Sidewalks

In July 2004 the City of Durham was awarded an NCDOT Pedestrian Planning Grant in the amount of $37,500 to use toward the cost of a Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan. The Public Works Department allocated additional funding for the project, and in April 2005 the Cary-based consulting firm, Louis Berger Group, Inc. was hired to provide a comprehensive sidewalk inventory and pedestrian plan for the entire city.

Consultants with the Louis Berger Group have worked with citizens and City staff over the last 10 months to complete the DurhamWalks Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan. The project scope included extensive public involvement, a citywide pedestrian facility inventory, policy analysis and recommendations, issue and opportunity identification, project prioritization, evaluation and recommendation of ancillary facilities and programs, funding analysis and implementation plan, and the final comprehensive plan development. City staff and consultants have presented the Draft Plan and its components to the citizens of Durham in February and March 2006 through public workshops, at local PAC meetings, and at the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission meetings. Comments and feedback received during the review period are being incorporated into the final version Draft Plan, which will be presented to the City Council for recommended adoption on May 1, 2006.

To review a copy of the DurhamWalks Pedestrian Plan and its recommendations, visit www.durhamnc.gov/durhamwalks/

Everyone wants to know how decisions to place sidewalks are made. Here’s some information, current as well as background, on citywide sidewalk funding options. The text is from the City of Durham Public Works Department.

1996 Bond Sidewalk Program:

The New Sidewalk Construction Program provides for construction of sidewalk. This program is intended to serve pedestrians using public right of way. The program was originated by City Council, with an objective of constructing sidewalk on at least one side of all major and minor thoroughfares within the core area of the city. The total budget for the project is 3.5 million dollars funded by a bond referendum in 1996.  This funding source is in the final stages of construction with all funds exhausted.

Sidewalk Payment in Lieu:

Sidewalks are required to be constructed as part of the approval of a development plan or site plan.  Subject to the approval of the Development Review Board and only under specific circumstances, a fee can be paid rather that construct sidewalk along the Public Right of Way.  The rate of Payment in Lieu for Sidewalk is set at $20.00 per linear foot, less the current sidewalk assessment rate which is $5.00 per linear foot.  This yields the current Payment in Lieu rate for sidewalk of $15.00 per linear foot along the frontage of the subject lot.  This fund is very limited and is intended to fill in small sidewalk gaps.

Sidewalk Petition Process:

The Sidewalk Petition Process is a method whereby citizens have the opportunity to request a sidewalk at any given location.  The requestor serves as the petitioner to secure signatures.  The property owners at the sidewalk location pay a portion of the cost through an assessment.  The current assessment rate for sidewalks is $5 per linear foot.  Citizens may request a sidewalk petition and learn more about the petition process by calling Engineering Services (560-4326).

An individual, serving as the "petition sponsor," requests a petition from the City.  As a part of the request the sponsor outlines the limits of the area to be served.  They indicate the starting point and ending point of the sidewalk and on which side of the street.  Typically the sidewalk does not begin mid-block, but is begun and ended at street intersections and includes complete blocks. For example one set of limits could be "Markham Ave (north side) between Ninth Street and Broad Street."  Once the limits have been determined the City prepares a petition for the sponsor to circulate. 

The petition needs to be sufficient on two criteria, with sufficient being defined as representing more that 50 percent of citizens within the criteria.  The petition needs to be signed by a majority (50%+) of the property owners adjacent to the proposed improvement, and their properties must represent the majority (50%+) of the road frontage involved.  The petition is returned to Engineering and researched to determine if it is sufficient, then the petition is taken to City Council for action. 

A public hearing is held to consider the issue. Assuming Council approves the project it is returned to Engineering for design and placement into a contract.  Once the project is complete the adjacent property owners are assessed a portion of the project costs.  The current assessment rate for sidewalks is $5.00 per foot.  This assessment can be paid at the time it is levied or it can be paid out in annual installments over 5 years at 9% interest.  One thing you should be aware of is that the City has very limited funding each year for sidewalk projects. Once a project is ordered by Council it may still take several years before it is actually constructed.

Sidewalk Repair:

Funding is requested annually as a part of the budget process for repair of sidewalks.  Historic funding levels have been approximately $100,000 per year.

ADA Wheelchair Ramps:

Funding is requested annually as a part of the budget process for installing wheelchair ramps in sidewalk locations without ramps.  Historic funding levels have been approximately $100,000 per year.

New Development:

Developers are required to construct sidewalks on certain adjacent streets as a part of their development.  Sidewalk must be constructed on both sides of major and minor thoroughfares within the “urban growth area”(UGA).  For all other roads within the UGA, sidewalk must be placed on at least one side of the road.  The Transportation Division, at its own discretion, may require that sidewalks be constructed on both sides of roads in heavy commercial, heavy retail or heavy residential areas.

Thanks to Jeremy Raw and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization for their assistance with this site.
Site designed by: Phillip Barron