Durham City Council voted unanimously to adopt new street and bikeway design guides and emphasized the importance of voting during its Monday meeting.
Adoption of urban development guidelines
The new design standards — the Urban Street Design Guide and Urban Bikeway Design Guide — come from the National Association of City Transportation Officials and seek to clarify requirements for walking and biking infrastructure around Durham.
Transportation Department Assistant Director Bill Judge said that the department is “utilizing [NACTO] guidelines in all of [its] projects that are city-initiated.” According to Judge, the new standards will “formalize [the city’s] existing best practice” standards and prompt revision of outdated municipal development guides.
He added that the city could also use NACTO standards to better implement projects funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Multiple residents voiced support for the resolution during the public hearing session, arguing that the updated standards would encourage biking and increase Durham’s walkability. According to one resident, the new guidelines will provide private developers with “clear expectations” from the city during the construction planning process.
Calling on Durhamites to vote
The adoption comes as a $115 million bond referendum intended to fund new walkways and bike paths sits on the city’s ballot for Nov. 5. Council members encouraged residents to vote and expressed support for the referendum, which includes provision impacting parks and recreation.
“You need to vote, folks, said Mayor Leonardo Williams, noting that although the state broke a voter turnout record, “the numbers [still] are not representative” of the state. “We gotta make sure we’re voting … Let’s show people how to show up and show out.”
Councilmember Javiera Caballero called on young residents specifically, noting that “often, our younger voters don’t turn out in the numbers that we need.”
“I’m really hoping that Gen[eration] Z shows up,” she said.
In other business
Williams briefly recognized several Duke students who attended the meeting as a part of a DukeImmerse program.
He also informed attendees of Mayor of Kunshan, China, Du Xiaogang’s upcoming visit to Durham. Xiaogang will meet with a delegation of local officials Nov. 14 and 15 as part of a regular exchange between the two “friendship cities.”
The council read multiple ceremonial announcements from Williams. One proclaimed October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and highlighted four businesses that aid people with disabilities by creating job opportunities and developing youth skills.
Another proclamation recognized October 2024 as National Arts and Humanities Month. Williams noted that the arts and humanities “enhance and enrich the lives of everyone [and] play a unique role in the lives of our families, our communities and our country.”
Williams also recognized Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. According to the proclamation, this year’s theme of “pioneers of change: shaping the future together” recognizes Latino “trailblazers” and the community’s “resilience in creating solutions for future generations.”
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Samanyu Gangappa is a Trinity sophomore and local/national news editor for the news department.