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<br />The City works with local and regional partners to reduce reliance on single- occupancy vehicles by
<br />encouraging options such as carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking, teleworking, and
<br />flexible work weeks. As a region, in 2016, 4.6 million vehicle trips were avoided, 61 million commute
<br />miles were reduced, and 2.6 million gallons of gas were saved. Additionally, the City recently installed
<br />approximately 1,000 parking meters downtown to encourage visitors to access downtown by bus, foot,
<br />and bike, help reduce congestion, and increase accessibility to shops and restaurants.
<br />Green Infrastructure
<br />Green infrastructure provides a cost - effective and resilient
<br />way to help control for heavy rain and snow events in
<br />urban areas, which tend to have high levels of impervious
<br />surfaces (roads, sidewalks, buildings, parking lots, etc.). When
<br />stormwater runs through gutters and storm drains, it comes
<br />out directly into nearby creeks, streams, rivers and lakes,
<br />carrying pollutants into our water from trash, bacteria, and
<br />Residents and businesses can play an
<br />important role in providing the extra
<br />eyes, ears, and noses needed to help find
<br />sources of pollution in our waterways.
<br />Call 919 - 560 -SWIM to report any illegal
<br />water pollution.
<br />metals picked up in our urban environment. By mimicking
<br />the natural water cycle, green infrastructure absorbs and cleans (filters) stormwater at its source, which
<br />improves water health and prevents flooding. Planting trees, pollinator and rain gardens, installing
<br />green roofs, restoring wetlands, and protecting vegetation buffers around waterways are all methods of
<br />increasing green infrastructure in our urban environment.
<br />Durham first became a Tree City USA in 1983, signaling the City's longstanding commitment to
<br />maintaining, protecting, and improving the urban tree canopy. The City's 2016 canopy study showed that
<br />Durham currently has 52% tree canopy. The City's Urban Forestry Division, Keep Durham Beautiful, and
<br />the Sustainability Office have sought grants and volunteers to help plant over 3,000 trees since 2014,
<br />given away thousands of tree seedlings, and offered Tree Care 101 workshops for residents interested in
<br />learning about the benefits trees provide for our
<br />water and air quality.
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<br />Keep Durham Beautiful, a 501(c)3 nonprofit
<br />organization supported by the City of Durham,
<br />launched the Healthy Bee, Healthy Me Pollinator
<br />Garden Program in 2016, establishing 12
<br />pollinator gardens throughout Durham in
<br />proximityto community gardens. The program
<br />helps ensure the sustainability of nectar and
<br />pollen sources for honey bees, native bees,
<br />butterflies, and other pollinators throughout
<br />io I City of (Durham 2017 Sustainability IReport
<br />Keep Durham Beautiful Healthy Bee, Healthy Me Pollinator Garden
<br />at Briggs Community Garden
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