Durham to Launch Safety Study of Three East Durham Rail Crossings Tonight; 18 Crashes, 5 Deaths Since 2001
Durham County announced that a virtual kickoff meeting for the East Durham Railroad Crossings Study will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom, where residents can learn about the study and share input. The meeting will introduce the multi-year study, explain why three crossings were selected for evaluation, and outline how the public can participate throughout the planning process. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the project website in English and Spanish, with live Spanish interpretation provided.
Led by the Durham County Transportation Department and funded by the Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, the study will look for safety, mobility and connectivity improvements at three at-grade crossings in East Durham: South Plum Street, South Driver Street and Ellis Road. The county noted that trains passing through Durham can pose safety risks and disrupt local traffic, and crossings blocked by trains can delay emergency vehicles and affect nearby residents.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, the three crossings have seen 18 reported train-related crashes since 2001, injuring 12 people and killing 5. Through technical analysis, environmental review, and community and stakeholder engagement, the study will evaluate possible improvements and identify a preferred alternative for future consideration. The county stressed that this is a planning study only, with no construction included; it is expected to finish in mid-2029, with public input sought throughout. The contact is Durham County transportation planner Caroline Lamb; registration and project updates are on the Durham County project website.
Source: Durham County Government
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：列车通过达勒姆一处铁路道口。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0。 Image: A train passing a railroad crossing in Durham. Source: Wikimedia Commons, photo by Ildar Sagdejev (Specious), CC BY-SA 4.0.
