Rail Trail Transportation, Crosswalk Accessibility, and a Bonds Update on Streets, Sidewalks, and Parks

The council hears a case for the rail trail as affordable everyday mobility, then gets a first update on voter-approved bonds: sidewalk and street repairs ramp up, new bike‑ped corridors queue for federal timelines, and Parks plans major upgrades from an aquatic center at Merrick‑Moore to revivals at East End and Longmeadow. 11mins

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Original Meeting

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025
15117.0
Full Meeting on YouTube
Video Notes

Welcome to the City Council Work Session for October 23, 2025

Agenda: https://www.durhamnc.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-4

How to participate: https://www.durhamnc.gov/1345

Contact the City Council: https://www.durhamnc.gov/1323

NOTE: Comments left on this livestream will not be read or entered into the meeting record.

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Bike Durham Advocacy, Old West Durham, Duke
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In This Video
  • Chris Perelstein urged viewing the rail trail as affordable transportation rather than solely recreation, highlighting cost savings, connections to schools and public facilities, and opportunities to pair the Greenway with affordable housing on publicly owned land.
  • Council Member Freeman raised concerns about signal timing for people with disabilities, and staff outlined steps including leading pedestrian intervals and adding audible pedestrian signals as part of ongoing traffic signal improvements.
  • Tasha Johnson and Wade Walcott introduced an update on projects funded by the 2024 bond referendum.
  • Wade Walcott summarized voter-approved 2024 bonds totaling $200 million—allocated to streets, sidewalks, and Parks and Recreation—and explained that funding shovel‑ready projects now was intended to accelerate delivery and reduce costs amid rising prices.
  • Wade Walcott reported that phase one of sidewalk repairs, delivered in two cycles with methods including grinding and replacement, was a little over halfway complete and aimed to total about 20 miles prioritized in areas most reliant on alternative transportation.
  • Wade Walcott outlined upcoming sidewalk and bike‑ped projects, noting East Club was nearing design completion, Hillandale Road awaited NCDOT authorization for spring 2026 construction, and Maureen Road bike lanes targeted spring 2027 pending final right‑of‑way acquisitions and friendly condemnations.
  • Wade Walcott detailed $30 million in street repairs affecting about 100 miles, with the first projects advertised and ongoing using resurfacing and preservation treatments, and repaving slated to begin in April 2025 with pavement preservation starting in May 2025.
  • Wade Walcott reported on the unpaved roads program, noting Council’s 2019 direction to pave all remaining unpaved streets and that the total had dropped from about 19 miles to roughly 9 miles following recent project completions.
  • Wade Walcott introduced Parks and Recreation’s legacy parks effort funded by a park bond, noting that three parks would be transformed and that work would begin at Merrick‑Moore Park.
  • Wade Walcott outlined planned features for the Aquatic Center—including zero-depth entry, a spray ground, shade, adventure and fitness elements, and a competition pool—emphasizing inclusive, safe, sustainable design consistent with other legacy parks and targeting a Memorial Day 2029 opening.
  • Wade Walcott outlined the first chapter of renewing East End and Longmeadow Parks with pools, play and athletic amenities, skating and climbing areas, and a central plaza, targeting a majority opening in October 2028 for Longmeadow with a third phase contingent on Department of Environmental Quality guidance.
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