaughn (has not yet replied)
Mayor
Charlitta Burruss (has not yet replied)
Jontae Dunstan (has not yet replied)
DeDreana Freeman (did not advance through primary)
Nick Pettiford (has not yet replied)
Marshall Williams (has not yet replied)
Sylvester Williams (did not advance through primary)
Mike Woodard (has not yet replied)
Mayoral Candidates
DeDreana Freeman
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I walk in my neighborhood regularly, and I bike and ride the bus when time allows. That said, I would ride my bike even more with a better biking grid like bike boulevards. With the recent death of the city of Durham Budget Director in a bike accident, I have not felt safe riding. As the city’s bike/pedestrian infrastructure improvements are completed, there will be added safety to walk and bike. And, as our public transportation improves access and frequency, our city will be greener and safer.
I have long advocated for the creation and enhancement of bike infrastructure, including dedicated bike lanes, bike boulevards, and protected intersections. These improvements provide safer routes for cyclists. As in the Vision Zero Initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries, this can lead to a safer environment for all road users, including cyclists.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
Transportation equity looks like a lot of different things. Everyone should have access to safe, affordable, and speedy transportation options. That especially includes people with mobility challenges and historically marginalized communities. We need transportation equity to have a more inclusive and just Durham. Transportation equity includes:
Access to destinations like jobs, schools, healthcare facilities, grocery stores, and social services through different transportation options.
Affordability, making transportation services and options affordable for all income levels, especially no and low-moderate income individuals and families.
Prioritizing the safety of all users, whether they are pedestrians, cyclists, public transit riders, or drivers, and working to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities in marginalized communities.
Transportation infrastructure and vehicles that are designed to accommodate people with disabilities, making transportation more inclusive and accessible to all residents.
Minimizing the negative environmental impacts of transportation infrastructure, particularly in marginalized communities that often bear the brunt of pollution and environmental hazards.
Involves local communities, especially marginalized groups, in the decision-making process related to transportation planning and development to ensure their needs and concerns are heard and addressed.
Transportation equity is essential to creating a more just, fair and inclusive Durham that connects our city and region. It also acknowledges how policies and practices of the past have often disproportionately harmed marginalized communities, and it seeks to rectify these injustices by reimagining transportation systems and policies to better serve everyone.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
Yes, I support Vision Zero. We need increased multimodal options and improved route and frequency for public transportation. I support the Vision Zero initiative, position and funding with plans for more sidewalks and protected bike lanes.
I will continue to advocate for bike and pedestrian safety. We don’t need any more ghost bikes or pedestrian automotive deaths. Vision Zero has to be fully implemented so there is no loss of life walking or biking. Through my work with the National League of Cities Transportation & Infrastructure Federal Advocacy Committee, I have advocated for policies like the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The act is providing $3 Billion in funding through USDOT grants designed to build and repair community connections through safe, equitable pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements. Now that this work has been done nationally, municipalities like Durham, need to take advantage of this opportunity to do community planning projects to create an equitable community-centered transportation plan that includes safer streets and reduces dependency on cars. This work would complement what has already been done with the Capital Improvement Plan to shore up my efforts to include equity as a factor in scoring infrastructure projects.
Using an intentional focus on reducing car dependency includes addressing our roads and sidewalk infrastructure and building a better busing system, which I continue to advocate for funding to address at the local, regional, state and federal level successfully. With over $108 billion for public transportation infrastructure funding allocated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passed this year and the city sustainability and resilience efforts.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
ACCESS- “GoDurham ACCESS is the name of the coordinated demand response transit service for the City of Durham and Durham County. GoDurham ACCESS provides curb-to-curb (or door-to-door upon request) ADA paratransit service for eligible riders to all locations within the City of Durham and to any location outside the City that is three-quarters of a mile of any fixed-route bus route operated by GoDurham.” (GoDurham ACCESS website)
I understand the barriers, challenges and difficulty of paratransit in our city and county based on my experiences with my sister's transportation challenges with her special needs. My mother, her main caregiver, could not afford to have any transportation issues that could hinder her ability to transport my sister and when trying to line up her care plan and treatment before she passed away last year. I understand how critically important paratransit is and for those dependent on public transportation we have to do better. We have a busing plan and need to align aging in place, people with special needs and public transportation dependent populations to share insights to address some of these challenges coming out of covid.
Understanding those challenges and importance of paratransit services is essential to address the issues to ensure that all residents, especially those with special needs, have reliable and accessible transportation options. As a city we can take steps to improve and expand paratransit services in Durham:
Beginning with our needs assessment: We need an updated comprehensive needs assessment to identify specific challenges and gaps in paratransit services. After engaging with individuals with special needs, their caregivers, and advocacy groups to understand their unique transportation needs.
Working with Durham’s collaborative partnerships: We can continue collaborating with the county to coordinate and expand ACCESS services. Using the established regular communication channels and joint planning efforts to ensure seamless paratransit services that cover both the city and county areas effectively.
There are accessibility improvements: We would need to invest in making public transportation infrastructure more accessible, including completing our plans for bus stops, shelters, and new vehicles. This would ensure that all paratransit vehicles are equipped with the necessary accessibility features.
We can expand coverage: Working on expanding paratransit coverage to reach underserved areas, especially in less dense regions. Evaluate demand and consider partnerships with local nonprofits or ride-sharing services for more flexible solutions.
We can enhance scheduling: Implement technology-driven scheduling systems that allow riders to book paratransit services more conveniently, reducing wait times and improving overall service efficiency.
We can train and develop equitable sensitivity: Training paratransit staff and drivers in disability awareness and sensitivity, ensuring that they can effectively assist passengers with diverse needs.
Providing financial support: coordinating with our advocates for additional funding at the state or federal level to support paratransit services to cover operational costs and expand services.
Centering our current accessibility committees: to re-establish or involve accessibility committees or advisory boards comprising members of the disability community in all of the planning. They provide valuable insights and feedback on paratransit services' effectiveness and accessibility.
Bringing Public Awareness: to raise awareness about paratransit services within the community to ensure that eligible individuals are aware of and can access these services. Use various communication channels to reach potential riders.
Planning for Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate the performance of paratransit services and gather feedback from users. Use this information to make continuous improvements in response to changing needs.
Aging in Place Programs: to align paratransit services with aging in place programs and support systems. This can help seniors maintain their independence by ensuring they have reliable transportation options as they age.
Data Sharing: Collaborate with healthcare providers, social services, and community organizations to share data on individuals with special needs who may require paratransit services. This can aid in better planning and coordination of services.
These steps would improve paratransit services, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with special needs, their caregivers, and the broader community. Accessible and reliable transportation is a fundamental aspect of fostering inclusivity and ensuring that everyone can participate fully in city life.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
Developing a plan to bring more main state roads into the city and collaborate with the state to fund municipalities for maintenance and repair is essential for improving local infrastructure. We can work through the city transportation to conduct a step-by-step plan:
Assessment and Prioritization: Conduct a thorough assessment of the state roads that pass through the city. Prioritize these roads based on factors like traffic volume, economic impact, safety concerns, and overall importance to the community.
Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with state transportation authorities to discuss the transfer of selected state roads to the city's jurisdiction. Engage local community members, businesses, and other stakeholders to gather input on the potential benefits and challenges of taking over these roads.
Cost Analysis: Continue conducting detailed cost analyses for the maintenance, repair, and improvement of the identified state roads. Estimate the financial burden on the city's budget and explore potential funding sources, including state grants, federal funds, and public-private partnerships.
Develop a Proposal: Create a formal proposal outlining the roads to be transferred, the maintenance and repair plan, and the financial commitments required. Present the proposal to the state transportation department, emphasizing the benefits of local control and potential cost savings.
Negotiate Agreements: Enter negotiations with state authorities to reach agreements on the transfer of road ownership and the allocation of maintenance and repair responsibilities. Ensure that the agreements include clear terms, responsibilities, and timelines.
Funding Mechanisms: Explore innovative funding mechanisms, such as tax increment financing (TIF) districts, impact fees, or special assessment districts, to generate revenue specifically for road maintenance and improvements. Pursue state and federal grants that support transportation infrastructure projects.
Public Support and Education: Educate the public about the benefits of the road transfer, including improved local control, faster response to maintenance issues, and potential economic development opportunities. Garner public support through community meetings, information campaigns, and advocacy efforts like coffee with council meetings.
Implementation and Maintenance: Once agreements are in place, commence the transfer of road ownership and assume responsibility for maintenance and repairs. Develop a regular maintenance schedule, repair plan, and system for monitoring road conditions.
Monitoring and Accountability: Establish a system for tracking progress, budget allocation, and project outcomes. Ensure transparency and accountability in road maintenance and repair efforts.
Advocacy and Legislative Support: Work with local and state legislators to advocate for policies that support municipalities in taking over state roads. Collaborate with other cities facing similar challenges to collectively advocate for changes at the state level.
Continuous Evaluation: Continuously assess the effectiveness of the road transfer program and make adjustments as necessary. Seek feedback from the community and stakeholders to improve the quality of transportation infrastructure.
We can work towards bringing more state roads under the city jurisdiction, improving their condition, and ensuring that they are integrated into the Durham long-term infrastructure plans through the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). This approach can enhance local control, stimulate economic development, and provide residents with safer and more efficient transportation options.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
With funds from the federal government, green residential development projects need to be at the forefront. We can create incentives that encourage developers to include climate friendly solutions like EV charging stations, bike repair stations and greener designs that mitigate soil erosion issues.
Using federal government funds and leveraging these resources with partners like the Green Bank to promote green residential development is a powerful way to tackle climate change and create more sustainable communities. I would continue to prioritize green residential development and encourage developers to adopt climate-friendly solutions:
Incentives and Grants: Offer financial incentives, grants, or tax breaks to developers who incorporate climate-friendly features into their projects. This could include subsidies for installing EV charging stations, bike repair stations, or green building technologies.
Mandatory Green Building Standards: Implement mandatory green building standards or codes that require developers to meet certain environmental criteria, such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable materials. These standards can be linked to permit approvals.
Density Bonuses: Provide developers with density bonuses, allowing them to build more units or taller buildings in exchange for including climate-friendly amenities and sustainable designs in their projects.
Fast-Track Permitting: Streamline the permitting process for green residential developments. Developers often face delays in obtaining permits, which can increase costs. Fast-tracking permits for eco-friendly projects can be an incentive.
Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with private developers through public-private partnerships to fund and develop sustainable infrastructure, such as EV charging networks, bike lanes, and green spaces.
Zoning Incentives: Adjust zoning regulations to incentivize green development. For instance, offer reduced parking requirements for projects with EV charging stations or grant flexibility in setback requirements for green roofs.
Public Awareness and Education: Educate developers and the public about the benefits of green residential development, including lower utility costs, improved air quality, and reduced carbon emissions.
Technical Assistance: Provide technical support and guidance to developers on implementing climate-friendly solutions. This can include information on available incentives, sustainable building practices, and access to experts.
Community Engagement: Involve the community in the development process. Seek input from residents on the design of green spaces, bike lanes, and other amenities to ensure they meet local needs and preferences.
Monitoring and Reporting: Establish a system to monitor and report on the environmental impact of green residential developments. This can help track progress, measure success, and identify areas for improvement.
Climate Resilience: Incorporate climate resilience into development plans by addressing soil erosion issues, using permeable surfaces, and considering the local climate conditions to build homes that can withstand extreme weather events.
Housing Affordability: Ensure that green residential developments also include 60%-120% area median income levels of affordable housing options to make sustainable living accessible to a broader range of residents.
Durham would be in position to encourage developers to prioritize green residential projects that mitigate climate change, enhance the quality of life for residents, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient community.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
Supporting the implementation of an Equitable Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) with a time element for scoring is a crucial step toward ensuring that infrastructure projects are evaluated and progressed efficiently and fairly.
I would continue to advocate for a plan that included:
Equitable Scoring Criteria: Develop a set of criteria that reflect the city's commitment to equity and fairness. These criteria should consider factors such as the project's impact on underserved communities, environmental sustainability, public health, and economic development.
Community Engagement: Involve the community in the development of the scoring criteria. Seek input from residents, community organizations, and stakeholders to ensure that the criteria align with the community's needs and values.
Project Evaluation: Assign scores to proposed projects based on the established criteria. Consider creating a scoring rubric to ensure consistency in the evaluation process.
Time Element: Include a time element in the scoring process. Projects that align with the city's goals and priorities, as well as those that can be implemented within a reasonable timeframe, should receive higher scores.
Equity Impact Assessment: Perform equity impact assessments on all projects to determine their potential effects on marginalized communities. Projects that address historical disparities or have a positive impact on these communities should be prioritized.
Transparency: Make the scoring process transparent and accessible to the public. Publish the criteria, scores, and justifications for project rankings on the city's website or through other community engagement channels.
Regular Review: Conduct regular reviews of the CIP to ensure that projects are advancing according to the established timeline. Projects that are delayed or face unexpected challenges should be reevaluated to maintain transparency and accountability.
Equitable Allocation of Resources: Allocate funding and resources to projects based on their scores and timelines. Ensure that projects with higher equity and timely implementation scores receive priority in budget allocation.
Performance Metrics: Establish performance metrics for projects to track their progress and outcomes. Use these metrics to assess the effectiveness of each project in meeting its intended goals.
Feedback Mechanism: Create a feedback mechanism for the community to provide input on project implementation and outcomes. Use this feedback to make necessary adjustments and improvements.
Equity Oversight Committee: Consider forming an equity oversight committee composed of community members, experts, and city officials to monitor the implementation of the Equitable CIP and provide recommendations.
Regular Reporting: Provide regular updates to the city council and the public on the status of CIP projects, their impact, and any changes to the plan.
These elements create an Equitable Capital Improvement Plan, so the city can ensure that infrastructure projects are not only evaluated based on their merit but also on their potential to address historical disparities and benefit all residents. This promotes transparency, accountability, and community engagement while advancing equitable development.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
I have been advocating for sidewalks, bike lanes and better transit options since I started on the planning commission in 2014. My policy and investment priorities for a sustainable Durham include:
Enforcement: Ensure that traffic laws are enforced, especially those related to pedestrian and cyclist safety. This includes ticketing drivers who engage in dangerous behaviors around pedestrians and cyclists.
Community Engagement: Engage with the community and the public to gather input on areas where bike/ ped infrastructure and safety measures are needed. Community feedback is valuable for planning safer routes.
Intersection Safety: Focus on improving intersection safety, where many accidents involving cyclists occur. Consider protected intersections, shifting sidewalks behind landscaping, bike boxes, and clear road markings.
Traffic Calming: Implement traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps and traffic circles, to slow down vehicles on streets commonly used by pedestrians and cyclists.
Intersection Redesign: Retrofit dangerous intersections to be safer for pedestrians and cyclists, including protected left-turn lanes and bike-specific signal phases.
Emergency Response: Ensure that emergency response services are well-equipped and trained to handle accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists promptly and effectively.
Improving bicycle and pedestrian safety is a community effort that involves infrastructure improvements, education, enforcement, and a commitment to making walking and cycling both safe and viable modes of transportation. It's essential to remember that safer walking and cycling benefits not only the person but also the entire community by reducing congestion, pollution, and promoting healthy living.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
There is a rail/ trail plan that would work for the downtown corridor and surrounding neighborhoods and as we continue to develop we need to continue to highlight key corridors and pathways that will make biking and walking safer.
Improving walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in Durham requires collaborative efforts across multiple agencies and stakeholders. A proposal for how to work together can include:
Interagency Coordination Committee: Establish an interagency coordination committee that includes representatives from City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, transportation departments, public health agencies, and community organizations. This committee will serve as a forum for discussing and coordinating walking and biking access initiatives.
Shared Vision and Goals: Develop a shared vision and set of goals for improving walking and biking access. This vision should emphasize safety, accessibility, and connectivity for all residents, including students and families.
Data Collection and Analysis: Collect and analyze data on current walking and biking conditions, including traffic patterns, safety concerns, and areas with the highest need for improvements. Use this data to prioritize projects.
Community Engagement: Involve the community, including parents, students, and local residents, in the planning process. Hold public meetings, workshops, and surveys to gather input and feedback on proposed improvements.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs: Get the city more involved in the Safe Routes to School program, which focuses on improving safety and encouraging walking and biking to schools. These programs can include education, infrastructure improvements, and encouragement activities.
Joint Infrastructure Projects: Collaborate on infrastructure projects that enhance walking and biking access. This might involve sidewalk construction, crosswalk enhancements, bike lane additions, and traffic calming measures.
Biking and Walking Maps: Create and distribute biking and walking maps that highlight safe routes to schools, parks, and other key destinations. Make these maps readily available to students and families.
Bike Sharing and Bike Libraries: Establish bike-sharing programs and bike libraries near schools and parks, allowing residents to access bicycles for short trips. Promote these programs as alternatives to car travel.
Trail Development: Support the rail/trail plan for the downtown corridor and surrounding neighborhoods. Highlight key corridors and pathways for biking and walking improvements in other areas of the city as well.
Infrastructure Funding: Collaborate on grant applications and seek funding opportunities at the state and federal levels to support walking and biking infrastructure projects. Leverage resources to maximize impact.
Cross-Agency Training: Provide training to staff members of different agencies on the importance of safe walking and biking infrastructure and how to promote these initiatives effectively.
Performance Monitoring: Establish performance metrics to track the success of walking and biking access improvements. Regularly evaluate progress and adjust strategies as needed.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch public awareness campaigns to promote walking and biking as healthy, eco-friendly transportation options. Educate the public about the benefits of these modes of transportation.
Policy Alignment: Ensure that policies across agencies align with the goal of improving walking and biking access. Review and revise policies that may hinder progress.
By working together in a coordinated manner and with a shared commitment to enhancing walking and biking access, we can create a safer, more connected, and healthier environment for Durham residents. This collaborative approach can yield significant benefits for the community as a whole.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
In a "people-first" model of development, prioritizing options for single individuals that are walkable and bikeable is crucial for future development. This includes retrofitting existing infrastructure for housing to enhance Durham's collective resilience. For new developments, a practical step is to permit up to 8-plex cottages with subsidies for affordable housing and less car-dependent designs. Establishing a city zoning-friendly database for tiny houses and multiplex buildings can also help developers reduce costs while accommodating site-specific challenges.
Furthermore, we should expedite innovative housing solutions for smaller and recreational vehicle communities. Discounted fees and various subsidy tiers, along with expedited zoning changes, can facilitate upzoning from single-family to higher-density housing like triplexes and above.
Inclusive and Sustainable Growth: I advocate for policies that balance economic growth with equitable benefits and environmental preservation.
Energy and Environment:
Renewable Energy Promotion: We should incentivize and streamline the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar by covering non-energy component costs, simplifying permitting, and offering tax incentives.
Energy Efficiency Standards: Incentives for retrofitting buildings to reduce energy consumption and emissions can be enhanced, and energy-efficiency competitions can be established.
Waste Management: Comprehensive waste management, including recycling, composting, and waste reduction campaigns, is essential for a circular economy and reducing landfill waste.
Housing:
Affordable Housing: Access to affordable, sustainable housing is crucial. Policies should expand affordable housing options, provide subsidies for low-income individuals, and promote energy-efficient housing.
Green Building Practices: Encourage eco-friendly construction, energy-efficient designs, and renewable energy use. Passive house designs, renewable energy integration, and green building certifications should be incentivized.
Land Use and Planning:
Zoning Regulations: Mixed-use zoning, transit-oriented development, and green space integration can reduce urban sprawl, cut emissions, and create vibrant communities.
Smart Growth Initiatives: Prioritize infill development, transit-oriented development, and open space preservation to manage urban growth sustainably.
Brownfield Redevelopment: Encourage the reuse of brownfield sites to revitalize underutilized land and protect green spaces.
Transportation:
Sustainable Mobility: Invest in public transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly streets. Promote electric vehicles and car-sharing programs to reduce emissions and congestion.
Active Transportation: Develop safe walking and cycling infrastructure to improve public health and reduce car dependence.
Transit-Oriented Development: Encourage mixed-use development around transit hubs to shorten commutes and reduce the need for cars.
These initiatives aim to create a more sustainable and equitable future for Durham, fostering economic growth while protecting our environment and ensuring affordable, accessible housing options.
Leonardo Williams
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
You will find me walking and scooting around the city between work, meetings, community events, and play in Durham most days.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
Transportation equity embodies the vision of a city where mobility is both accessible and inclusive. It means creating a walkable, wheelable, and bikable environment that accommodates not only pedestrians and cyclists but also individuals with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can navigate the city’s streets seamlessly. Public transit systems should prioritize accessible stops located conveniently near workplaces and community centers, reducing commuting challenges and disparities. Sustainability plays a vital role, with an emphasis on a transportation fleet powered by renewable energy sources and reducing environmental impact. Transportation equity aims to liberate individuals from car dependence and parking by offering diverse, affordable, safe, and efficient transportation options. Ultimately, it fosters a sense of community and connection as residents freely move around their city, fostering stronger bonds between people and their environment.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham’s City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City’s progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
Yes, of course. We are all still grieving the death of our city colleague and are committed to ensuring these accidents don’t happen again. It is correct that these fatalities are not inevitable, rather, they are preventable. We have to continue to develop a bike pathway infrastructure that connects to greenways, major routes, and safe crossing points.
Additionally, some of our roads can be outfitted to include bike lanes if they are wide enough; studies have shown that narrower car lanes can also decrease the rate of speeding in many areas. We also have to evaluate major crossing locations that require traffic calming measures because of their risk to pedestrians. I will continue to rely much on the advice of our advisory councils and commissions who have already facilitated community conversations and planning around this topic like the Environmental Affairs Board (EAB), Durham Open Space and Trails (DOST), and Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC), as well as Bike Durham.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham’s transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
As a leader in guiding the city’s transportation strategy, I recognize the urgent need to improve mobility within Durham while creating efficient connections to job centers in and beyond Durham. I have worked on initiatives to connect bus stations in regions throughout the city and assess terminal ridership to allow for more efficient and frequent ridership on our buses.
I also play an active role as a leading representative for Durham at the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) level. Through my advocacy, I have contributed to evolving the conversation from commuter rail to Bus Rapid Transit and Passenger Rail. This shift in focus aligns with our vision of enhanced connectivity within and outside the city and is worth our funding and expansion.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
I have often worked together with the NCDOT and with other municipalities that are focused on transit, and I believe we will be able to continue our collaborative partnership in the future. Being a part of regular meetings, joint committees, and community engagement around safer streets and roads will be key in building these partnerships.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
I believe in transforming our neighborhoods through responsible brick-and-mortar development. This includes enhancing streetscapes and tree canopies in all areas, regardless of your zip code. Every community should benefit from a beautiful landscape and access to green spaces. Recognizing the health benefits of outdoor spaces, I am dedicated to creating more green spaces and parks. These areas not only enhance the quality of life for all residents but also offer places for recreation, relaxation, and community gathering.
Especially now after the pandemic, residents have shown more interest in having spaces to gather and build community together.
We have already seen record high temperatures, flooding, and extreme storms affecting our communities this summer. Our most vulnerable communities especially affected by environmental racism must receive targeted investment. I am committed to prioritizing resources for these areas to enhance their climate resilience, protect against extreme weather events, and ensure that residents have access to vital resources during crises.
I have already collaborated with Trees Durham to maximize tree planting across the city. I have actively supported grants to assess and enhance our tree canopy, with a particular focus on historically marginalized communities impacted by redlining. This not only contributes to climate resilience and reduction of heat islands but also enhances our city’s aesthetics and the overall well-being of residents. I have invited and/or am working with local organizations such as Don’t Waste Durham and Keep Durham Beautiful in the form of Public-Private-Partnerships (P3s) to ensure that Durham is environmentally just.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City’s Capital Improvement Program?
Active collaboration and accountability are key to supporting our city staff in meeting their goals. I look forward to having regular check-ins with city staff involved in these projects, fostering an open-door policy that encourages collaboration and provides a platform for obtaining frequent updates on progress. I will also actively engage with city residents, seeking their input and feedback to ensure that the projects align with their needs and expectations. I will continue to take the initiative to meet people where they are, actively seeking out the perspectives of those directly affected by these infrastructure projects.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
I have been advocating for a strong focus on multimodal options for our city. For multimodal options, I believe in investing in trails, protected bike lanes, dedicated lanes for rapid bus services, and expanding passenger train services. By creating a comprehensive network of transit choices, we can cater to various commuting preferences and facilitate smooth movement throughout the city and beyond. Collaboration and leadership is crucial in funding transportation improvements. I continue to be a leading representative on transit and mobility for the city of Durham. I am currently working with council colleagues to devise an infrastructure bond that will address the much-needed repairs to our streets and sidewalks.
This would be a significant step toward improving mobility in Durham, no matter your zip code. Council member Caballero and I have been leading the efforts on the Equitable Green Infrastructure bond.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
I prioritize active involvement in local city/county boards, commissions, and agencies for coordination and communication, ensuring that initiatives are aligned and resources are used effectively. Additionally, I would continue to collaborate with Durham County Commissioners to harness their support and resources for these initiatives. Drawing from my background and connections as a former educator, I have established a presence within educational organizations and schools, helping to facilitate dialogues to address their needs and concerns. Of course, I will continue to engage with organizations and coalitions like Bike Durham, leveraging experience, expertise, and advocacy to drive change!
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
Housing affordability is a key issue in Durham. To ensure our residents can afford to live in Durham, we can apply sustainable features into affordable housing projects to eventually reduce energy costs. Additionally, as Durham grows, we cannot let our vulnerable communities get left behind. In my comprehensive approach, we have to focus on affordable living, accessible transportation, and infrastructure improvements.
Expanding housing options, particularly for smaller footprint homes along transit corridors, is essential for addressing the city’s housing shortage and promoting sustainable growth. This approach not only improves access to public transportation but also creates opportunities for diverse and affordable housing types that cater to various needs and preferences.
Sylvester Williams
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I walk daily and mow my neighbor’s lawn. I am pastoring a Church that loves Christ Jesus. I also deliver food to homes on a regular basis.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
More money put towards busing since it is much more flexible than the light rail. The light rail cost about $200 million and we have nothing to show for it. Some officials are talking about revisiting the light rail again. Research has shown that there are only about two light rail projects in the whole country that are profitable. Public transportation, such as busing is more affordable and better able to reach different parts of Durham. Biking lanes need to be improved to ensure the safety of bike riders.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
Improve biking lanes. Give bikers greater flexibility when riding bikes.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
Put more money towards busing to increase the number of busing routes.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
There needs to be better negotiations. I had NCDOT to pave the parking lot in CR Woods Park as a concession for taking part of the park to build the East End Connector.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
Many people are not well studied. The impact of climate change constantly changes. In the 1970s the thought was that the climate was getting colder. Now the belief is the climate is getting warmer. The climate is global and there needs to a global effort to address the pollution and decimation of trees around the world that helps to control the atmosphere and the air we breathe. I would love to be a part of any group.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
The city of Durham needs about $180 million to repair the needed roads. To repair all the roads at once would take about one-third of the city’s budget. As a financial analyst I would devote more time to better planning for repairs based on the money available. The city has set on hundreds of millions of dollars and put hundreds of millions of dollars towards the failed light rail. I would have used the funds to improve not only the conditions of roads in Durham but also to create jobs and affordable housing.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes. Busing.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
I have already had conversations with City Parks & Recreation and Superintendent of Durham Public Schools. City Parks & Recreation was going to close CR Wood Park until I intervened. I went to the Durham Public School Board Meeting this year to address the discrimination against Christian students in the public schools. Christian students should have the same freedom that other students have and not be subjected to teachings that are contrary to their beliefs in Christ Jesus the Only Begotten Son of the Living God.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
I reached out to the head of Durham Housing Authority about using the approximately six acres that the church I pastor own to create housing for low-income people and the elderly. We have talked with developers and if the back street connected to the area is opened we could create approximately 300 units. Put more money towards busing.
At-Large Council Candidates
Nate Baker
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I commute by bike to work from the Northgate Park neighborhood to downtown every day. Like many Durham residents, I wish I and Durham residents were able to navigate our city using means other than private vehicles.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
Transportation equity means everyone can navigate the city and region equally regardless of wealth. That must mean we aggressively expand the realistic transportation options available to all residents. Please check out my blog: Make Durham Walkable
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
I endorse Vision Zero. We cannot afford the status quo anymore in our city. We need leaders who know what they’re doing and will make this a priority. I will:
Ensure we support ongoing multimodal transportation planning, including creating, maintaining, and refining a Vision Zero plan
Overhaul our UDO to end car-centric development, which has been supported by the majority group of 4 Councilmembers, and pivot toward 100% walkable, mixed use, smart growth development
Overhaul street design standards in the subdivision regulations
Create and adopt a complete streets policy
Adopt bold street design standards for redevelopment that allocate 50% of all street ROW to transit, pedestrian, and bicyclist space and 50% to vehicles
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
The city operates primarily on a hub and spoke model which is efficient in some ways but requires many passengers to travel indirectly to downtown with transfers to other parts of town, which can be very inconvenient. We need more cross-town routes that take people to where they need to go more directly, particularly those with 15-minute and 30-minute frequencies.
We have some good revenue sources, like the half cent sales tax, vehicle registration fees, vehicle rental tax, and of course the general fund, but are also on the cusp of losing federal revenue that has helped keep transit free. This will require some important communication with the community, but we should seek to keep transit free and should do so by dipping into transit plan money.
We are not meeting our goals for constructing and improving bus stops. We need to understand what the cause is for those delays so that we can address them and provide good bus stops across Durham.
We also need land use that supports transit and makes it convenient to take the bus—increasingly and incrementally more convenient than the car.
Finally, we desperately need bus rapid transit (BRT) and need leaders who will work aggressively to move that forward. BRT is quicker than rail to construct and has access to more federal funds (can receive 70-80% of project value vs 50% with lightrail). Right now, the MPO is leading a study on BRT but we need city leaders to champion it and move it forward.
I recently spoke with a transportation advocate in Durham who said: “What are our big transportation wins? We don’t really have any. We’ve lost faith in a vision and the ability to get things done.” Elected officials need to come in with a vision; and work with advocacy communities to apply pressure, and fix barriers to getting things done.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
We also have broader issues around transportation generally, that impact transit. Infrastructure projects are incredibly slow to get accomplished in Durham, both because of city processes and because of NCDOT. We see plans for greenways, neighborhood bike routes, and more that take years to get completed. There are internal problems we need city leaders to address, such as interdepartmental communications and retention of high-quality project managers. We also need city councilmembers with enough knowledge, experience, and drive to push against and call out NCDOT more publicly and advocate for better maintenance, repavings and redevelopments. Durham needs to be more proactive and anticipate NCDOT road projects so we get out ahead and address them rather than constantly reacting to them in an unprepared fashion, resulting in bad projects. Part of the problem is that we as a city still do not have design standards for street redevelopment. We need to establish a small area planning function in the city government that creates corridor plans.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
In addition to a Green New Deal for Durham, I have made a campaign commitment to establish a metropolitan climate action plan for climate resilience and also to put us on course to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality.
I will work to enact land use reform in Durham that:
Uses existing resources to establish a Neighborhood and Corridor Planning division and Growth Management division in City-County government that conduct ongoing planning and robust public engagement
Ensures new complete streets are actually complete streets and offer safe and viable multimodal transportation options
Overhauls Durham zoning regulations to end sprawl; permit pedestrian-oriented development only; protect open space, farmland, and wildlife habitat corridors
I will direct the city staff to bring in a diverse steering committee and engage with stakeholders across the city, from Bike Durham and Trees Durham to social justice groups, religious groups, and neighborhoods.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
Durham is plagued by delays on our multimodal infrastructure projects. This is unacceptable and a major problem that we need to address if we are actually serious about being a multimodal city for all. There are internal problems we need city leaders to address, such as interdepartmental communications and retention of high-quality project managers.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes. I will:
Ensure we support ongoing multimodal transportation planning, including creating, maintaining, and refining a Vision Zero plan
Overhaul our UDO to end car-centric development, which has been supported by the majority group of 4 Councilmembers, and pivot toward 100% walkable, mixed use, smart growth development
Overhaul street design standards in the subdivision regulations
Create and adopt a complete streets policy
Adopt bold street design standards for redevelopment that allocate 50% of all street ROW to transit, pedestrian, and bicyclist space and 50% to vehicles
We must be bold and show people that great transportation infrastructure is a wonderful thing for everyone. Currently, our multimodal projects are inadequate, incomplete, ugly, and poorly designed. We need leaders that will get the details right and bring a bold vision for a new future for our city, and that will work across our city and alongside advocacy groups like Bike Durham to bring implementation over the finish line.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
We need to develop city and countywide plans that involve stakeholders from all jurisdictions.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
Below are some of my housing priorities:
Develop a comprehensive affordable housing plan
Focus limited financial resources on the most vulnerable: people without housing, families with children, older persons on fixed incomes, and those within the lowest 30% area median income
Advocate for permanent social housing; maintain existing stock, hold onto publicly owned property, and build affordable units around transit
Work collaboratively with neighborhoods to find win-win solutions for infill housing in targeted places, such as better design standards, affordable housing, and public goods in exchange for higher density, streamlined procedures, and prototypes
Enact measures that protect and acquire naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) in safe condition, particularly in neighborhoods undergoing or at-risk for gentrification
Develop a supportive nexus study and carefully craft regulations and practices that provide affordable housing units in market rate developments
Ensure new housing is part of inclusive neighborhoods, with necessities like childcare, food sources, jobs, services, and transit
Take advantage of regional solutions and planning opportunities across jurisdictions
Move Durham away from a monocentric model to a polycentric model
Here are some development-related opportunities we have in Durham:
Simplify and clarify the discretionary and development review processes in exchange for greener and more equitable development standards
Apply zoning and small area plans that allow greater community-based discretionary review in a collaborative fashion with future developers
Establish a division for community-driven neighborhood, corridor, and area planning, a division that exists in most mid-sized cities undergoing substantial growth
Work with residents to consider threading small scale jobs and services into neighborhoods that want them
Maintain and update a fact-based community profile, with key land use, planning, and trends
Realistically expand the number of transportation options available to households and reduce vehicle miles travelled
Establish a growth management division and annexation policies that guide growth, protect open space, and prohibit leapfrog annexations; track and monitor growth and adjust policy
Develop guidance for connected countywide green infrastructure
Ensure all new infill development and greenfield development is built using transit- and pedestrian-oriented growth and design principles
Establish a green building policy to achieve our carbon neutral goals by 2045
Incorporate jobs, services, affordable housing, transit, civic space, multimodal infrastructure, natural space, and housing variety into new neighborhoods
Javiera Caballero
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
My family walks or bikes a fair amount and my kids take the bus a good amount especially to get to South Point mall. Transit is not a great option for me because it would take longer than walking or riding a bike, especially downtown. I’m glad the city is in the middle of doing its short range transit plan because it’s an opportunity to help shift bus routes including their frequency and reliability. Currently the same bus route serves both Riverside and Northern high schools and I think is a good example of how we need to change our current routes if we want our bus system to be able to serve more residents. As a City Council we’ve worked diligently to keep our buses fare free for all residents since 2020 first with federal dollars due to the pandemic and now through local commitments.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
To me transportation equity means we have a reliable affordable regional transit system and a reliable affordable local transit system. It also means we have excellent pike and pedestrian infrastructure that connects well to our transit system and allows residents to get around by walking or biking safely and efficiently. We know that many of our Go Durham bus riders have one or zero cars and also are some of our least affluent residents. They rely on the bus system and so we cannot lower that level of service to fund a regional transit system, which is also vital if we want to get people out of their cars and to connect Durham residents to good paying jobs not only in Durham but across the Triangle.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
Yes I endorse Vision Zero. I was the Council Member who asked for a Vision Zero Coordinator position in my Council budget asks for Fiscal Year 23/24 due to the advocacy and working closely with Bike Durham and the joint city/county Bike Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC). I am also one of two voting members for the City of Durham on the Durham-Chapel-Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO). The MPO won an Action plan grant to help create Vision Zero plan for the entire MPO. It will be critically important to our Vision Zero goals to fund and implement the recommendations from the plan when it is complete.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
My priorities are ensuring we have a high-quality local transit system- GoDurham- and that we continue to improve the routes that are most used so that current bus riders have reliable and frequent service. I would also like to keep it fare free. I also want our residents who use paratransit to have quality transit services they can rely on. We have made important commitments that we must continue delivering on.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
I think the city is slowly changing how it works with NCDOT but the changes that need to happen in NCDOT and with how the state funds transportation projects will take a long time to shift. The city has to start taking more control of its streets to be able to deliver the kind of multi-modal transit options Durham residents are asking for and what they deserve. It’s one of the main reasons I want to put a Green & equitable infrastructure bond in front of voters. We must expand our resources so we can continue to focus on safe and accessible bike infrastructure and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as Durham parks and trails.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
We have implemented a goal to reduce energy consumption in city buildings, have 80% of the energy used in city operations be renewable by 2030, and reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. We have committed $6 million more annually in our CIP for green infrastructure projects in neighborhoods that historically experienced disinvestment. In the current Capital Improvement Plan we allocated over $40 million towards sidewalks, bike infrastructure and other key improvements to help our city be more walkable and bikeable. The City of Durham along with Durham County and Durham Public Schools are now part of Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program. The city (City of Durham) will be able offset approximately 50% of consumption with clean, emission-free solar power from a solar plant in Alamance County. The City of Durham (COD) Transportation Department has a goal of an all-electric fleet of buses by 2035 and I believe we now have 10 buses in the fleet. We must continue building off of these successes. We also have an opportunity with the rewrite our Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to incentivize the development community to proffer sustainable building design. In return their projects could be put on a pathway created for projects to move quickly through our development process.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
Our funding commitment in FY23/24 shows how seriously we’re taking bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget is $84 million with over $40 million allocated towards sidewalks, street repaving, and bicycle facilities. The city will also be installing 7.5 miles of bicycle lanes with a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) federal grant. Since my time on Council there has been a tremendous amount of improvement and I recognize we must do more.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes- I don’t think Durham wins if we don’t prioritize all of the options listed above. I’ve long been an advocate and believer in all of the above- I think our transit strategy has to be similar to our housing strategy. Different groups in our community want and need different things from their transit system and we need to meet that challenge.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
Many of these folks are actively working and participating in our Vision Zero Action Plan work. It’s an excellent opportunity to align all of our efforts to affect the deep change many residents want when it comes to bike and pedestrian options and outcomes in Durham.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
Our current affordable housing plan, Forever Home Durham, has allocated $95 million to build and protect affordable housing for seniors, people with disabilities and low-income families. Our City Council must design and implement an even larger affordable housing plan to move forward. In my next term, I would like to put another affordable housing bond in front of the voters. This bond would fund new rental units for workers, seniors, and people with disabilities. Without another bond we will lose the momentum we’ve made over the last several years to help residents on the brink of displacement. It would also make critical investments in our public housing. I would like to collaborate with the county commission and the School Board to create innovative housing plans for public workers. Finally, as we work to prevent evictions across the city, I look forward to partnering with a local nonprofit to create a rental assistance fund and expanding our support for eviction diversion with Legal Aid.
JJ Campbell
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I walk most days because as an at home dad I can stay in my neighborhood. My nearest bus stop is 1 mile away which makes it impractical for grocery shopping with a 6 yr old. My wife bikes to work when she is at one of Duke’s main hospitals and it takes about 30 minutes on an ebike.
Our biggest obstacle to riding more often is safe routes. I need to tow my 6 year old, and that means that a lot of the most direct routes are not available.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
Transportation equity would be where anyone in city limits doesn’t need a car. That would be ideal. It would make housing more affordable, protect the environment, fight global warming, improve community connectedness, and boost our local businesses.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
Vision Zero is brilliant and I endorse it. I will continue to advocate for, and nudge my fellow councilmen to take road safety seriously and remind them that our vehicular death rate is shockingly close to our homicide rate and that almost all vehicular deaths are preventable.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
I had a roommate with a master’s in transportation. He taught me that the first step in improving anything is to talk to the experts. They often have solutions that most of us haven’t even considered yet. For instance, a road that gently curves back and forth will naturally slow down traffic without the need for speed bumps. For transit, dedicated bus lanes can provide all the benefits of rail at a fraction of the cost and have the bonus of being more flexible in routes, stops, and volume. That said, it sounds like protected bus stops needs to be implemented immediately.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
One of my friends suggested swapping some of the state vs. local owned streets. This would allow traffic to still flow through the city as well as allow us to make residential streets safer. There is also an email circulating about NCDOT planning to repave Mangam and Roxboro and as a city we can work to convince them to make them two-way with bike lanes. If that fails, or looks like it is likely to fail, then perhaps the street swap would be a good backup plan. Given the number of accidents though, I would hope that NCDOT would listen before we have to resort to lawyers.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
From the level of city council my main objectives would be connecting bike lanes, improving transit (including dedicated bus lanes), planting trees, protecting green space, de-prioritizing cars in general, encouraging permaculture on private and public spaces, improving home efficiency and self-sufficiency (i.e. solar), and focusing on walkability. These are big initiatives, and will require help from local, national, and international partners such as Bike Durham, Solarize the Triangle, GoDurham, schools, Duke, the EPA, etc.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
Great question. I have been directly involved in two start-up non-profits and tangentially worked with three or four tech startups. I am a strong advocate of the Scrum method, minimum viable products used for quick feedback and iterating to the desired solution, painted door tests, and flat organizations. Given the delays, and the cost that those delays represent, I believe I can convince the council that it would be cheaper overall to bring in the necessary expertise to streamline these projects.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes. My priorities would be strongly influenced by the community. I would start small with things like closing downtown to cars once a month, connecting our bike routes, improving bus stops, requiring new developments to incorporate sustainable transportation in their plans, and putting dedicated bus lanes in places with the worst rush hour traffic (hopefully seeing the bus fly past will encourage more people to try it).
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
I worked as a scientist for a fortune 500 and consulted in house for another 4 fortune 500s. Working in a team and between teams requires a lot of communication and requires clear and limited goals. Ideally, we would work one neighborhood at a time and find a local volunteer to lead the coordination efforts between the PTA, the School, the School District, and the City to first find the low hanging fruit and expand that out to a fully fledged plan.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
If it is legal, I will push to require that all new development projects include infrastructure for sustainable transportation. This would include bus stops, sidewalks, paths that connect to parks, bike lanes, etc.
I would also pursue a perpetual development fund that would allow people to develop their own properties if they make a percentage of the units affordable.
Shelia Huggins
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
My family frequently engages in outside activities. I generally walk or run outside several days a week. My husband rides his bike daily. For many years, he took the bus from Durham to downtown Raleigh where he worked. He would attach his bike to the front of the bus so that he would have it available for riding in Raleigh. Unfortunately, he was moved to a different location that made it no longer feasible for him to take the bus to Raleigh.
I generally do not ride transit for the following reasons: 1) in many instances, it’s not offered at the times and locations needed; 2) I’m either going short distances where I could drive in 5-10 minutes or long distances to other counties for work; or 3) I need to do something quickly, and it would take more time using transit. For short distances when it would be more feasible to walk, it’s a safety issue. There are no sidewalks to the places that I would walk to.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
We would definitely have more sidewalks and bike lanes. Bus service would be expanded and remain free. We would have better regional transit opportunities. People who need mobility assistance would have more opportunities for transit assistance. In general, we would have a comprehensive system that allows for people to go places using a variety of means and in a manner that’s not cost prohibitive.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five-year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
I live in a neighborhood that lacks sidewalks. Therefore, I understand what it’s like to dodge vehicles and, as a driver, to look out for people who are out walking and running. I support our Vision Zero plan and will work to make sure that projects are aligned with our Vision Zero plan.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
According to the City of Durham website, “The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced a $292,500 grant from the Areas of Persistent Poverty program to the City of Durham to fund a draft plan for the new Village Transit Center (VTC) near The Village Shopping Center in East Durham.” This area was selected because it was the route with the second highest number of riders. I believe that by improving transportation services in areas of high poverty, residents will be better able to get to jobs, educational and training opportunities, health care, and more. Once we start with VTC, we should also analyze what’s working and determine whether there are other places in the city that could benefit from a similar program.
In addition to this, we’ve also heard from residents regarding which routes need higher frequency services, and residents have also expressed concerns about the need to expand the hours of bus services. This is something we should continue to monitor and also look for opportunities to make the necessary changes. Regarding our paratransit services, I have heard complaints regarding the length of time for pickup, issues relating to scheduling changes, and issues related to health care appointments. My priorities would focus on remedying the issues that we’ve already heard about from residents.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
Our elected officials, residents, and community stakeholders all have a role to play in influencing how decisions are made about our state-owned roads. As we know, Durham is a part of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the NCDOT is responsible for carrying out road projects. While there are a number of formal relationships that aid in the transportation planning process, I think that one of the biggest issues is that we haven’t always spoken in solidarity and with one voice. We may have community groups that push for certain priorities and projects and at the same time the City or other stakeholders support something entirely different. Additionally, the NCDOT tends to focus on projects in a way that doesn’t prioritize pedestrian and bicycle options. I believe that we need to 1) make sure that we present our priorities in a cohesive voice, 2) continue to use our legislative delegation to help NCDOT understand and support our priorities, and 3) build regional support from other municipalities who may be facing similar issues. This may help us in terms of building a better relationship with the NCDOT.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
My overall position is that we need to take climate change seriously and start making changes at the local level to do our part. I have an education background in the sciences and a Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in environmental policy. For several years, I worked in an environmental lab and yet, I sometimes have a hard time following the details on some of the environmental issues. But I believe that my background provides me with a different perspective in working with the community and can provide some insight into how we could do a better job of mitigating the impacts of climate change in Durham.
I worked in city government for almost nine years. Therefore, I have a good understanding of the process that city council uses to vote on issues. The documentation that they receive does not include an analysis regarding the environmental impact of any given decision. My belief is that we should include an environmental assessment or impact statement on every agenda item so that we know if we're moving in the right direction, standing in place, or moving backwards. This is a simple step that we could take to mitigate the impacts that we make as a city.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
As a former city employee, it has been my experience the city is usually under-resourced for projects, meaning they don’t have enough staff and other resources for the projects that they manage. There is staff turnover, the number of current projects assigned to staff, new projects that are started, and supply chain issues that still impact timelines. Some of the issues involved are complex and involve many moving parts. That being said, if we want a better understanding of why the projects are taking so long to complete, we need to be willing to understand why this is happening and then instituting a plan that responds to the issues that are raised.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes. Any policies and investments that are being made to support sustainable transportation options have to result in options that residents want and will actually use. I think that the options that we hear the most about include sidewalks, bus service, and paratransit services. I would work on finding ways to increase the service and efficiencies of our bus services, support the building of sidewalks on both sides of the street, and make sure that we are improving paratransit as needed. I’ve reviewed the GoDurham Better Bus Project, and I think it is a good example of building a comprehensive plan around transportation. Covered seating, bicycle racks, and sidewalks are all included in the plan.
We also need to make sure were building an efficient bus-rapid transit service which offers an opportunity for us to provide increased sustainable transportation options in Durham.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
In some instances, we have already done this, for example our Durham Trails and Greenway Master Plan explicitly mentions connectivity and accessibility. The Bike+Walk Implementation Plan has plans in place for the installation of sidewalks and bicycle pathways. The thing to remember is that most of those plans were made a number of years ago. I believe that it’s time to revisit those plans and review them to improve connectivity to schools, parks, and other locations and have local government agencies participate in the process.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
Better job opportunities can address both housing and transportation issues.
We need to focus on career progression and have honest conversations with residents about the skills, training, and experience needed to obtain better jobs. Job automation is here now. Kroger, Walmart, and Dollar General have announced plans to pilot a self-service only store. Cruise, a self-driving vehicle company is experimenting in Raleigh (which may compete with taxis, Uber drivers, and Lyft drivers), and in Durham, the Parks and Recreation Department has used automated equipment for lawn services. Certain types of jobs will become automated. But that will open up opportunities for other types of jobs. We need to connect with employers to determine what those new jobs are and work with our residents so that they understand what they need to do in order to be prepared for those jobs.
On my website, I have a plan called The 60th (www.votesheliahuggins.com). It discusses how to align jobs and housing; because there is no home that’s affordable if you can’t find a job or don’t have an income to pay for it.
Khalilah Karim
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I am fortunate to raise my family in a neighborhood with a city park. Because of this, walking to the park is a regular part of our family’s life and a major way that we’ve been able to build community in our neighborhood. Still, there are no sidewalks on our street, and even though we live about a mile from the nearest grocery store, the lack of appropriate infrastructure makes that mile impractical. Likewise, even though we live on a bus line that takes us directly to the bus station in downtown Durham, we rarely use it due to how much longer the trip takes. As a busy family of four with two working parents, time is our most valuable commodity. As an environmental advocate, I know we have to transition away from cars, but to do this effectively, we have to expand multi-modal transportation and make it work for all Durham residents.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
As Durham has sprawled and avoids density in the urban core, we have become increasingly car-reliant. Even since I moved here 9 years ago, traffic has increased tremendously making the idea that we can get anywhere in 20 minutes a thing of the past. Durham needs increased access to multi-modal transportation for everyone, not just the few privileged enough to live in neighborhoods adjacent to downtown like Duke Park and Trinity Park. This means sidewalks, bike lanes, and safe, reliable, and efficient buses. Currently, there are large swaths of the city that have none of these, leaving families’ dependent on cars or, in the unfortunate event of an accident, flat tire, or breakdown, unable to participate fully in things as essential as work, their child’s education, and community building. Because of this, Durham needs deep investments in multi-modal transportation, including city-wide and region-wide bussing.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
This past budget cycle I was happy to see Durham invest in the Vision Zero program. It’s troubling that on average a pedestrian is involved in a crash in Durham every 3 days. We need to be proactive in making our streets safe for pedestrians and bikers as we strive to be a more multimodal city. Vision Zero is a great way to build safer communities by striving for zero fatalities and serious injuries on the road. I will advance this work by pushing for environmentally sustainable modes of transportation moving us away from a car dependent city.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
Expanding multi-modal transportation in Durham is not optional to me. I would be interested in looking at express bus options on current routes in order to increase efficiency while also ensuring accessibility. Likewise, the current paratransit plan ends at 2pm, making working a full time job an impossibility for these individuals. I understand the challenges this poses to city budgets and staffing, but ensuring accessibility for our residents must be prioritized.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
In my current position with the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, I have worked with communities – primarily Black and brown communities – to fight for the changes they need. I am no stranger to making local issues big, and I am confident in the relationships that I’ve built at the state level to fight for our residents. That said, I also believe city council needs to be collaborating with the Durham delegation to the general assembly to ensure that our needs are being met at the state level as well.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
Durham is in a really fortunate position right now with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which is the largest environmental legislation. In this bill, there is funding to make public and affordable housing more energy efficient, build climate resilience into city infrastructure, increase tree cover, and expand community solar projects. As a city councilor, I would make sure this funding is going to the right groups and accessible to the people who need it the most. The IRA can help build long-term energy-producing assets like solar fields, install geothermal heating, or invest in clean fuel buses with the support of federal money. Also, any new local government buildings can be constructed greener and cheaper. I would partner with organizations like sunrise and Durham for all that work to promote environmental justice issues.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
Delayed timelines have a disproportionate effect in the communities in which they are building in. These delayed projects cause more traffic, trickier driving lanes, more pollution and unreliable access to the neighborhood. It’s often working folks that feel the brunt of this, and our residents deserve better. We need to have timelines that are adhered to and if not there should be consequences that should benefit the affected community.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes. Expanding multi-modal transportation, including infrastructure for biking and walking as well as investments in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) are absolutely critical for Durham. With the Inflation Reduction Act, Durham can access money to build green infrastructure without having to raise taxes, which is a win-win for our residents. Additionally, we must ensure that Durham’s buses remain fare-free. We’ve seen how important this has been to our community during COVID, and we can, and should, continue to prioritize this spending.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
With a background in organizing, I believe my ability to collaborate is a definite strength of mine. I have already built relationships with several Durham Board of Education members, and I know that together, we can expand our families’ ability to walk or bike to school safely. Parks & Rec is a little easier since they are part of the city, but again, I prioritize deep listening, understanding where everyone is coming from and what they need, and finding ways for all of us to win.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
We must prioritize housing availability and affordability while simultaneously prioritizing environmental sustainability in development. Specific policies to accomplish this include streamlining development codes, down payment assistance, and another housing bond to invest in increased permanent affordable housing. We need policies that bring transparency and accessibility to the zoning and development process. My background in labor and environmental organizing has taught me that this process needs to be more fair and transparent to the communities it will affect. By giving them the tools to be active in the process and then also helping them gain equity from new development instead of being pushed out.
Additionally, sustainable, affordable, multi-modal transportation is a critical need for our community. We need to invest more funding into all of these areas, but the city can’t do it alone. I was disappointed to learn recently that the Triangle’s planned regional rail line will not be eligible for federal funding. The city, county, state, and federal governments must all work together to ensure that sustainable transportation for the region becomes a reality. At the local level, I believe the best path forward is to invest in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). This system is relatively low-cost compared to rail, and can be implemented more quickly. For regional transit solutions, BRT is also an option. I am hopeful that state and federal money, as well as advancing technology, will allow more robust investments in sustainable transportation in the future. We also must ensure that we are connecting our new housing development through investments in multi-modal transportation infrastructure. Fortunately, there is federal money available to help Durham make these investments without having to dig into our own budget.
Carl Rist
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I am an avid biker and have been a bike commuter for years. I walk or bike virtually daily (rain or shine), both for recreation and for getting to and from meetings for my campaign.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
For me, transportation equity means that all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, age, or physical ability, should have equal access to safe, affordable, and convenient transportation choices. Achieving this involves addressing historical and systemic disparities in our transportation infrastructure and services. Some specific elements of transportation equity include accessible public transit, affordable fares, service frequency and reliability (especially in underserved neighborhoods), equitable funding (including prioritizing projects that benefit underserved communities), and accessibility for those with disabilities.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five-year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
I am a member of BikeDurham and was a strong supporter of the efforts of Bike Durham and City Councilwoman Javiera Caballero to include funding for a Vision Zero coordinator in this year’s city budget. If elected, I would be a strong supporter of significant annual investments in our sidewalk and bike networks. Sidewalks and bike lanes provide a healthy and sustainable way to move around the city and also to connect to transit services that link with regional employment and retail hubs. In addition to these kinds of annual investments, the City much also deliver on accountability in making them. On annual surveys, residents tend to give the city low grades on key transportation investments. One way to assess Durham’s performance in making needed transportation investments would be to join the North Carolina Benchmarking 2.0 Project at the UNC School of Government, which compares service data and performance trends across a wide range of city services. Durham is one of the few large cities that does not already participate.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
Providing safe, efficient and sustainable options for residents to move about Durham and connect to regional centers for work and play is a key function of city government. The 2050 Master Transit Plan from the Durham/Chapel Hill MPO provides a valuable framework for making important transportation decisions and investments in Durham. If elected, I would seek to guide city transportation policy in the following ways:
Develop a transportation plan/vision for Durham. Just as we have a comprehensive plan to guide development, Durham needs our own transportation plan/vision that aligns with the 2050 MTP, but lays out a city-specific vision for transportation that prioritizes equity, safety, and connectivity. Charlotte’s Strategic Mobility Plan is an example of such a local plan. This effort would not have to start from scratch, but rather could draw on information in existing individual plans, such as the Move Durham Study.
Continue investments in sidewalks, bike lanes, streets and transit, but deliver on accountability. As noted above, residents give the city low grades on key transportation investments.
Continue to support fare-free buses to encourage more transit use, while also expanding routes and improving reliable service.
Prioritize bus rapid transit (BRT) over commuter rail, as federal support has shifted towards BRT and away from commuter rail.
Resist efforts from the state DOT to widen freeways in key corridors, such as 15-501, U.S. 70 and 147 between I-40 and I-885, focusing instead on making these corridors higher priority for BRT.
Finally, the city’s paratransit services are absolutely essential for our neighbors with disabilities, but continue to be plagued by unreliable service and an overall lack of capacity. To address these gaps in paratransit services, the city needs to consider higher pay to attract more paratransit drivers and also consider more flexible and user-friendly ways of meeting the transportation needs of residents with disabilities.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
As a resident of Trinity Park, I am very well aware of the tricky problem of ensuring safety on state-owned roads that go through Durham and the challenge of getting state approval of any desired changes. I have a couple of ideas for navigating these challenges. One option would be for the city to offer to take over responsibility for these roads from DOT. The challenge with this is that it would represent a net increase in road maintenance expenses for the city. Because of this, some activists in Durham have proposed that Durham offer to swap responsibility for specific roads in Durham, with the city/county taking over responsibility for some of the more dangerous roads in Durham, and then giving the state DOT other roads in less populous areas of Durham County.
Another idea would be to coordinate with NCDOT so that, when they have roads scheduled for repaving, the city is also able to participate and can restripe them to be as bike friendly as possible. Finally, the city should be in constant communication with the NCDOT board member on the DCHC MPO to make sure that that person is aware of the impact that changes to certain state roads may have on accomplishing Durham’s Vision Zero goals.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
Ensuring a healthy and sustainable environment in Durham is one of the key pillars of my platform. In order to mitigate the impact of climate change, I have proposed a number of actions the city can take, including:
Updating Durham’s climate action plan. Durham’s climate action plan is good and outlines clear goals for reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewables. However, the plan should be updated to reflect the massive, new funding opportunities made available at the federal level via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. Three specific areas of opportunity include:
Developing a specific approach around the green jobs and workforce skills necessary to support potential large infrastructure investments funded by the federal government. Innovative cities, like Denver, have developed plans for equitable green workforce development and have engaged their economic development staff to create a green workforce strategy centered on measurable and fundable training outcomes, especially for women and people of color.
Developing an approach to ensure that Durham is prepared to access significant funding made available via the Inflation Reduction Act to address environmental justice and support consumers in reducing carbon consumption. This includes: 1) EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants that will fund community-based organizations to make investments in low- and zero-emissions technologies in disadvantaged communities, and 2) $9 billion in DOE’s Home Energy Rebate Program to provide consumer rebates to reduce home energy fuel use and lower emissions.
Updating the climate action plan to include specific strategies to strengthen climate resilience locally, such as making sure there are sufficient shelters available (with solar power and battery backup) for residents who will lose power when storms hit, keeping our storm water sewer system and drainage channels clear and well maintained, and maintaining our water supply system to minimize leakage, especially in the case of droughts.
Continue to implement installation and upkeep of an equitable tree canopy throughout Durham to address the historically inequitable distribution of tree canopy in Durham
Consider an equitable and green infrastructure bond to fund safe and accessible bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and Durham parks.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
In annual surveys of city residents, the quality of streets, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and transit often receive some of the lowest rankings. The city has made significant investments in transit, sidewalks, streets and a network of bike paths and greenways, so the delay in completing important transportation infrastructure projects appears to be less of a policy question, and more of a management challenge.
In order to hold city staff accountable, the city needs to establish key performance indicators and measure staff performance against these indicators. As referenced above, one way to do this would be to join the North Carolina Benchmarking 2.0 Project at the UNC School of Government. This would allow Durham to compare its service data and performance trends with peer cities in NC across a wide range of city services.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
Yes. To mitigate the impacts of climate change, we must make sustainable transportation options more attractive and accessible to residents. If elected, I would prioritize continued investments in sidewalks, bike lanes, streets and transit. I would prioritize continued investments in Durham’s Equitable and Green Infrastructure (EGI) project, which focuses on investment in, and engagement with, low-wealth communities and communities of color that have historically been excluded and to rectify these harms through improved infrastructure. If necessary, I would also support consideration of an equitable and green infrastructure bond.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
Improving walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations will require a collaborative effort across key public agencies, such as DPS, DPR, the Transportation Department and others. Elements of a collaborative strategy could include establishing a cross-agency task force, conducting a comprehensive assessment of opportunities and challenges, engaging the community, collaboration on securing funding, coordinating on key infrastructure improvements, cooperating on community outreach and education, and establishing a data collection system to monitor progress.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
Housing is the single most significant expense for most American households. Unfortunately, in Durham, more than half of renter households (51%) pay more than 30% of income on rent. These renter households are considered “cost-burdened.” To address Durham’s housing needs, I recommend at least four strategies:
Continue to develop additional permanent supportive housing for Durham's most vulnerable residents -- those experiencing homelessness. The city’s Forever Home initiative calls for the development of 1,700 units of permanent supportive housing, but we will likely need more. This is not inexpensive and will require more public investment.
Provide support for the Durham Housing Authority and local housing non-profits to use the City's housing bond funds to build thousands of affordable rental units.
Provide downpayment assistance for first-time, low-income homebuyers. Durham’s recently re-launched downpayment assistance program will provide qualified homeowners up to $80,000 in the form of a 0% interest second mortgage, but that means serving less than the 400 homeowners expected to be served as part of the city’s investment in Forever Home. More funds for downpayment assistance will be needed to allow more low-income households to become homeowners.
Encourage private development of affordable housing using the city’s planning and zoning authority and by common-sense changes to the existing code.
In all of this work, the city should prioritize the placement of housing in ways that increase density in the urban core.
Sherri Zann Rosenthal
How often do you currently walk, bike, and/or ride transit in Durham? What prevents you from doing so more often?
I walk daily with my dog on city streets and greenways. I used to ride my bike to work about half the time.
In recent years, the increased traffic and what I sense as distraction of auto drivers has limited the routes that I find safe. For example, Main Street, Club Blvd. and downtown used to feel safer to me.
Drivers do not seem to understand the right-of-way rules and how to interact with bicyclists. As a result, instead of governing myself by the actual right-of-way rules, I am finding it safer to simply hang back and let cars go their own way. In fact, however, I think this makes interactions less predictable, and I believe unpredictable interactions lead to accidents.
If we can achieve it, what would transportation equity look like to you?
I’m trying on a new thought: that not all streets and by-ways need to serve all modes of transport. As we, I hope, finally get on with planning for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), I think it tips us over the edge of being able to believe that the right-of-way width of our streets can accommodate all forms of transportation.
Instead, we might do better to reimagine and redesign our streets into being an interconnected web, with some routes being more oriented to one or two modes, of transit.
I’m someone who usually prefers organic growth of new structural paradigms, and solutions that can be reality-tested before huge investments of time and money. So with this idea, Durham will need to be creative and, if possible, have good guidance on how to test-drive, so to speak, this concept while trying to minimize the costs of the lessons that we will inevitably learn along the way. I hope we can adopt a flexible attitude that expects and welcomes changes to the design of the system and its solutions as we learn.
Ultimately, the goal is to have multiple, intersecting routes that each provide safe and convenient choices.
The other perspectives on equity also need to be incorporated. All sections of our City need to be served. I also think that the prevalence of violence against women is rarely, if ever, spoken about in terms of its significant impact on women’s transportation choices. As one example, if roughly half the population doesn’t feel safe taking mass transit after dark because of concerns over getting to and from the mass transit, that’s something we should try to solve. Getting people out of cars, which for women are both transit and protective steel cages, is really important for our environmental and physical health.
Vision Zero is a safe systems approach to traffic safety that does not accept that traffic fatalities or serious injuries are inevitable. Durham's City Council initially endorsed Vision Zero in 2017. In 2017, the five year average of motor vehicle crash fatalities was 26/year, including 5 people walking and 1 person biking. The most recent 5-year average through 2022, is 32 killed per year, including 7 people walking and fortunately fewer than 1 person killed per year while biking. Do you endorse Vision Zero and, if so, what will you do to advance the City's progress toward zero deaths or serious injuries?
Vision Zero is very important. While fatalities are tragic, there are also many more incidents in which people are hurt or really frightened by accidents or near-accidents. These experiences discourage people from choosing transit other than cars.
The only up-side of our City governments’ current condition, with an intense level of job vacancies, is that if we get ourselves together, we may be able to attract new employees who have specific skills in transit design, and who are enthusiastic about transforming our City’s transit web.
We’ve got to fix our employee pay plan, starting by immediately making existing employee’s whole from the freezing of the 2019 pay plan in 2020. Then we need to have upper management in the City who are excited about the opportunities to transform the transit web, and who will be discerning in rebuilding our Transportation Department.
Honestly, I am not keen on the ‘protected’ bike lanes that use those plastic tubes that look like stick ball bats stuck in a lump of tar. Very ugly and not really that protective. It would be great to get someone in who has spent time in France or other places in Europe where street design and barriers also incorporates a sense that public amenities should add beauty along with function.
What are your priorities for improvements to Durham's transit and paratransit services so they can meet the needs of more Durham residents, starting with current transit riders and workers?
Along with climate change and habitat preservation, another big consideration is the aging of the population. Demographics tell us that the biggest band of the baby boom (alliteration!) is hitting their mid-70s now. Durham doesn’t have much of a coordinated network of services to deal with the needs of this population in order to help them remain engaged and to age in place. Transportation is a big part of this. When a transit network is extremely oriented toward cars, people don’t want to give up driving, even when for everyone’s safety, they should.
So my priority is a BRT system that is popular and convenient. Add to that specialized transit services to serve special needs, especially interconnecting services to ease getting from the BRT to destinations.
Given that the most dangerous streets and roads in Durham are state-owned, requiring NCDOT approval before changes can be made, what ideas do you have for changing the City's relationship with the NCDOT in order to make our streets safer for all users?
I don’t know how often our City staff and Council meets with key members of the NCDOT regional office. It’s not clear to me why there are disconnects between what our local representatives want and what NCDOT is willing to do. I can promise that if elected, this will be an area I will work to understand and try to improve.
What are the most important initiatives on your agenda to lead Durham in mitigating the impacts of climate change? With which organizations will you partner to amplify these efforts?
Climate change, disaster prevention and mitigation and habitat preservation are on my mind so often these days.
Local government’s zoning and development approval authority are some of the most powerful tools we have to affect climate change, along with the design of our transportation web.
Sadly, our current 4-vote City Council majority has approved just about project or change to our development ordinance proposed by developers in recent years. The projects proposed for Durham do not include much in the way of ecological features, be it storm water handling, preservation of mature trees and topsoil, energy-efficiency emphasizing renewables, or habitat preservation, and linkages to non-auto transit.
You may know that I developed Eno Commons, a 22-home neighborhood, in the mid-90s as an environmental prototype. I wanted to show that density could be used in service of habitat and open space preservation, and that energy-efficiency could be relatively affordable. Over 25 years after move-in, I’m told Eno Commons remains the most energy-efficient neighborhood in our state. It also incorporated natural storm water handling/aquifer re-charge, wildlife corridors on the east and west boundaries, preservation of undisturbed land, and fire resistance/fire defensibility.
The Development Scorecard, a project I brought to the Eno Association being created in coordination with the ERA Advocacy Committee, now has a draft version. When my intern and I went to apply it to a recent development re-zoning submission, we found that the City-County rezoning application now consists of almost all check boxes indicating whether projects meet minimal standards. It contains almost none of the information one would want in order to compare projects on their environmental, community and local economic impacts! Of course, of particular concern is the affordability of homes for residential projects.
So a high priority is to use the upcoming re-write of the Unified Development Ordinance to provide much more complete information on proposed development at the rezoning stage, which is when the City Council has the most leverage by keeping the approval gate closed unless the developer provides a compelling set of commitments.
Preserving the tree canopy and habitat is part of climate change, but also simply of the imperative to leave a living world for the next generations.
I would immediately move to ban mass grading. We should have done this years ago. We should also enter into immediate talks with Southern Environmental Law Center and the Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop/Sound Rivers to put together a plan, including NC DEQ, to remediate the damage done to the Lick Creek and surrounding waterways from the mass grading and blasting in SE Durham.
Finally, we see the devastating wildfires in our country and around the world. With the sustained elevated temperatures and droughty conditions we experienced this summer, it is likely that we are only a step behind. Our revised development ordinance should incorporate requiring fire-resistant materials into building exteriors and fire-defensibility into site planning.
Many transportation infrastructure projects have taken ten or more years for the City to complete. What will you do to hold City staff accountable to timely completion of the commitments of the Durham Transit Plan and the City's Capital Improvement Program?
I have been told that Public Works has over a 50% vacancy rate. How are we going to “hold City staff accountable to timely completion of commitments” when there is skeletal staffing? Rebuilding our City’s capacity to fulfill its responsibilities is a bedrock issue for anything we hope to accomplish.
The motion on yesterday’s (9/21/23) Work Session agenda regarding bonuses for City workers indicated that the money would be pulled from various capital improvement funds! While I’d like to understand more about this intention and why these funds were chosen, my reaction is that this is more of what the 4-vote majority tends to do: defund maintenance of roads and City properties in order to fund pet projects and people. There was not $1 in last year’s budget for road base, for example. That’s why our roads are in terrible shape.
Consistent capital maintenance and improvement must be restored.
Our City staffing levels must be restored. Timely and effective, let alone creative!, anything will be a struggle while many workers are trying to cover the job functions of 2 or 3 people.
Would you support policies and investments to make sustainable transportation options - such as walking, biking, and riding transit - more accessible and appealing to everyone in Durham? If so, what would your priorities be?
I hope I covered this in other answers. Priorities are options that minimize net carbon and greenhouse gas production/environmental release. Beauty and ease of interconnection of transit modes are values I prioritize.
How do you propose working across various agencies (ie - City Parks & Rec, Durham Public Schools, etc) to improve walking and biking access to schools, parks, and other locations in our region?
I was looking at the Durham and Pedestrian Bike Map this morning and see so many ways in which the more welcoming streets for biking and walking do not connect up to reach popular destinations. For example, the streets best for biking don’t tend to have overpasses to cross freeways, such as Hwy. 147.
One has to go back to the late 1990s, when we had a City Manager named Lamont Ewell, for an example of the common use of inter-departmental and inter-agency task teams in our local government. I think these relatively short-term task teams–given a defined mission and a defined time-frame to report back with suggested solutions, might be good for this mission.
The costs of housing and transportation are the two highest expenses for many households. Please outline your policy and investment priorities for addressing the challenges of ensuring that everyone has access to housing that they can afford in places where they are connected to the rest of Durham and the region through public transit, walking, and biking.
First, let’s recognize that national and international economics and tax structures have hollowed out the middle class and concentrated wealth in a relatively small percentage of people who are mostly tied in to the international corporate economy. For local government to ‘solve’ the problem of intense inequality is very difficult. Just as workers have the best chance of improving their position through organizing together, we need a lot more conversation about this, and for local governments to join together through the NC League of Municipalities and the national organizations like the League of Cities to advocate for national policies to change.
I think we need a Comprehensive Housing Plan that has timelines and metrics for success. This plan should begin with a census of what housing we now have, of what kind, location and price range. Then the census should be used to figure out targets for the housing we need. The strategy section of the plan should look at our municipal authorities, such as planning and development, minimum code enforcement, federal money, the power to create and preserve affordable housing and economic development authority, and set out strategies that make creative use of these powers to create both carrots and sticks to reach our targets.
Crucial to the Comp Housing Plan will be sections on disrupting the predatory low end of the private rental housing market and creating an Affordable Housing Preservation Plan.
The portion of the Plan that looks at the current and needed locations of different forms and pricing of housing should take into account transportation patterns–both existing and spotlighting places we need to reach with better transit options.
Edits to original post: Responses from Sherri Zann Rosenthal were added at 1:17pm on Friday, September 22. Responses from Leonardo Williams were added at 9:54pm on Friday, September 22. Responses from DeDreana Freeman were added at 9:15am on Monday, September 25. Updated from primary election information to municipal election information on October 22.