At Bike Durham, we believe democracy works best when our whole community is informed and involved. That’s why we partnered with the InterNeighborhood Council (INC), the Coalition for Affordable Housing and Transit (CAHT), and community allies like Aging Well Durham, El Centro, Sonos Durham, and Enlace Latino NC to host these forums and questionnaires. Together, we’re making sure Durham residents have real opportunities to hear from candidates and understand where they stand on issues that shape our daily lives—affordable housing, safe streets, and reliable public transit.
Below, you’ll find instructions to watch the forum recordings and read the candidates’ responses to our questionnaire as well as responses to the transportation questions in the combined questionnaire issued by the organizations above.
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.
Event dates: August 20th and 27th at 7pm
On the 20th, In-Person venue was at Re-City (112 Broadway St).
Ward 1 and 2 Candidate Forum recording
Video (English Only) , Password: 1H#UyY%b
Audio en Español, Contraseña: 1H#UyY%b
On the 27th, In-Person venue was at W.G. Pearson Center (600 E Umstead St).
Ward 3 and Mayor Candidate Forum recording ***
Video (English Only), Password: q?EPt56s
Audio en Español, Contraseña: q?EPt56s
***Please note: there was a malfunction of the camera at two times in this recording. We did not correct for it to be sure to have full transparency. These occur at approximately time stamps 0:45:01 to 0:49:02 and 1:12:45 to 1:14:16.
Click the Names to Jump to Each Candidate
(Listed Alphabetically by Last Name)
Mayoral Candidates
City council ward 1 Candidates
City council ward 2 Candidates
City council ward 3 Candidates
Mayoral Candidates
Anjanee Bell
Candidate has not submitted a response, however they have completed the collaborative questionnaire Bike Durham contributed to. This is their answer to the transportation based question “(if elected..)What is your plan for transportation over the next 2 years?
As Mayor, my plan is to work collaboratively with my colleagues on Council and the City Manager to deliver visible progress people can feel. That means expanding bus frequency and hours, building sidewalks and bike connections in underserved neighborhoods, and adding shelters, benches, and lighting at stops. I will also work, with Council support, to lead street redesigns that include speed humps, safer crosswalks, and better intersections so cars naturally slow down and people can walk, bike, or drive safely.
Durham must also address the school bus driver shortage that leaves too many students and families without safe, reliable transportation. I will partner with the County and Durham Public Schools to expand recruitment, improve driver pay and training pipelines, and create safe alternatives for students through walking routes, protected crossings, and neighborhood shuttles.
Transportation is freedom—and freedom must reach every neighborhood in Durham.
Pablo Friedmann
Candidate has not submitted response yet.
Lloyd A Phillips
Candidate has not submitted response yet.
Leonardo Williams
Section 1: Vision and Leadership
1. What is your vision for making the City of Durham’s streets safer and easier for residents to walk, bike, and use public transit?
Under a second term of my leadership, we will continue to work towards expanding bike lanes, trail networks, sidewalk access, and public transportation routes. Securing the resources to accomplish these goals require a comprehensive approach to public-private partnerships, while consistently working to identify new and innovative ways to help these critical resources reach and serve as many Durhamites as possible.
Section 2: Fare-Free Transit
2. How would you work towards keeping GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents?
I will continue to work to ensure that there is a coalition of members on City Council who are in support of ensuring farefree GoDurham services in our municipal budget, unlike our neighboring municipalities who have returned to charging fares.
Section 3: Street Safety and Vision Zero
3. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Durham has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and begun implementation, but achieving its goals will require significant commitment from City leadership.
Do you support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero, including increasing funding, streamlining project delivery timelines, and reallocating street space to prioritize safety over vehicle speed and capacity? Please explain what specific measures would you champion to make Vision Zero a reality in Durham?
I fully endorse and support the vision zero action plan 2025-2029 adopted by the City Council in 2024.
Section 4: Accessibility and Equity
4. Durham’s transportation network serves people with varying abilities, ages, and needs across a large geography, including historically underserved neighborhoods. Many investments are needed to make the system safe, affordable, and sustainable for every user.
How would you prioritize the transportation investments Durham should take to ensure all transit stops, sidewalks, and crossings meet ADA standards and also ensure GoDurham remains safe, affordable and sustainable for every user?
As with many initiatives of this nature, the key is to ensure that the work to address accessibility issues are never deemphasized or deprioritized. These solutions can’t happen overnight, but that’s even more reason that we must stay focused on our efforts to address these pivotal equity matters. I will continue to working collaboratively with staff and other members of the Council to ensure that necessary funding and administrative focus are devoted to rectifying these accessibility issues.
Section 5: Climate and Sustainability
5. How should Durham’s transportation policy address climate change and improve air quality?
Our transportation policy should address climate change by continuing to invest in and utilize more ecologically-friendly means of public transportation, increase the availability of public transportation to cut down on overall automobile usage, and construct sufficient infrastructure to allow for all Durhamites who desire to bike as their primary means of transportation to do so in a safe manner.
Section 6: Candidate Commitment
6. If elected, will you participate in the Week Without Driving, a national campaign to ensure that decision makers have lived experience with the systems they help craft and maintain for residents who do not use a car regularly? (We understand if you cannot do the full week. We are available for ride-alongs and will work with you. We will follow up with dates and more information if you are interested.)
I will absolutely commit to participating in this!
Rafiq Zaidi
Candidate has not submitted response yet.
City Council Ward 1 Candidates
candidates listed alphabetically
Andrea Cazales
Candidate has not submitted response yet.
DeDreana Freeman
Candidate has not submitted a response, however they have completed the collaborative questionnaire Bike Durham contributed to. This is their answer to the transportation based question “(if elected..)What is your plan for transportation over the next 2 years?
As a strong advocate for the current Vision Zero Resolution approved in June 2024 by the Durham City Council affirming the City’s commitment to eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries, and the City’s first Vision Zero Action Plan sets the priorities and corridors on which to focus for the next five years from 2025-2029. Addressing the high injury network of streets and crosswalk priorities along with the understanding that we are maintaining our infrastructure in a state of good repair is part of our long-term infrastructure planning and our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Continuing to support City staff actually as the city implements the vision zero plan and Capital improvement plans in place for transportation. I would like to prioritize the projects that address accessibility, instead of simply mobility, in transportation policies and programs across sectors and policy silos to install Bus Rapid Transit lite in areas across the city with a transportation policy that seeks to increase access to healthy foods and services. Creating transportation routes that makes access to primary spaces for civic, social, and commercial enterprise accessible.
Elijah King
Section 1: Vision and Leadership
1. What is your vision for making the City of Durham’s streets safer and easier for residents to walk, bike, and use public transit?
I regularly use Durham’s streets via walking, bike lanes (on my trusty scooter!), and public transit. So when I say that transportation policy is personal to me, I mean it’s how I’m getting to work today. That’s why I have an in-depth transportation policy on my website. In it, I lay out a four-pronged plan: 1, converting to an all electric fleet; 2, investing in basic infrastructure; 3, collaborating with Duke because right now, we’re duplicating efforts; and 4, making Vision Zero real.
These sound ambitious, and I admit they are. We’re not going to get there overnight, but I’ve done my homework, researched other municipalities that have done these things well, and have a real plan to get us there. Because Durhamites can’t live in the housing we’re building, can’t access the jobs that are coming, can’t get to their schools and doctor’s appointments if we don’t literally pave the way.
Section 2: Fare-Free Transit
2. How would you work towards keeping GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents?
As someone who depends on public transportation myself, I know how essential it is that GoDurham services remain affordable for seniors, students, workers, and families who can’t afford other options. Public transit is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline, and affordability must be treated as a core budget priority, not an afterthought.
As a Councilmember, I will fight to protect fare-free busing and the Durham Access Services for seniors and people with disabilities, and ensure we never close budget gaps by raising costs on riders. Instead, I will push the City to prioritize dedicated funding for transit affordability in our annual budget and aggressively pursue state and federal dollars to expand and modernize our system without shifting the burden to those who rely on it most. By centering affordability in both policy and budgeting, we can guarantee that GoDurham remains accessible, reliable, and equitable for every resident.
Section 3: Street Safety and Vision Zero
3. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Durham has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and begun implementation, but achieving its goals will require significant commitment from City leadership.
Do you support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero, including increasing funding, streamlining project delivery timelines, and reallocating street space to prioritize safety over vehicle speed and capacity? Please explain what specific measures would you champion to make Vision Zero a reality in Durham?
Yes. I am interested in looking at municipalities that have done this well. Austin, for example, is a model for delivering pedestrian infrastructure quickly and efficiently by embracing Design-Build (DB) contracts. This method merges design, construction, and utility relocation into a single contract. This approach streamlines timelines by allowing concurrent design and construction, rather than the traditional method where each phase happens sequentially. This approach also assures one-point accountability and cost control.
Austin has successfully used DB contracts for sidewalk projects, achieving faster project delivery while staying under budget. By considering cost, contractor qualifications, and project approach in tandem, Austin’s model delivers cost- efficient infrastructure that gets built quicker and smarter. With sidewalk needs similar to Durham’s, this model proves that delays and over-complex processes aren't inevitable; they’re solvable.
Additionally, as your City Councilmember, I’ll fight to:
● Expand protected bike lanes and greenways so people can safely and easily travel without a car.
● Modernize and electrify our bus system like Greensboro is doing, starting with new chargers, more frequent routes, and better bus shelters.
● Invest in and promote programs like the Bull Ride transit downtown-loop shuttle, giving people affordable, accessible alternatives for short trips.
● Design streets for people, not just for cars, making them safer for children, seniors, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Section 4: Accessibility and Equity
4. Durham’s transportation network serves people with varying abilities, ages, and needs across a large geography, including historically underserved neighborhoods. Many investments are needed to make the system safe, affordable, and sustainable for every user. How would you prioritize the transportation investments Durham should take to ensure all transit stops, sidewalks, and crossings meet ADA standards and also ensure GoDurham remains safe, affordable and sustainable for every user?
As someone from Durham who relies on public transportation daily, I know both the progress we’ve made and the gaps that remain in making our system safe, accessible, and sustainable for everyone. GoDurham buses and our sidewalks are lifelines for seniors, young people, and economically disadvantaged residents who can’t afford a car, but when routes are inconsistent, bus stops lack ADA compliance, or sidewalks remain unfinished, we fail the very people who need these services most.
My passion for supporting the Durham Center on Senior Living has shown me how urgently we must put seniors at the center of our transportation planning, ensuring they can move safely and independently. At the same time, we must recognize that students, workers, and low-income families also rely heavily on transit and deserve systems that work for them. That’s why I will champion investments to modernize and electrify our bus fleet, expand accessible sidewalks and crossings, and design streets for people rather than just cars. By putting equity and dignity at the heart of our transportation system, we can build a Durham where every resident, regardless of age, income, or ability, has safe, reliable, and affordable ways to get where they
need to go.
Section 5: Climate and Sustainability
5. How should Durham’s transportation policy address climate change and improve air quality?
The best time to plant a tree was yesterday; the second-best time is today. That same urgency applies to climate action and public transportation. We can’t go back and make this change sooner, but we can —and must —act now. As your City Councilmember, I will champion the electrification of Durham’s public transit fleet, following proven models like Greensboro, which became the first city in North Carolina to transition to an all-electric bus fleet. With federal support, Greensboro replaced its aging diesel buses with new battery-electric ones and built charging infrastructure, all while reducing costs and emissions. Durham can and should do the same. Our city already has a goal of replacing 100% of its light-duty vehicles with zero-emission models by 2040, but we don’t need to wait that long. Making this transition sooner could save Durham $57 million in avoided energy and public health costs, while eliminating the equivalent of 2,600 gas-powered cars from the road every year. Durham deserves a modern, zero-emission transit system, one that prioritizes sustainability, protects public health, and centers equity. By aggressively pursuing federal funding and aligning with state and national climate goals, we can begin replacing outdated diesel buses, reduce pollution in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, and ensure that clean, reliable public transit is a guarantee, not a privilege. I’m running for City Council because I believe Durham can lead the South in clean energy, smart infrastructure, and inclusive progress.
Section 6: Candidate Commitment
6. If elected, will you participate in the Week Without Driving, a national campaign to ensure that decision makers have lived experience with the systems they help craft and maintain for residents who do not use a car regularly? (We understand if you cannot do the full week. We are available for ride-alongs and will work with you. We will follow up with dates and more information if you are interested.)
Yes. As someone who relies on public transportation daily and has lived in areas where it isn’t always accessible, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get around without a car. I believe it’s essential for public officials to step into the shoes of those who navigate these systems every day, and I welcome the opportunity to participate.
Matt Kopac
Section 1: Vision and Leadership:
1. What is your vision for making the City of Durham’s streets safer and easier for residents to walk, bike, and use public transit?
Durham has long faced disparities in mobility and safety, historically prioritizing cars over pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Thanks to the leadership of local community organizations like Bike Durham, we now stand at an inflection point to advance affordable and accessible transportation for all. My vision centers transit-dependent neighborhoods, supporting direct connections to jobs, healthcare, and schools. I am committed to maintaining fare-free buses while increasing frequency, extending evening and weekend hours, and supporting new crosstown and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes. Reliability is vital for families who depend on transit, and upgrades must focus on stops and corridors with the greatest needs. Improved stops with benches, shelters, and lighting will make waiting safer and more comfortable. And I will push DOT to move forward with converting Mangum and Roxboro to two- way streets and pursue other similar projects. Housing and transit must be integrated. I will advocate for affordable housing along high-frequency transit lines, prioritize development near future transit centers, and leverage public land to better align housing and transportation access. Improving sidewalks, crosswalks, and protected bike lanes – especially in marginalized neighborhoods – will strengthen this connection. Additionally, I will invest in facility upgrades, and expanded services for seniors and people with disabilities. Finally, I will ensure transparency and accountability through regular public reporting and updates. With over a dedicated fund for improvements, Durham has the resources to deliver more frequent buses, better stops, expanded bike and pedestrian options, and lay the foundation for future transit innovations. Together, we can build a transportation system that works for everyone.
Section 2: Fare-Free Transit:
2. How would you work towards keeping GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents?
It is critical that we keep GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents, yet rising operational costs and the end of federal pandemic funds are going to put pressure on our transit system. In the short term, the city and county can use dedicated transportation tax revenue to help fill the budget gap from rising costs and loss of funds. However, to sustain fare-free long term while meeting other transit needs, the city must identify additional funding sources. This could include raising additional tax revenue through the city and county, but more broadly, we need to grow and diversify our tax base to help us pay for the services we want to offer our residents.
Section 3: Street Safety and Vision Zero:
3. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Durham has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and begun implementation, but achieving its goals will require significant commitment from City leadership. Do you support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero, including increasing funding, streamlining project delivery timelines, and reallocating street space to prioritize safety over vehicle speed and capacity? Please explain what specific measures would you champion to make Vision Zero a reality in Durham?
Yes, I support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve the Vision Zero Action Plan. Some of the specific measures I will champion relate to street improvements, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and land use. First, I am glad to see that safety audits and fixes on high-injury corridors are already starting this fall. I will monitor and push for transparency on these and subsequent fixes on the high-injury network. I’m interested in more street calming efforts that reorient our roadways to prioritize safety over traffic throughput. This includes the design plans for two-waying Roxboro and Mangum, more protected bike lanes, and slowing traffic speeds throughout the city. I will advocate for the city and DOT to advance these and similar projects. The recent bond will help accelerate investments in our bike and pedestrian infrastructure, but we will need more over time. Land use policy is another critical tool I will use to help implement Vision Zero, and the new Unified Development Ordinance provides a great opportunity to make our streets safer. I will champion more mixed use development that incorporates multimodal infrastructure, street cross-sections that protect walking, biking, and accessibility, and development that reduces car trips and vehicle miles traveled.
Section 4: Accessibility and Equity
4. Durham’s transportation network serves people with varying abilities, ages, and needs across a large geography, including historically underserved neighborhoods. Many investments are needed to make the system safe, affordable, and sustainable for every user. How would you prioritize the transportation investments Durham should take to ensure all transit stops, sidewalks, and crossings meet ADA standards and also ensure GoDurham remains safe, affordable and sustainable for every user?
Equity must be a core tenant of our transportation policy, and we must be strategic with our investments. Thanks to the $115M for streets and sidewalks in the Equitable Green Infrastructure (EGI) bond, Durham has $15M to repair sidewalks and ADA curb ramps, and the city and county’s combined transportation fund balance from sales tax offers additional investment opportunity in accessibility, safety and comfort at our transit stops. I will start with community engagement, particularly in historically marginalized communities, to understand what people most want and need. I’m sure some of this has already been done, but it is important for it to be an ongoing process. I also need to learn more about what is already planned and get a better sense of the budget. In terms of prioritization, I would then expect to focus on areas with high ridership, historically marginalized communities, and neighborhoods with higher safety risks. I also believe accessibility programs like GoDurham ACCESS and GoDurham Connect are critical to meet our residents’ needs. It will be a balancing act to expand accessibility while also keeping GoDurham affordable and sustainable. I support keeping Durham’s system fare-free while also investing in more electric buses and other sustainability improvements. This will require carefully allocating existing funds, exploring additional revenue sources, and growing and diversifying our tax base so we do not burden residents on low and fixed incomes.
Section 5: Climate and Sustainability
5. How should Durham’s transportation policy address climate change and improve air quality?
Durham’s transportation policy should address climate change and improve air quality directly through its fleet and through land use planning. First, Durham’s Fleet Management Department should continue to replace light-duty passenger cars and trucks with zero-emission vehicles, and the Department of Transportation should electrify more of its buses and other vehicles. The city is installing EV charging stations, and I want to see the city, county and school system collaborate to expand and fully utilize a charging network for more public sector vehicles. This will reduce emissions from the city’s own fleet. I will also look beyond our local government fleet and fight for solutions that decrease overall car trips and vehicle miles traveled across Durham. This means investing in infrastructure for walking and biking, providing robust and high quality public transportation, and supporting land use planning that promotes mixed use developments and greater urban density vs. car centric sprawl.
Section 6: Candidate Commitment
6. If elected, will you participate in the Week Without Driving, a national campaign to ensure that decision makers have lived experience with the systems they help craft and maintain for residents who do not use a car regularly? (We understand if you cannot do the full week. We are available for ride- alongs and will work with you. We will follow up with dates and more information if you are interested.)
YES! I do my best to go without driving throughout the year, and I will be
Samaria McKenzie
Section 1: Vision and Leadership
1. What is your vision for making the City of Durham’s streets safer and easier for residents to walk, bike, and use public transit?
ANSWER: My vision is informed and action-based. We should install bollards, curbs, and raised barriers on existing bike lanes through capital street projects. Expand vertical protection on the 4.5 miles already planned. Enforce bike lane violations through parking enforcement so drivers can’t use them as loading zones. Require after-action crash reviews with public reports and follow-up fixes such as lowering speed limits, adding crossing signals, or redesigning intersections. Build the sidewalks and bike infrastructure already funded in the 2024 bond and Capital Improvement Program: sidewalks on East Club Boulevard, Guess Road, and Roxboro Road; the Hillandale Road bike and pedestrian path; 11 miles of neighborhood bike routes; and 3 miles of protected lanes downtown. Deliver those projects on schedule instead of delaying them. Close sidewalk gaps in East Durham so children can safely get to school. Extend frequent bus service into South Durham beyond 7 p.m. Include ADA ramps and street lighting in every street redesign. Fund and expand Safe Routes to School so more schools get crosswalks, flashing beacons, and bike safety education. Support Walk, Bike & Roll to School events with volunteers, crossing guards, and school partners so families feel safe participating. Prioritize safety upgrades on Fayetteville Street and Holloway Street as equity corridors. Schedule community meetings at times working families can attend, provide interpretation and childcare, and hold them in neighborhood spaces instead of only downtown.
Section 2: Fare-Free Transit
2. How would you work towards keeping GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents?
ANSWER: Keep GoDurham fare-free past June 2026 by securing long-term funding. Expand the Frequent Service Network so 15-minute buses run on more high-ridership routes, and add evening and weekend service so workers in retail, service, and healthcare aren’t stranded after 7 p.m. or on Sundays. Transition the fleet to electric and hybrid buses to lower long-term costs and reinvest savings into keeping fares low. Deliver the full Better Bus Project: design and build sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps, shelters, benches, lighting, and real-time info at stops. Install Transit Signal Priority along Fayetteville Street and expand it across the system. Redesign streets around Durham Station for better circulation and transfers. Redesign Fayetteville Street as a safer, faster, more reliable corridor. Transform the Holloway Street corridorand The Village into a full transit hub with sidewalks, crosswalks, shelters, seating, lighting, bike racks, real-time info, and security features. Rebalance bus stops to improve speed by removing underused stops and fixing spacing. Implement the service changes already planned: Route 3 running every 15 minutes to Glenn View Walmart, with frequent service between Durham Station and The Village; Route 3B renamed Route 16 with 30-minute service; reroutes on Routes 5, 8, 12 to cover schools like Jordan High, NCCU, and NC-54; and a new Route 13 linking The Village, NCCU, and Durham Tech. Expand 30-minute evening and weekend service, add crosstown routes and GoDurham Connect microtransit zones, and upgrade all stops for ADA access, lighting, signage, and shelters.
Section 3: Street Safety and Vision Zero
3. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Durham has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and begun implementation, but achieving its goals will require significant commitment from City leadership. Do you support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero, including increasing funding, streamlining project delivery timelines, and reallocating street space to prioritize safety over vehicle speed and capacity? Please explain what specific measures would you champion to make Vision Zero a reality in Durham?
ANSWER: Yes, I support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero. That means prioritizing safety projects in the budget, cutting red tape so projects don’t take years to deliver, and reallocating road space so people walking, biking, and riding transit aren’t put at risk just to move cars faster. My priority is to champion quick-build safety improvements on Durham’s High Injury Network corridors, using paint, bollards, and modular curbs to add protected bike lanes, curb extensions, and pedestrian refuge islands without waiting for full road reconstructions. I intend to lower speed limits on residential and arterial streetswhere crashes are concentrated, and pair those limits with physical traffic-calming like speed humps and raised crosswalks. I’m committed to expanding street redesign projects that reallocate space away from excess car lanes and into protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and dedicated bus lanes. Corridors like Roxboro Road, Holloway Street, and Fayetteville Street should be rebuilt to move people safely, not just move cars quickly. I’m pushing for after-action crash reviews with public reports so every serious or fatal crash leads to specific fixes, whether that’s a new signal, better lighting, or intersection redesign. I plan to secure more staff and funding capacity for Transportation and Public Works to deliver projects faster, and I intend to accelerate the Vision Zero Action Plan timelines so we’re not waiting until 2045 to meet goals. Safety should not be a 20-year promise; it has to be a priority every single year until no one dies on Durham’s streets.
Section 4: Accessibility and Equity
4. Durham’s transportation network serves people with varying abilities, ages, and needs across a large geography, including historically underserved neighborhoods. Many investments are needed to make the system safe, affordable, and sustainable for every user. How would you prioritize the transportation investments Durham should take to ensure all transit stops, sidewalks, and crossings meet ADA standards and also ensure GoDurham remains safe, affordable and sustainable for every user?
ANSWER: As a City Council member, my focus is on bringing every transit stop, sidewalk, and crossing up to ADA standards. That means installing curb ramps where they are missing, repairing broken sidewalks, adding tactile warning strips at crosswalks, and upgrading bus stops with level boarding pads, shelters, benches, and lighting. ADA compliance needs to be built into every capital project so accessibility is never treated as an afterthought. I intend to push for targeted investments in historically underserved neighborhoods first, where sidewalk gapsand unsafe crossings are the most severe. The work starts with filling missing connections around schools, community centers, and high-ridership bus stops so that residents who rely most on walking and transit have safe and reliable access. My plan is to keep GoDurham fare-free beyond June 2026 and expand frequent service into evenings and weekends so riders are not stranded. I am committed to fleet upgrades with electric and hybrid buses that lower operating costs and make the system more sustainable long-term. I also intend to accelerate Better Bus Project improvements on Fayetteville Street, Holloway Street, and Durham Station so transfers are safer and faster. I am pushing for annual reporting on ADA upgrades, bus stop improvements, and service expansions so residents can see measurable progress every year. The goal is to make Durham’s transportation system safe, affordable, and accessible for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or neighborhood.
Section 5: Climate and Sustainability
5. How should Durham’s transportation policy address climate change and improve air quality?
ANSWER: Durham’s transportation policy addresses climate change through the Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan and the Zero-Emission Fleet Roadmap, which commit the City to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2040. The plan has already secured federal funding, CMAQ funds, for EV charging infrastructure, laying the foundation for its implementation. As a City Council member, my focus is on accelerating GoDurham’s transition to electric buses by pairing federal grants with local matching funds and scaling up charging infrastructure at depots and on routes. My push is to cut tailpipe pollution by delivering Better Bus upgrades that add sidewalks, shelters, signal priority, and safer transfers on Fayetteville, Holloway, and at Durham Station. I plan to expand frequent, fare-free transit into nights and weekends, add crosstown routes and microtransit, and shift more trips from cars to buses. I am committed to aligning these investments with transit-oriented development and using EV charging hubs to drive adoption. Progress must be tracked annually with emissions data, ridership, and air-quality outcomes.
Section 6: Candidate Commitment
6. If elected, will you participate in the Week Without Driving, a national campaign to ensure that decision makers have lived experience with the systems they help craft and maintain for residents who do not use a car regularly? (We understand if you cannot do the full week. We are available for ride-alongs and will work with you. We will follow up with dates and more information if you are interested.)
ANSWER: Not only will I commit to the Week Without Driving, I plan to use my over a decade of Digital Media/ Marketing expertise and background managing hundreds of millions of dollars in budget allocation to both direct funding to and spread brand awareness for GoDurham. Too many people in this city do not know the bus is free, and with the right marketing push, we can change that. I want to make the Week Without Driving something people actually look forward to, and I will use my platform to get more residents engaged, whether I’m elected or not.
Sheryl Smith
Candidate has not submitted response yet.
City Council Ward 2 Candidates
Candidates listed alphabetically
Shanetta Burris
Candidate has not submitted a response however they have completed the collaborative questionnaire Bike Durham contributed to. This is their answer to the transportation based question “(if elected..)What is your plan for transportation over the next 2 years?
If elected, I would promote the progress and funding of the Central Durham Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. This initiative aims to connect downtown Durham, East Durham, Duke University, and other areas while helping to reduce pollution. A BRT system would provide more efficient transportation for community members who currently use the bus and encourage more residents to take advantage of public transit.
Another key priority for transportation is to maintain free bus fares for Go Durham. Additionally, I support regional transit connections between Durham, Orange County, and surrounding areas. Finally, I will continue to support the initiatives outlined in the Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.
Mark-Anthony Middleton
Candidate has not submitted response yet.
Ashley N Robbins
Candidate has not submitted a response however they have completed the collaborative questionnaire Bike Durham contributed to. This is their answer to the transportation based question “(if elected..)What is your plan for transportation over the next 2 years?
I would defer to a transportation and planning expert for specifics, but I do have ideas around transportation. I would definitely support fare free buses for the foreseeable future and look in to incentivizing using public transportation instead of driving. From an environmental perspective, it is crucial that we reduce our reliance on cars. In order for this to happen, we need to improve our public transportation system and better incorporate it in our housing plans. Deregulation and profit motives have essentially ruined public transportation, making various modes of transportation compete with one another as opposed to working together to serve the needs of the people. If money was not the driving force behind every decision made in this country, we could have an interstate public transportation system that prioritizes accessibility for people with disabilities, is reliable and environmentally sustainable. I live in Durham but work in Raleigh. If there was a convenient, reliable, efficient public transportation system, I would likely not drive.
City Council Ward 3 Candidates
Candidates listed alphabetically.
Chelsea Cook
Candidate Information
Section 1: Vision and Leadership
1. What is your vision for making the City of Durham’s streets safer and easier for residents to walk, bike, and use public transit?
In order for residents to use multimodal transit, folks must be able to easily access necessities, such as school, work, groceries, healthcare, and parks, and must be able to do so safely. For me, this looks like investing time and resources in both design and maintenance. I am proud to have supported the two bonds that Durham passed by an overwhelming majority that will allow us to address the maintenance and building of existing streets, sidewalks, and parks in the most cost-effective way possible and which will free up space in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to allow for additional streets and sidewalks (including the stretch of sidewalk near my house that connects me to my closest bus stop!). We have discussed a bond schedule to use this debt financing more regularly and efficiently moving forward as well to hopefully alleviate some of the immense backlog of capital investments, specifically when it comes to streets and sidewalks. I am also proud to have supported a resolution to adopt the NACTO “Urban Street Design Guide” and “Urban Bikeway Design Guide” to be the official guidelines of Durham. It is important to me that the city continues to ensure we are keeping to the most stringent safety standards as we design our infrastructure and is always keeping abreast of and enforcing best practices. I have also been in talks with our transit department and planning department about ways we can increase our bus routes, and the City is in the process of determining alternative hubs so that every rider does not need to change downtown (though we are also improving the downtown station to make it more accessible for those riders who will transfer). I also plan to listen closely to recommendations from our Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) as well as our Open Space and Trails Commission (DOST) for ideas on connecting pathways and creating environmentally friendly pathways for people, including our students, to walk, bike, or roll. My vision is to see a true 15-minute city with the completed rail trails and other bike/walking paths currently underway, zero deaths from cars (more to come on the Vision Zero question below), and public transit options that get people where they need to go and when.
Section 2:
Fare-Free Transit 2. How would you work towards keeping GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents?
Fare free buses was one of my top budgetary priorities this year, and it is my intention to continue providing fare-free buses for a myriad of reasons, but mostly because the current ridership is overwhelmingly low-income and without any other transit options. Keeping our buses fare free is one way we can shift monetary burdens away from our low income residents, since we are restricted from doing this in other capacities, like taxes, by state law. It is my hope as well that fare-free buses attract more riders, lessening car-dependency, creating safer roads, and lightening Durham’s carbon footprint, all of which get us closer to our Vision Zero and Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy goals. (Everyone, please take the bus! They are clean, air conditioned / heated for the season, have free wifi, and are on time. You can download the app or simply use your google maps to see schedules and plan your trip. Look for me on the #1!)
Section 3:
Street Safety and Vision Zero 3. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Durham has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and begun implementation, but achieving its goals will require significant commitment from City leadership. Do you support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero, including increasing funding, streamlining project delivery timelines, and reallocating street space to prioritize safety over vehicle speed and capacity? Please explain what specific measures would you champion to make Vision Zero a reality in Durham?
Yes, I have and will continue to support the goals of Vision Zero; a Durham without traffic fatalities is well within our reach and should be at the top of our priorities in this city. Though we now have both a Vision Zero coordinator and action plan, the city must continue to invest in the recommendations set forth and we, as city officials, must use our voice to lift up these policy changes and work closely with NCDOT to ensure there is an actual pathway to implementation. During our last presentation, I asked several questions about how we can continue our analysis and work to do things like creating a dashboard while also starting on the pieces we know can be addressed and will be effective immediately. It is my hope to continue advocating for things like speed reduction to happen concurrently and to ensure implementation is properly staffed and funded as the budget allows.
Section 4:
Accessibility and Equity 4. Durham’s transportation network serves people with varying abilities, ages, and needs across a large geography, including historically underserved neighborhoods. Many investments are needed to make the system safe, affordable, and sustainable for every user. How would you prioritize the transportation investments Durham should take to ensure all transit stops, sidewalks, and crossings meet ADA standards and also ensure GoDurham remains safe, affordable and sustainable for every user?
Through my work in eviction diversion and my position on the Committee for Persons with Disabilities, I hear often about accessibility issues in transit and other services across the city. I am heartened by the progress the city has made towards ensuring all people have access to city facilities and will continue to hold our departments accountable on this issue or allocate money as needed (but shout-out to our staff who are often already considering accessibility very intentionally - for example, our parks department has installed activities
and structures that consider users who may be non-ambulatory at several sites such as Merrick Moore Park and W.D. Hill). At the end of the day, I look to folks who may have barriers to access to determine how policies can alleviate some of those hurdles and am dedicated to listening and pushing for changes that come from the community.
Section 5: Climate and Sustainability 5. How should Durham’s transportation policy address climate change and improve air quality?
Durham has goals around carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability, and we recently invested funds in a Climate Corps Fellowship Agreement to track the city’s progress towards these goals. Of course, incentivizing multi-modal and public transit in many of the ways discussed previously is a big way we can reduce our carbon footprint and move towards our goals. Another piece of this is moving towards a fleet that is electric. Though we’ve already made great strides towards this, like installing charging cables in all new building lots, and it is a priority in our fleet maintenance department, we are seeing a large expense in purchasing and maintaining these vehicles, especially without much needed federal funding.
Section 6: Candidate Commitment 6. If elected, will you participate in the Week Without Driving, a national campaign to ensure that decision makers have lived experience with the systems they help craft and maintain for residents who do not use a car regularly? (We understand if you cannot do the full week. We are available for ride-alongs and will work with you. We will follow up with dates and more information if you are interested.)
Yes! I enjoyed participating last year and am interested in doing so again. I’ve just acquired a bike to incorporate my goal of less driving into my regular schedule as well, but I could probably use some refresher lessons!
Durant Long
Candidate has not submitted a response however they have completed the collaborative questionnaire Bike Durham contributed to. This is their answer to the transportation based question “(if elected..)What is your plan for transportation over the next 2 years?
First, we must continue to ensure buses are free. This is an incredible asset for our community. I will push for expansions of bicycle routes and walk zones around schools, recreation areas and mixed use zones, as well as make sure developments are properly connected to one another. It is imperative we embrace multimodal transportation immediately, as the consequences of our car-dependentness are becoming more and more evident.
Terry McCann
Candidate has not submitted a response however they have completed the collaborative questionnaire Bike Durham contributed to. This is their answer to the transportation based question “(if elected..)What is your plan for transportation over the next 2 years?
Major throughfares in Durham like Guess Road, Roxboro Road, etc. will need to expand the number of lanes each way. Public domain may need to be used to establish more lanes.
Diana Medoff
Section 1: Vision and Leadership
1. What is your vision for making the City of Durham’s streets safer and easier for residents to walk, bike, and use public transit?
My vision for transportation in Durham focuses on improving connectivity and accessibility for all residents. I want to be actively involved in the conversation around the Central Durham Bus Rapid Transit project to make sure that it truly serves the needs of our community. This means prioritizing routes and stops that connect people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and other essential services, especially for those who rely on public transit the most. I also believe that transportation planning should support our broader goals of affordability and reducing displacement by making it easier for people to live without needing a car. Mixed-use developments that move Durham towards a "15-minute city" model will create a virtuous cycle: strategic development increases our tax base, which funds affordable transit, which supports further transit-oriented development. Building with density, expanding safe walking and biking options, improving transit frequency and reliability, and ensuring affordability are all key parts of this vision.
Section 2: Fare-Free Transit
2. How would you work towards keeping GoDurham services affordable for all Durham residents?
Durham already has great fare-free transit options, and as a member of City Council, it would be important to keep buses free and accessible to city residents. By prioritizing dense, transit-oriented development and making smart investments through the Durham Transit Plan, we can ensure that affordability is paired with accessibility.
Section 3: Street Safety and Vision Zero
3. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Durham has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and begun implementation, but achieving its goals will require significant commitment from City leadership.
Do you support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero, including increasing funding, streamlining project delivery timelines, and reallocating street space to prioritize safety over vehicle speed and capacity? Please explain what specific measures would you champion to make Vision Zero a reality in Durham?
Yes, I support taking the steps necessary to fully achieve Vision Zero. Every life lost to traffic violence is preventable, and Durham must treat roadway safety with the urgency it deserves. Too often, we have prioritized vehicle speed and capacity over human life, and the result has been dangerous streets, particularly in neighborhoods that already bear the burden of inequitable infrastructure. To make Vision Zero a reality, I would look to invest in several safety measures that would create practical solutions for the city. First, I would increase funding for pedestrian and bike infrastructure—sidewalks, protected bike lanes, crosswalks, and lighting—especially in underserved neighborhoods. Second, streamline the process, so residents should see improvements in a reasonable timeline while prioritizing responsible decision-making. Third, I would support reallocating street space to ensure pedestrian safety over cars, including safer intersections and slower speed limits in residential areas and near schools. The success of Vision Zero also requires community engagement. Safety improvements should reflect the lived experiences of residents, so I would push for more robust public input on where investments are most needed.
Section 4: Accessibility and Equity
4. Durham’s transportation network serves people with varying abilities, ages, and needs across a large geography, including historically underserved neighborhoods. Many investments are needed to make the system safe, affordable, and sustainable for every user.
How would you prioritize the transportation investments Durham should take to ensure all transit stops, sidewalks, and crossings meet ADA standards and also ensure GoDurham remains safe, affordable and sustainable for every user?
I would prioritize ADA compliance as part of our broader connectivity goals, recognizing that accessible infrastructure benefits everyone. To ensure sustainability and affordability, I want to focus investments in areas that serve multiple goals simultaneously. For example, when we improve sidewalks and crossings in transit corridors, we're not just meeting ADA standards—we're also supporting the density and connectivity that makes public transit more efficient and cost-effective. Additionally, we need to commit to transit solutions that not only bring users to downtown, but to all areas of the city where they might need to go.
Section 5: Climate and Sustainability
5. How should Durham’s transportation policy address climate change and improve air quality?
Transportation is one of the largest sources of emissions in Durham, and reducing it requires immediate action and long-term investment. I believe the city should prioritize strategies that give people safe, reliable, and affordable alternatives to driving. First, we need to continue to invest in public transit—making bus service more frequent, more reliable, and better connected to jobs, schools, and services. I support continuing fare-free buses while working to expand routes and speed up service through projects like Bus Rapid Transit. Pairing this with investments in charging infrastructure across the city will make clean vehicles more accessible to everyone. I would support funding city-wide networks of sidewalks and protected bike lanes through the Durham Transit Plan, the Capital Improvement Program, and an Equitable Green Infrastructure bond. These investments not only reduce emissions but also make our neighborhoods safer, more connected, and more equitable. For many residents, especially those without access to a car, safe sidewalks and bike lanes are essential. Vision Zero improvements, protected bike lanes, safer crossings, and better lighting will give residents real choices beyond driving. Through these various changes, we can encourage more city residents to choose sustainable transportation, including walking and biking. Finally, I believe land use and transportation go hand in hand. By supporting denser housing near transit, schools, and jobs, Durham can reduce sprawl and shorten commutes, which lowers emissions while also improving affordability and equity. Rapidly reducing transportation emissions is possible if we align our investments with a vision of a city where residents don’t have to depend on a car to meet their daily needs.
Section 6: Candidate Commitment
6. If elected, will you participate in the Week Without Driving, a national campaign to ensure that decision makers have lived experience with the systems they help craft and maintain for residents who do not use a car regularly? (We understand if you cannot do the full week. We are available for ride-alongs and will work with you. We will follow up with dates and more information if you are interested.)
As a mom of three living in Duke Forest, a week without driving would basically mean a staycation for me. My neighborhood is deeply unwalkable—from the lack of sidewalks or street lights to the narrow, windy Academy Rd—biking and/or walking does not currently feel like an option. In addition, with the kids’ various activities starting and stopping right around the same time and spanning the length of Durham and Chapel Hill, I need to lean into carpools AND personally drive in order to get everyone where they need to go. If elected, I want to address the challenges families face getting their kids into after school and summer programming. We need to work to remove barriers such as affordability and accessibility so that all the kids in Durham have opportunities.