Comments for “Duke/Gregson Corridor Study”
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Walkers are unable to cross this intersection on the south side. There are only sidewalks on the north side of this intersection. Unless Vickers becomes two-way, this will continue to be a dangerous intersection for people on foot.
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There is no shade cover or regular cleaning of the sidewalks, handrails, or street in this area. Walkers crossing the 147 on Chapel Hill are already being assaulted by an ugly, car-centric overpass that seems unsafe with no lights at night and a guardrail that seems unsafe of any walker (especially small dogs or children who could easily go under the lowest rail without issue) and a homeless population that has tents raised on state land; then there is the added injury of gang graffiti that seems to be permanent.Graffiti on the overhead signs for 147, telling all walkers on Chapel Hill that some gang is in charge, has been a problem for many years. The city cannot remove the graffiti, and the state won't replace the signs.
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This is where I have lived on Duke St since 2016. I love our home but we barely use the front yard due to traffic noise and fear of being hit by a speeding vehicle. We've had multiple black-outs due to cars hitting utility poles. Multiple times a day I hear honking from drivers on Duke getting angry as slower traffic turns onto Duke from side streets with poor visibility due to hills and/or shrubs, or due to cars slowing to make a turn off Duke onto one of these side streets. These honking cars are always going well over the speed limit, which they seem to believe they have the right to do due to the road design. Duke is designed for speed, not safety. It should be the other way around. I'd like to see Duke changed from one-way to two, and/or traffic circles added. A bike lane would also make it safer when my husband and son go out for rides.
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Return these to two-way streets with lots of traffic calming measures. We live right off Gregson - cars FLY down this neighborhood street. my kids can't cross the street safely to see friends on the 900 block, even I am afraid crossing sometimes. At the hospital I've taken care of people who have been struck and seriously injured by cars going way too fast.
Liked 8 times -
I live on Duke St. We like to walk and just today we were almost hit (AGAIN) by a speeding car at Duke and Club. Cars speed up to get through a yellow light that turns red, and then disregard pedestrians with the walk signal. We've almost been killed on Gregson, too. The other problem is left turning lights. Why can't there be left turn green arrows so pedestrians and cars each have a designated time to move? Both Duke and Gregson need to be 2-way streets to mitigate speeding. We have too many accidents on a regular basis. It's just a matter if time before someone is killed.
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My children and I have crossed at this intersection for years to get to school. I am nervous every time. Cars move at very high speeds (per what I have seen, higher speeds since the completion of 885, which seems to have reduced number of cars here but also then led cars that are on this road to feel they can move faster). It is also hard for pedestrians to see what's coming with the trees on the north corners of this intersection. I am am not clear how the bump-outs added here have helped (it does not seem they have). I am aware a traffic light is planned her and hope to see that happen very soon.
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I concur with other comments that I have seen many accidents or near-accidents at this intersection. It is difficult for cars to see when they are going from east to west.
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I will echo others that I have seen many accidents here. Cars move down quickly due to the hill; I have seen cars going 50 mph+ based on the speed tracker just before this intersection.
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I will echo others that I have seen many accidents here. Cars move down quickly due to the hill; I have seen cars going 50 mph+ based on the speed tracker just before this intersection.
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Currently, Duke and Gregson Streets function as mini-highways, creating a very dangerous situation for our families. We have experienced multiple accidents that have caused material damage, but at some point, a real tragedy involving loss of life will occur if these streets are not improved to provide safety for pedestrians. Durham became one of the first cities in North Carolina to pass a Vision Zero resolution in September 2017, aiming to end traffic deaths and serious injuries. On average, Durham experiences 22 crashes a day, with a pedestrian involved in a crash every 3 days. These statistics highlight the urgent need for public safety improvements in our neighborhood. It is time to take action and improve the conditions. Thank you for the continued work on this issue.
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I live on Ruffin Street with 2 small children. We prefer to walk places instead of drive, especially to neighbor's houses in the area. But I refuse to cross Duke or Gregson with my children, especially at Knox where cars are going incredibly fast and visibility is poor. It's too scary and it's not worth the risk. There are too few lights and crosswalks, and even where there are sidewalks, the cars zoom by so fast that it's not safe to walk near them. The traffic cuts us off from walking to the surrounding areas. It must be slowed by any means necessary--speed bumps, traffic lights, traffic circles--I really don't care the method, it just must be slowed!
Liked 7 times -
I live near this intersection and every single journey across or near it is a risk to my life. People are going significantly over the speed limit, will speed up instead of slow down on a yellow light to try and "beat" it only to miss it and rip through as other cars/pedestrians have already entered the intersection. Routinely see people running the red light, turning left on red, turning the wrong way down north duke street, drag racing up North Duke street at night, and generally treating it as a highway. This is unacceptable for a road that runs through a neighborhood with high amounts of pedestrian, pet, bicycle, and vehicle traffic. There needs to be something done to slow down traffic and make this route safer for cars, people, and bikes as well as generally a more pleasant place to live. Our house has been hit by a vehicle that was involved in a crash at the Markham/Duke intersection that led to tens of thousands of dollars in damage to our home as well as two totaled vehicles. There have been several instances when I've been biking or driving where I would have been hit by a vehicle running a red light if I hadn't slowed down/stopped when I had a green light to cross Markham and have been told the same by others who have been in the area. Please address these issues with all the urgency you possibly can.
Liked 8 times -
Vickers widens here to add a right turn lane beginning south of Jackson St, continuing south across the 147, and ending at Yancey St. The width of Vickers here (3 lanes) creates a perception of a faster street and traffic speeds are way too fast when vehicles arrive in Morehead Hill at the intersection of Yancey. The right turn lane (which some drivers think is a third driving lane, due to poor signage and markings, creates further confusion) ends at Yancey, replaced by street-side parking (a traditionally good traffic calming measure), but the damage is done, so to speak, as drivers' speeds are already well over the limit as they continue south on Vickers.
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Add stop lights that are timed to stay green going from club to main when going 30mph. turn red going faster. Same for Duke.
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Add dedicated bike lanes to connect Club to Lakewood Ave
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Add dedicated bike lanes for bikes, scooters, etc to connect Club to Main.
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Vehicles speeding down the hill southbound after crossing the intersection of W Chapel Hill St either underestimate or don't see this curve in the road, which has led to several accidents as cars leave the road and enter the property being developed here as condos/townhomes.
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The issue is the intersection of Parker and Vickers. There is a stop sign at Parker St eastbound, but cars are trying to get across Vickers as speeding southbound cars come over the 147 overpass and around a blind curve. This has led to multiple accidents at the intersection. Pedestrians are put in danger without crosswalk signage, and a majority of southbound Vickers Ave vehicles turning left on Parker to access the 147 don't yield to pedestrians.
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So many drivers use this route (Morehead > Shepherd > Parker) as a cut-through to access the 147 (initially a temporary access point which was never intended to be permanent), and the volume of traffic moving through the neighborhood is diminishing the quality of life for residents.
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I have lived on Duke St for more than 25 years. Since COVID the amount of traffic appears to have decreased but the speeds have increased. I park on the street daily. OMy vehicles have had 2 windows broken out, 3 beer bottle/cans thrown at my car at high speeds causing dents, 2 mirrors taken off by moving vehicles and a car side-swiped in a hit and run. Because of the lack of traffic calming measures between the lights a Markum and the ones at Club Blvd cars can get up to highway speeds along this intersection putting the residents who live through here at risk. Those that live past the crest of the hill are daily taking their lives into their hands when they tried to leave home in their vehicles or anyone that is trying to cross the street.
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The intersection at Knox and Duke St is difficult to see to cross or turn. Especially heading west on Knox St. The large trees block the ability to see more than 20 feet down the road. With traffic consistantly going beyond the speed limit coming down the hill from Markham towards this intersection it is a daily hazard for drivers. There have been multiple accidents and near misses at this intersection.
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Parker St. is not safely or properly designed as a freeway entrance. When initially opened it was supposed to be temporary until nearby proper entrances were constructed. All that this entrance does is direct needless traffic (including endless buses and trucks) through a residential area -- traffic that can easily be handled at either of the two nearby entrances. The Prker/Vickers intersection is the danger point due to poor designed signage and street markings; there are frequent wrecks and multiple daily near-wrecks. And it is an impossibly dangerous pedestrian crossing for anyone who cannot break into a run when necessary. Best solution is to close this menace of an entrance -- an unnecessary entrance -- to 147.
I'm glad to discuss this if it would be helpful. I live on that intersection so I am familiar with its dangers and other problems,Liked 10 times -
I own a home on N Gregson. Homes are consistently of lower value due to the high traffic volume on Gregson. The street must be changed to either be 2-way or to be 1 lane. There should NOT be an opportunity for cars that want to SPEED to PASS cars that are going an appropriate speed. Look at any other 35MPH road and you will see a VERY different typology than this historic thoroughfare. 35MPH is WAY TOO FAST for this neighborhood!! People who want to get from point A to point B quickly should TAKE THE HIGHWAY
Liked 13 times -
If you try to cross Duke or Gregson at an intersection without a traffic light, and a car slows down for you, another car will likely PASS the slowed car. This has lead to injuries! There should not be a way for cars to PASS other cars on a neighborhood street!!!
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This intersection is extremely dangerous to cross, especially with young children. Traffic routinely exceeds the speed limit. Cobb St. is a critical bike/ped route to Orchard Park, Morehead Elementary, downtown Durham and the American Tobacco Trail.
In addition to multi-modal safety improvements, study should assess conversion to two-way streets with lower speed limits and additional four-way stops at Cobb/Duke and Cobb/Gregson.
Liked 12 times