The Comprehensive Plan is now in the formal adoption process. Staff is working to archive this website to document the engagement and planning process. Some information on this page may be out of date or reference a project phase that is now complete. For the most up-to-date information on the Comprehensive Plan, see the Adoption Process page.  


Transit Plan

The Durham Transit Plan determines how funds from the half cent transit sales tax get spent on projects supporting public transportation in Durham. While the Transit Plan is focused on more immediate project implementation, elements of the Transit Plan will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan to ensure we are coordinating planning for different uses in Durham to be accessible through public transportation.

Visit the Transit Plan page on the ENGAGEDurham website to stay updated on the plan’s progress and participate in upcoming engagement efforts!

Youth Listening Project

The Office on Youth aims to improve how youth connect to, communicate with, and engage in local government and youth services in Durham. We believe that youth perspectives and partnership are essential to achieving positive outcomes. In 2019, we launched a Durham-wide Youth Listening Project to hear from Durham youth on what they identify as resources and needs in their communities. The Youth Listening Project report was published in February 2021.

Find out more on the Youth Listening Project page and read the report!

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. In 2018, the Durham City Council allocated $2.4 million dollars to implement participatory budgeting in the City of Durham.

Find out more on the Durham Participatory Budgeting page

2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) guides funding for new projects like highways, railroads, bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, and buses for the region. An updated MTP is developed every 5 years by the Durham – Chapel Hill – Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) jointly. This plan is required by the federal government. The process to update the MTP takes about 18 months.

The MTP is intended is to provide a transportation network that will serve the transportation needs related to expected future uses of land. That means the MTP will be informed by local comprehensive plans from Durham and other local cities. The MTP will also incorporate the Durham County Transit Plan, Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Study, and other local bicycle, pedestrian and roadway plans into its recommendations.

Visit the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan to learn more and get involved!

Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Study

The 2011 Transit Plan included a commuter train running between Durham and Raleigh. This project is currently being studied to determine whether this project could be built and what the cost would be. This potential new commuter rail service would connect Durham, Research Triangle Park, Morrisville, Cary, Raleigh, Garner, and Clayton, with the potential for expansion west into Orange county and/or east further into Johnston county in the future. This study involves a partnership between these groups: Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, GoTriangle, North Carolina Department of Transportation, and North Carolina Railroad Company

Visit https://gotriangle.org/commuter-rail to learn more and get involved!

Triangle Bikeway Study

The Triangle Bikeway project will study  a possible new 17-mile bicycle path. The bikeway would link Raleigh, Research Triangle Park (RTP),  and Chapel Hill along I-40 and NC 54. This study will look at specific design and construction for the portion  between Raleigh and RTP, and  start reviewing whether the project could be built and at what cost for the portion between RTP and Chapel Hill. Agencies across the region are working together in the planning process, which will take approximately 18 months.

Visit https://trianglebikeway.com/ to learn more and get involved!

NC Department of Transportation US 70 Project

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has project planning underway to convert approximately 5 miles of U.S. 70 – from Lynn Road in Durham to west of T.W. Alexander Drive – to a limited-access freeway. NCDOT states that this project will:

  • Improve the connection between the East End Connector (currently under construction) in Durham and I-540 in Wake County.
  • Improve traffic congestion, travel time and safety along U.S. 70.