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Residents press council for stronger pedestrian safety and disaster‑readiness efforts
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to accelerate Vision Zero street changes after multiple deaths on Roxborough Street, and called for expanded community disaster preparedness training and enforcement against tractor‑trailer parking near Shepherd Middle School on Dakota Street.
Public testimony at the April 24 Durham City Council work session focused on pedestrian safety on high‑injury streets and community disaster preparedness.
Chris Perilstein described a recent video of multiple vehicles failing to yield in a crosswalk and reported that the incident involved a sheriff’s deputy vehicle leaving the scene without stopping. He told council the city’s Vision Zero action plan and completed steps — hiring a coordinator and approving an action plan — must be followed by engineering changes on dangerous corridors. "We aren't addressing our most dangerous and problematic streets," Perilstein said, noting multiple deaths on Roxborough Street so far this year and saying enforcement alone will not be sufficient.
Separately, Ayesha Abdul Ali, CEO of Summit Environmental Resources, urged support for an initiative started by resident advisory committees (PAC 1 and PAC 5) to expand climate and disaster preparedness training at the neighborhood level. She said her organization will conduct community training and work with PACs and senior centers to increase preparedness.
A caller identified by the clerk as Wagstaff described repeated occurrences of 18‑wheelers and commercial vehicles parking on Dakota Street beside Shepherd Middle School and asked the city for more effective enforcement than the non‑emergency line has produced.
Council response: Members acknowledged the tragedies and the limits of enforcement alone; several council members referenced regional work on a TPO safety action plan and the city's existing Vision Zero commitments. Council asked staff to prioritize safety projects in budget planning and to continue coordination with transportation and public safety staff.
Ending: Commenters asked the council to move from planning to street redesign in high‑injury corridors and to work with community groups on disaster preparedness; staff follow up and budget prioritization were requested.
