I think these policies are a good start, but could do more to make sure we are pushing Durham towards becoming more safe, sustainable, equitable, and walkable.

The one specific policy related point I want to highlight is the need to be as strong as possible towards improving our public transit and walking infrastructure. walking and taking public transit should be made to be safer, faster, and more comfortable than the equivalent trip in a car. The goal in Durham should be to make the vast majority of trips accessible by walking and public transit. This is the most direct way our local government has to improve the quality of life for our residents, especially those residents in communities that have been historically disinvested.

We know from examples all around this country that when land use is made at least moderately efficient and walkable, and public transit is made frequent and accessible, that ridership will increase. The planning and transportation departments should be in the business of pushing this paramount goal of reducing car dependency by making it that much better to walk and take transit. This will save numerous lives, significantly reduce the cost of living in Durham, and create opportunities for economic investment all across the city.

I think this, or something like this, needs to be the north star for Durham with regards to how we think about transportation, neighborhoods, sustainability, and growth. While there is a lot in the current policies that support this, I believe that this core focus does not come out of the existing policies strongly enough. I understand that the policies are not meant to be binding or use restrictive language, but I recommend pushing harder (and with more focus) on this type of point. I also look forward to seeing the action items that come out of these policies.