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Residents urge Durham to address street safety, speeding and truck parking near school
Summary
Public commenters described a recent near‑pedestrian crash and ongoing truck parking on a residential street near Shepherd Middle School, urging more enforcement, traffic calming and a coordinator to address dangerous corridors.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment period to urge the council to act on street safety issues, including a recent incident in which pedestrians were nearly struck and ongoing commercial truck parking on a residential street that runs beside Shepherd Middle School.
A public commenter described a video of a driver failing to stop after an incident that forced pedestrians to move from the roadway; the commenter said crashes and serious injuries are increasing and urged the council to prioritize a street safety action plan and to fund a street‑safety coordinator. The speaker suggested projects and enforcement should be budget priorities and asked the council to add projects that make the city’s most dangerous streets safer.
Another commenter reported repeated parking of 18‑wheelers and other commercial vehicles on a residential street adjacent to Shepherd Middle School. The commenter said calls to the city’s non‑emergency number produced inconsistent results and that the caller was repeatedly asked for personal information without problem resolution. The commenter asked the city to enforce existing rules, remove large trucks from the residential block and send officers to witness and document the ongoing problem.
Why it matters: speed, street design and illegal truck parking near a school increase risks to pedestrians and schoolchildren. Commenters tied safety improvements to budget priorities and to hiring or designating staff to coordinate a citywide street safety plan.
Staff did not deliver a formal response in the public‑comment segment; a council member invited residents to present the items to staff and to follow up with the city’s public‑safety and transportation teams. No formal action or vote was taken at the session.
