Getting Around

Getting around a smaller city like Durham should be relatively easy, right? Well, sure. But there are a few things that you ought to know. The first is a difficult lesson to grasp: Traveling in Durham is not unlike working in a Windows environment on an IBM computer. There are at least three ways to get from point A to point B, and it will take the same amount of time. Some say that the city streets were paved over cow paths — but more likely the primary roads were frequently traveled paths between tobacco fields and the warehouses.

Here are some tips gathered about getting around Durham

  • The place where Chapel Hill Street crosses Main Street in Downtown Durham is called “Five Points.”
  • Chapel Drive (on campus), Chapel Hill Street (turns into Duke University Road), Chapel Hill Road, Chapel Hill Boulevard (commonly called “The Boulevard”), and OLD Chapel Hill Boulevard are all different streets.
  • Duke University Road, University Drive, and Duke Street are also distinct entities.
  • Duke University Road turns into Chapel Hill Street at Kent Street (with no warning).
  • The freeway that runs through the center of Durham may be called one of several names: East-West Expressway, The Durham Freeway, 147, or S.R. 147.
  • While it seems like you could, there is no way to drive through the center of East or West campus and come out on the other side. (Do not try!) Campus Drive connects East and West Campus.
  • NC 751 can be referred to by a number of names as well: 751, Cameron Boulevard, and, perhaps more confusing, shortly after the Washington Duke Golf Course, it splits and becomes Academy for a short while before it comes to a “T” intersection at University Drive and continues as Hope Valley Road when you go two lights east on University Drive.
  • Regular 15-501 is sometimes referred to as the 15-501 Bypass as opposed to 15-501 Business.
  • There is an Erwin Road and an Old Erwin Road. Erwin runs in front of the University Medical Center and becomes Ninth Street. Old Erwin is connected to “751/Cameron” and runs into Chapel Hill (referred to as the “back way to Chapel Hill”) and connects with 15-501 just before Franklin Street. To make things just slightly more confusing, Old Erwin is also called “The Erwin Road Extension.”

Local Public Transportation

American Public Transportation Association

Duke University Transit

712 Wilkerson Avenue, Durham
919-684-2218

Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA)

919-683-DATA (3282)

GoTriangle.org Trip Planner

Search engine that accesses all major Triangle transit services and delivers complete trip information from start to finish, including walking distance to bus stops and overall travel times. Also includes links to individual transit service sites.

Triangle Transit Authority

919-549-9999
The Triangle Transit Authority begins in the Research Triangle Park and continues in a loop through northern Durham, Chapel Hill,and southern Durham. Additional routes serve Raleigh, Cary, Apex and surrounding areas. Please call for specific route information.

Train Information

The train may be taken from Durham south to Charlotte and from Durham north to Boston. Durham’s Amtrak station is across from the Mutual Insurance building at 400 West Chapel Hill Street. A train from Raleigh goes to Florida. For complete schedule and fare listings call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit amtrak.com.

Biking

Mountain biking is allowed in Duke Forest, NC State Forest, and some city parks. If you are interested in long distance touring, maps and information can be
obtained online.

Automobile Information

Department of Motor Vehicles

Procedure:Although students can maintain residency outside of the state of North Carolina, spouses generally must become state residents (especially if you plan to work here). You’ll have 30 days to get your North Carolina driver’s license and license plates (you’ll have to go to two separate places — one for the driver’s license and one for the license plates). Note: If you change your plates, you do not need to get a North Carolina driver’s license.

Driver’s Licenses

Offices: 227 W. Highway 54 (in the Homestead Market Shopping Center near Roses), 919-560- 3378 or State Highway Patrol Station on Miami Boulevard, Durham, 919-560-6896
Procedure: To get your license, you’ll have to take a written test and a vision test. You’ll also need Form 123 from your insurance company, which shows that you have liability insurance. (Most insurance companies that insure cars in North Carolina know about the requirement and will send you a copy of the form. Faxed copies also are okay.) You’ll need to turn in your former driver’s license (you can’t keep it as a souvenir). Also, bring cash. Fees for driver’s licenses vary  depending on what type of license you are getting.

The written test for a regular driver’s license is a 25-question, multiple choice test. The questions can be very tricky, so we advise reading and studying the driver’s education book before you take the test. You’ll have to pick up the book in person. You can pick up the book and take the test at either of the DMV offices listed above.

You can avoid waiting in line to take the tests by making an appointment in advance. You may make an appointment by calling either office listed above. If you have an appointment, you can just walk into the office and take a seat in the “Appointments Only” chair in the testing area. You MUST have copies of all of your documentation, including proof of insurance, before you can take the test.

License Plates

Offices: 1920 Highway 54, Suite 430, 919-544-6607 or Northgate Shopping Mall, 919-286-4908
Procedure: To get license plates, you must have the following:

  • Car title, signed and notarized
  • NC insurance company and policy number
  • Mileage and bill of sale from the dealer
  • Valid driver’s license

If you co-own the car, the co-owner will have to sign forms saying you can register it in North Carolina. You must also come prepared to write a check. North Carolina charges a highway usage tax, which you must pay when you get your plates. The tax is a percentage (usually 3%) of the blue book value of the car, and it can be expensive. The newer the car, the higher the fees, which can range from $63–$1,564. License plates cost is $20, and the title fee is $36.

Safety Inspection

North Carolina requires a safety inspection of all automobiles, which must be conducted within 10
days of receiving your license plates. Most repair shops can do the safety inspection — look for a sign in
front of the station indicating which ones can inspect cars. Inspection takes about a half an hour.