Who: City of Durham Transportation Department

When: Monday, December 9, 2024, at 2 p.m.

Where: Durham Station Transportation Center, 515 W. Pettigrew Street

Event Highlights

The City of Durham will celebrate the start of a $26 million renovation project to improve the Durham Station Transportation Center for the 14,000 bus riders who use it daily. Local leaders and project partners will speak about the upgrades and what they mean for Durham’s future.

Project Benefits

Enhanced rider experience: Expanded canopies for shade and weather protection, more restrooms, additional seating, and a new customer service and security kiosk.
Increased transit capacity: The number of bus bays will grow from 20 to 28, accommodating more local, regional, and intercity buses.

Zero-emissions ready: Reinforced drive lanes and bus loops will support heavier battery-electric buses, helping the City move closer to its zero-emissions transit goals.
Improved safety and convenience: A relocated kiss-and-ride area will make drop-offs and pick-ups easier and safer.

Funding and Timeline

The $26 million renovations are made possible by federal and local funding, including:

A $10.8 million Federal Transit Administration award and $1.7 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, bringing the total federal contribution to $12.5 million.
A $13.5 million local match funded through the Durham County Transit Plan.

The project was designed by Perkins & Will and will be constructed by a joint venture led by Samet Corporation and W.C. Construction Company, LLC. As part of this construction contract, $8.6 million is awarded to certified Minority- and/or Women-Owned Businesses.

Construction begins at the end of this month and is expected to finish in December 2026. The center will remain open and fully operational during construction, minimizing disruptions for riders while improvements are made.

On-Site Assistance

For media questions or assistance on December 9, you can contact Imani Johnson, public information and communication analyst with the City’s Transportation Department, at (919) 338-6747 (mobile).

The selected artist or team will receive a project budget of up to $158,000, covering all design, fabrication, and installation costs, including community engagement and documentation. Applicants of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with a preference given to Durham artists.

This project is a collaboration between Durham Parks and Recreation and the City’s Cultural and Public Art Program. Applications are due online by December 2 at 3 p.m. ET.

For more details and to apply, visit the Birchwood Park Public Art Project webpage.


About the City of Durham Cultural and Public Art Program

The City of Durham Cultural and Public Art Program affirms Durham’s rich cultural and arts community is a part of what makes Durham neighborhoods thrive, attracts tourism, catalyzes business development, and brings residents together. The Program seeks to bring cultural and public art opportunities into the everyday experience of Durham residents through delivery of culturally relevant programming. Under the Arts, Culture, and Sustainable Communities Division within the General Services Department, the Program manages the City’s public art collection, festivals and special events funding, and two public advisory bodies: the Durham Cultural Advisory Board and the Public Art Committee. Residents and artists interested in art-related opportunities can sign up for alerts through the Monthly Newsletter.



About Durham Parks and Recreation

Durham Parks and Recreation provides opportunities for the Durham community to Play More by connecting our whole community to wellness, the outdoors, and lifelong learning. To learn more about Durham Parks and Recreation, visit us online, follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or call (919) 560-4355.



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News Media Contacts

City of Durham Communications Department: CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov

Durham County Public Information Office: PublicInformationOffice@dconc.gov



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The recovery fund, a collaboration between the City of Durham, Durham County, and Duke University and Health System, was established to provide grant and loan funds for businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund consisted of $1 million in private money from Duke University Health System for grants, and approximately $2 million in public funds for loans from both the City of Durham and Durham County. The fund has just published a program update detailing how 175 local businesses have now received over $1.6 million since its inception in July 2020.

The recovery fund was specifically designed to reach small businesses with less than 25 employees, independently owned, sole proprietors, and independent contractors. According to the report, small, minority, and women-owned local businesses did not fare well in securing federal funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Payroll Protection Program. The immediate effects of the pandemic were also disproportionately felt by businesses owned by people of color. Black-owned businesses experienced a 41% decrease in activity and Latino/a/x business owners experienced a 32% decrease, compared to only a 17% decrease for white-owned businesses.

“I’m so proud that the Durham Small Business Recovery Fund has been able to provide crucial financial support to 175 small businesses, with the majority of them being women-owned and minority-owned. This has been a critical part of our community’s COVID-19 response,” said City of Durham Mayor Steve Schewel. “Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF), who is administering our Recovery Fund, engaged in extensive marketing and outreach to inform the community’s entrepreneurs about the grant and loan programs. There was a concerted effort to reach Durham’s minority and women-owned firms.”

According to the report, reaching minority communities in Durham required persistent messaging campaigns across multiple mediums. CSBDF marketed the program through community- based partners that specialize in reaching minority businesses. The Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce provided targeted outreach to their network of black-owned businesses. All information sessions and program materials were also translated into Spanish to ensure Hispanic entrepreneurs would not face any barriers in applying. CSBDF and the City also hosted a Spanish-language information session attended by 93 entrepreneurs with City Councilmember Javiera Caballero and Monica Collin, a representative from the U.S. Mexican Consulate.

“I am pleased to share this report which chronicles the significant efforts that have been undertaken over the past 10 months in an attempt to support and revitalize our small business community that was so negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Particularly, by connecting with women-owned, small businesses of color that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” said Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Brenda Howerton.

The Durham Small Business Recovery Fund has been able to support so many local businesses because of the collaboration between the City, County, and Duke University working together with a shared goal to support diversity and equity when creating the program. “Duke recognizes the importance of thriving businesses in community wellbeing and is pleased to partner with the City, County, and others in supporting the recovery and vitality of small businesses in Durham,” said Duke University Office of Durham and Community Affairs Vice President Stelfanie Williams.

According to Andre Pettigrew, director of the City’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, this partnership was invaluable since North Carolina’s General Statutes limit a municipality’s ability to provide grants to individual businesses. “The inclusion of $1 million from Duke University and Health System for grants allowed the program to provide short-term cash infusions to businesses debt free. City and County government funds enabled longer-term financing for businesses in the form loans to finance future growth and development,” Pettigrew said. “The partnership is significant and represents the level of commitment and innovation required to support Durham’s small business community during this most challenging of times as entrepreneurs ‘pivot’ and respond to the disruptive market conditions brought on by COVID-19.”

According to Pettigrew, while the entire $1 million in grants has been awarded, there is approximately $1 million still available in loan funds from the recovery fund. The unsecured loan provides funding for working capital, equipment, and leasehold improvements over a nine-year term and at a 3% interest rate. “Our program has proven to be successful in expanding access to capital for minority and women-owned businesses with over 50% of borrowers coming from those historically underutilized categories,” Pettigrew said. “As a result, program partners are seeking to expand the program to ensure even greater use by local, small businesses since there is a continued need to provide long-term capital.”

Program partners have made several adjustments to the program as the needs of the market have changed. After the first round, businesses who could satisfactorily document reasons for a significant disruption in operations were allowed to apply. The loan program also expanded to allow businesses with revenues up to $5 million to apply (the initial revenue max was $2 million) and up to 50 full-time employees (the initial employee maximum was 25).

Lastly, businesses who were awarded a grant were also allowed to also apply for a loan, thus increasing the total amount of funding available to their business from the recovery fund. Working with CSBDF, the City, County, and Duke University are considering adjustments to expand the eligible pool of applicants and make the program more available and marketable to small business owners in Durham.

The recovery fund continues to be held and administered by the CSBDF. In addition to having administered the grants provided by Duke University’s funding, CSDBF will also continue to process, service, and collect loans on behalf of the City and County; market the loan program; and provide technical assistance to businesses receiving loans. For more information, visit CSBDF’s Durham Loan Program webpage or email their staff.

News Media Contacts
Beverly B. Thompson, Public Affairs Director, City of Durham
919.475.2362 (mobile)
Beverly.Thompson@DurhamNC.gov

Deborah Craig-Ray, General Manager for Strategic Planning & Innovation, Durham County
984.260.5977 (mobile)
dcraig-ray@dconc.gov

DURHAM, N.C. – The Durham City Council has named Interim City Manager Wanda Page to the permanent position, effective immediately. The announcement comes following an initial engagement with a firm to begin a national search last month.

“City Council members realized how fortunate the city is to already have someone who essentially has been preparing for this position for all of her 30-year career,” said City of Durham Mayor Steve Schewel. “Wanda is a consummate professional with vast experience, rock-solid judgment, and a deep knowledge of local government and our community. Furthermore, she has earned the respect and support of the organization and community as a trusted leader, not just over the past six months, but during her entire tenure in City government.”

Support for Page was unanimous added Mayor Pro Tem Jillian Johnson. “Wanda has clearly demonstrated that she understands the values of the Durham community, and will continue to work to carry out plans and initiatives that make Durham the special place that it is, always striving to be inclusive, innovative and community oriented, while being fiscally responsible,” she said.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime — to lead an organization that I truly love that serves the needs of a community that I truly love,” said Page. “While recovery from the economic and personal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been my strong focus over the past six months, other issues the city faces, like many other cities across the country, are just as complex. Creating a safer community continues to be high on my list, and effective solutions must involve constant innovation and a broad range of collaborators and partners.”

“Also, I believe that we as a local government must always consider the impact and persistence of inequitable systems that affect the quality of life of residents in our community, particularly in communities of color. These inequities have led to slower-than-desired progress in areas such as economic prosperity and safe, affordable housing options for all residents. Solutions will take creative, innovative thinking and consistent, sustainable, and equitable engagement to find solutions that lead to real progress,” said Page.

Page joined the City of Durham in 1987 as a senior staff accountant and then served as assistant finance director/controller from 1999 to 2002. From 2002 to 2006, she served as the internal audit director, and then as assistant city manager from 2006 to 2008, and was named deputy city manager later that year, with the arrival of the previous city manager.

Page is a 1982 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She later earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from North Carolina Central University in 1995. She has been an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) credentialed manager since 2010, and is also licensed by the North Carolina State Board Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examiners and the Institute of Internal Auditors as a certified internal auditor.

Page currently serves on the executive board of the Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation and on the MPA Advisory Board of the Public Administration Department at North Carolina Central University.

Page was named interim city manager following former City Manager Tom Bonfield’s retirement on September 30, 2020.

News Media Contact
Beverly B. Thompson, Public Affairs Director
919.475.2362 (mobile)
Beverly.Thompson@DurhamNC.gov

DURHAM, N.C. – Residents interested in discovering and protecting Durham’s local waterways should mark their calendars now to celebrate Creek Week this month.

Creek Week, set for March 13-20, offers virtual and in-person activities to help people learn about and take care of Durham’s creeks, rivers, and lakes. Throughout the week, residents will have a chance to join litter cleanups, take virtual tours, and play Creek Week Bingo.

“Creek Week brings together community partners to focus attention on discovering and cleaning up local waterways,” said Tania Dautlick of Keep Durham Beautiful. “It’s inspiring when we come together to tackle the combined impact of litter and pollution.”

Creek Week has been celebrated in the third week of March each year in Durham since 2009, with 3,409 volunteers collecting 163,783 pounds of litter to date. For additional information, contact Laura Smith with the City’s Public Works Department at (919) 560-4326, ext. 30235 or by email.

About the Public Works Department Stormwater and GIS Services Division

The Stormwater and GIS Services Division with the City of Durham Public Works Department is guided by the City’s Strategic Plan goals of stewardship of the City’s physical and environmental assets and innovative and high-performing organization. Activities include storm drainage design and plans review; inspecting and maintaining City-owned drainage systems; enforcing stormwater ordinances and regulations; education and outreach; stream monitoring, restoration, and watershed master planning; maintaining multiple layers of the City’s geographic information; and stormwater billing. To learn more, visit the division’s webpage and follow on Facebook and Twitter.

About Keep Durham Beautiful

Keep Durham Beautiful is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City of Durham General Services Department and Durham County to encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to protect the environment and enhance the appearance of Durham through cleanup events, beautification projects, waste reduction, and educational activities. To learn more, visit the website and follow on Facebook, Instagram, flickr, and Twitter.

News Media Contact
Amy Blalock, Public Affairs Manager
919.560.4123 x11253 | 919.475.7735 (mobile)
Amy.Blalock@DurhamNC.gov

DURHAM, N.C. — Nearly 1,000,000,000,000 gallons of water are wasted due to leaks in American homes each year.* That’s right, nearly one trillion gallons. A one with 12 zeros behind it. That equals the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes. It means a valuable natural resource is being wasted, and it’s preventable. Leaks can run, but they can’t hide. And that provides an opportunity for customers to save money by fixing water leaks in their homes.

Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week is March 15-21, 2021, and the City’s Water Management Department encourages residents to find and fix residential leaks with a series of fun activities and helpful tips.

“Leaks can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year—the amount of water it takes to wash 300 loads of laundry,” said James Lim, Water Efficiency and Conservation Program Manager. “As a WaterSense partner, we are hosting a number of virtual opportunities during Fix a Leak Week, including three virtual workshops that are free to the public.”

Fix a Leak Week Workshops (FREE to the public)

• Tuesday, March 16, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, March 18, Noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 20, 11:30 a.m. to Noon

To register for these free virtual workshops, visit: https://durhamnc.gov/FormCenter/Water-Management-16/Fix-a-Leak-Week-2021-Virtual-Workshop-Re-264

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

In addition to the workshops, the Department is hosting a fun and easy scavenger hunt beginning March 15 on its website. Participants of all ages can enjoy a quick and educational quest, and City of Durham water customers that complete the scavenger hunt will be awarded prizes (limited to the first 150). The scavenger hunt will begin March 15 and run through March 21, starting from durhamsaveswater.org.

Check, Twist, and Replace

To save water, energy, and also to lower your water bills, customers should check, twist, and replace:

• Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Check toilets for silent leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring into the tank and then waiting 10 minutes to see if the color appears in the bowl before you flush. Be sure to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
• Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. Twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator and you’ll save water and still have adequate water pressure for brushing teeth and washing hands.
• Replace the fixture if necessary. WaterSense labeled models are independently certified to use 20% less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. These items are included in the Water Efficiency Kits available at Durham City Hall for only $3!

In many cases, replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by the homeowner or a local plumbing professional. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense labeled program can also check your systems for leaks. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in your area.

For more information about the events or additional conservation tips, the City’s water customers can call (919) 560-4381, e-mail savewater@durhamnc.gov or visit DurhamSavesWater.org.

Fun fact

March 11, 2021 is World Plumbing Day!

About the Durham Water Management Department

Durham Water Management is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Durham’s water supply, water treatment and water reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, the collection and distribution systems (including meter reading), and customer billing services. The department has a wide variety of support divisions and programs to maintain the existing infrastructure that provide these integral services, and strives to be a responsible steward of the City’s physical assets. For information, visit http://durhamnc.gov/944/, like Durham Saves Water on Facebook, and follow @DurhamWater on Twitter.

*Statistic comes from the EPA’s WaterSense website: Fix a Leak Week | WaterSense | US EPA

News Media Contact
Joe Lunne, Sr. Public Information & Communications Analyst
Water Management Dept.
919.560.4381 ext. 35255 | 919.397.6131 (mobile)
Joe.Lunne@DurhamNC.gov

Who: City of Durham Equity and Inclusion Department and the Durham County Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program

When: Thursday, March 18, 2021, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Virtual mixer; pre-registration is required for log-in instructions

Fast Facts about this Networking Mixer:

• As many businesses were forced to pivot as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become even more necessary to remain connected and engaged through this period of uncertainty. Company offerings and personnel may have shifted, while the creation and maintenance of sustainable relationships has grown in the virtual networking environment that has become the new normal.
• Small business owners are invited to this virtual business mixer with local government representatives and other members of the business community to examine how to put the necessary pieces in place to help prepare for the business landscape now and after the pandemic ends. Participants should come ready to engage and discover a path forward to increase marketability and connectivity in uncertain times.
• Pre-registration for this free event is required. Log-in instructions for this virtual training seminar will be sent to registered email addresses.
• For additional information about this free networking mixer, contact Contracting and Compliance Manager Eric Miller with the City’s Equity and Inclusion Office at (919) 560-4180, ext. 17241 or by email.

News Media Contact
Amy Blalock, Public Affairs Manager
919.560.4123 x11253 | 919.475.7735 (mobile)
Amy.Blalock@DurhamNC.gov

DURHAM, N.C. – Plans are moving forward to create a new bicycle lane on Willard Street and public input is now needed to refine the proposed designs.

The City of Durham Transportation Department is planning to restripe Willard Street between Jackson Street and Blackwell Street to add a bicycle climbing lane, and is seeking public input from now until April 1, 2021 to refine the proposed restriping designs through an online survey and an interactive map.

The restriping project is set to begin later this spring in coordination with Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the American Tobacco District Waterline Replacement Project construction in 2021 and 2022.

Spring 2021 – Restriping after Phase 1 Completion of the American Tobacco District Waterline Replacement Project:

• Restripe Willard Street from Julian Carr Street to Jackson Street.
• Restripe Jackson Street to include bicycle sharrows to connect to the proposed bike lane on S. Duke Street.

Summer 2022 – Restriping after Phase 2 Completion of the American Tobacco District Waterline Replacement Project:

• Restripe Willard Street from Julian Carr Street to Blackwell Street to connect the American Tobacco Trail with the new Willard Street bicycle climbing lane.

To learn more about this restriping project, visit the project webpage or contact Transportation Planner Brian Taylor by email with any questions or requests for language translation assistance.

About the City of Durham Transportation Department

The Transportation Department remains steadfast in its commitment to providing and maintaining quality, multimodal infrastructure to improve mobility, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for current and future Durham residents, businesses, and visitors. To learn more, follow the department on Twitter.

News Media Contact
Amy Blalock, Public Affairs Manager
919.560.4123 x11253 | 919.475.7735 (mobile)
Amy.Blalock@DurhamNC.gov

Based on responses from more than 1,800 residents through an online community vote held last month, Carver received the most votes for her proposed concept. From now until mid-March 2021, Carver will work with community members and stakeholders to refine her initial designs for her crosswalk asphalt art to transform the intersection of West Club Boulevard and Glendale Avenue. The project budget includes $5,000 for these ongoing community engagement activities with an additional budget of $10,500 for the installation process and materials.

The new Club Crossing Project location was selected because the site has a well-documented vehicle speeding problem, and it attracts many pedestrians and cyclists including students at Club Boulevard Elementary, visitors to Northgate Park, and users of the Ellerbe Creek Trail.

Once the project is finished later this spring, the new crosswalk should improve street and pedestrian safety by activating the intersection and travel lanes through artwork in the crosswalk in front of Club Boulevard Elementary, reducing speeding on West Club Boulevard, and increasing yielding to pedestrians crossing West Club Boulevard and Glendale Avenue near the school. It will also help to tie distinct elements of this corridor together: Club Boulevard Elementary, Northgate Park, Ellerbe Creek Trail, and the East Coast Greenway.

Carver is a Durham native who spent her formative years in Indiana, where she developed her abstract creativity. As a self-taught artist, she has been painting for over 20 years. Her artwork is inspired by her personal journey to experience and share positive and encouraging emotions. Her goal is for the viewer to be engulfed by the tangibility of strength, power, boldness, and resilience of her art.

The Club Crossing Project is funded in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative grant program, which assists small and medium-sized cities looking to use art and design to improve street safety, revitalize public spaces, and engage their communities. In July 2020, the City of Durham was one of 16 U.S. cities selected to receive $25,000 from the program to help fund this crosswalk public art project. Additional City funds contributing to this project are from the Cultural and Public Art Program as well as matching in-kind costs for staff time and physical resources.

For more information about this project, visit the Club Crossing Project webpage or contact Cultural and Public Art Program Manager Rebecca Brown with the City’s General Services Department at (912) 398-8075 or by email.

About the City of Durham Public Art Committee

The Public Art Committee serves as an advisory body to the Durham City Council and the City Manager, and its functions include assisting the City’s General Services Department on matters relating to public art; implementation of the Public Art Policy; and reviewing proposals for public art projects brought to it by the City administration; and making recommendations to the Durham Cultural Advisory Board regarding project approvals.

To further help artists connect with opportunities, the City has also launched a Durham Calls for Artists page on its website, which lists a number of upcoming opportunities for artists in and around Durham. Artists and other stakeholders who would like to be notified of current and future art-related opportunities and news can now sign up for alerts through the Cultural and Public Arts Calls for Art mailing list. For more information about the City’s Cultural and Public Arts Program, visit the City’s cultural and public arts page.

About the City of Durham General Services Department

The General Services Department builds and maintains City properties to make Durham a great place for people to live, work, and play. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the department’s core functions include the acquisition and sale of properties, design and management of new construction and renovation projects, building maintenance, landscaping and urban forestry services, cemeteries management, sustainability and energy management, and supporting the nonprofit Keep Durham Beautiful.

About the City of Durham Transportation Department

The Transportation Department remains steadfast in its commitment to providing and maintaining quality, multimodal infrastructure to improve mobility, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for current and future Durham residents, businesses, and visitors. To learn more, follow the department on Twitter.

About the Durham Parks Foundation

The Durham Parks Foundation exists to preserve, strengthen and expand parks, trails, open space and recreational opportunities in Durham through diverse community involvement, fundraising, partnerships and education. Founded in 2015 to facilitate public/private partnerships for the benefit of all in Durham, the foundation assists groups with fundraising, providing information about future projects in parks, and advocating for the expansion and improvement of parks, trails, and open space in Durham. For more information, follow on Facebook and Twitter.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 810 cities and 170 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2020, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.6 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, and Flickr.

News Media Contact
Amy Blalock, Public Affairs Manager
919.560.4123 x11253 | 919.475.7735 (mobile)
Amy.Blalock@DurhamNC.gov