UPDATE: I later wrote a Herald Sun Op-Ed on this issue.
Other Durham bloggers have weighed in on the Alston Avenue widening project problem — Gary, Kevin, Barry, and Michael — and they have each noted very good reasons why NC DOT’s steamroller needs to be stopped. I’ll add one more: accountability in governance. On principle, this issue is about an ostensibly democratic government who is not listening to its constituents. NC DOT has feigned deaf ears any time someone has questioned their proposed redesign of the intersection of the Durham Freeway and Alston Avenue. Though none of their engineers are elected officials, they are still public employees. Which means, of course, that NC DOT works for us — the people of North Carolina.
Very comfortable on a bike, I’ll admit that even I have felt uncomfortable negotiating the current interchange with 147. It needs work. But, as others have pointed out, without accommodations for cyclists or pedestrians, NC DOT’s current proposal would make things even worse.
The City has been better at listening to its constituents, and that’s the gist of Gary’s post congratulating Mark Ahrendsen for taking a principled (albeit unusual) stand. It’s unusual only in the sense that most cities don’t have the sophisticated transportation staff required to question NC DOT’s pave-and-widen mantra.
I called Transportation to find out where things stand.
1. Transportation dept officials and perhaps the City Manager are planning to visit the PAC 1 meeting on Saturday morning (that’s tomorrow) to solicit feedback on NC DOT’s plans from the communities that will be impacted by the design. If you live in PAC 1 and you care about the design, tomorrow morning is your chance to weigh in.
2. After that, whether the City takes an official stand on NC DOT’s design will likely be on the agenda for Council’s worksession on Thursday. My sense is that City Council will turn down DOT’s design only if they hear loud and clear messages from Durham citizens.
Now is the time: email council (you can hit them all with one email address — council@ci.durham.nc.us ), call them, write to them individually, or attend next Thursday’s work session.
