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County unveils draft Bike & Walk plan: five county priority corridors, policies to address orphan sidewalks
Summary
Durham County transportation staff presented the county's first joint update to the Bike & Walk plan, highlighting five county priority corridor projects, a draft approach to sidewalk maintenance outside city limits and greenway planning; public comment on the draft is open through Feb. 9, with adoption targeted for spring 2026.
Durham County transportation staff presented the county’s contribution to the draft Bike & Walk plan, marking the first time the county has participated in the update since 2017. Planner Brooke Roper (S16) described the draft network of near‑, mid‑ and long‑term projects, the prioritization process and five county priority corridor projects intended to improve school access, greenway connections and transit links.
"My name is Brooke Roper. I'm a transportation planner with Durham County," Roper said, noting the item was informational and that staff sought commissioner feedback before bringing the plan back for adoption. Staff described a data‑driven scoring method that narrowed an initial list of about 150 candidate projects to a set of 25 corridors, 25 intersections and 25 micro‑gaps. The draft also proposes policy options for addressing about six miles of "orphan sidewalks" outside city limits and recommends county‑city partnerships, county maintenance programs or UDO changes to prevent future orphan sidewalks.
Commissioners praised the coordination and asked about cost, maintenance responsibilities and funding sources. Staff estimated routine sidewalk maintenance at roughly $5,000–$13,000 per mile per year and said county attorneys are reviewing policy options. The draft plan is open for public comment through Feb. 9; staff expects to refine cost estimates and present the plan for adoption in spring 2026.
