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Improve safe mobility and connectivity for people who ride a bicycle and walk.
Project DescriptionA vertically protected bike lane is physically separated from the motor vehicle travel lane with painted line buffers and a vertical element added within the buffer, such as reflective flexible posts.
Bike lanes with vertical protection are safer than conventional painted bike lanes because they add visual cues or physical barriers communicating to motor vehicle drivers that they are not to drive or park in the bike lane. Vertical protection makes the bike lanes more inviting and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities. More information can be found on the NACTO buffered bike lane resource page.
This project will pilot new vertical protection materials in existing bike lane buffers on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (City-owned road) and W. Main Street (State-owned road).
Currently, the City of Durham has only used reflective flexible posts within bike lane buffers, and while this material has a low initial purchase cost, the continued maintenance cost is very high, they also offer low safety protection and are not aesthetically pleasing. Piloting new materials (e.g. concrete curbs) with this quick-build project allows us to monitor and evaluate changes along the corridor.
PROJECT SCHEDULE- Project Kick-Off: September 2024
- Data Collection: Winter 2025
- Anticipated Design Completion: June 2025
- Anticipated Bidding: Fall 2025
- Anticipated Construction Start: Fall / Winter 2025
The City of Durham hired AtkinsRéalis to conduct field investigations, develop the design plans, and assist with construction bidding services. The project started in late September 2024. The design has been finalized for Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy and can be downloaded here. Main St is currently under review and approval by NCDOT.
Project InformationLocationsWe plan to pilot new bike lane vertical protection materials on City-owned roadways first, therefore, this project will focus construction funding on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway from Hope Valley Rd to Fayetteville Rd, approximately 3.6 miles. The existing buffered bike lanes are on a high-speed 45mph road and connect the Third Fork Creek Trail with the American Tobacco Trail. After construction, the speed limit along this corridor will be lowered to 35mph.
This project will also include vertical protection design for State-owned W Main Street from 9th St to Buchanan Rd, approximately 1 mile. NCDOT will resurface this road in 2024. At that time, painted buffered bike lanes were added.
FundingThis design project is City and grant-funded through the Capital Improvements Plan and Bike Durham with a total budget of $560,000. The design contract cost is $79,150.41. The non-profit organization, Bike Durham, donated $60,000 to help advance research and pilot new vertical protection materials.
