Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program

Citizens frequently express their concerns regarding traffic speeds and pedestrian safety in residential neighborhoods. The City established this neighborhood traffic program to address these concerns. The program involves a joint effort between the residents and the City in an effort to improve traffic safety in their neighborhoods.

What can you do to make the streets safer?

As A Driver...

Know and obey the speed limits!

The most common concern expressed to the City is about speeding traffic in residential neighborhoods.  Speeding traffic is a concern to all of us.

The Virginia Motor Vehicle Code sets the prima facie speed limit in residential districts at 25 mph.  Prima facie limits are considered by law to be safe and prudent under normal conditions. This lower speed limit allows for a greater reaction time and shorter necessary stopping distance to avoid a hazard in the roadway. A residential district is determined by the width of the roadway and the density of adjacent residential development.

Some residential streets may have a speed limit greater than the 25 mph prima facie speed limit because of the functional use of the street, the adjacent land use, the width of the street, or a previously set speed limit based on a radar survey.

Watch for and yield to pedestrians in the roadway.

Pedestrians are commonly present in residential neighborhoods. A pedestrian has the right-of-way in marked or unmarked crosswalks at an intersection as long as they have used due care for their safety.

Plan your trips.

Combine your trips into a single trip with several destinations to reduce congestion and the urge to drive fast.

As A Parent...

Set a good example for your children.

Children often learn by watching and imitating their parents. Your actions as a driver, pedestrian or bicyclist should always set a good example.

Do not encourage your children to play in the street.

Instead, encourage them to use their own yard, a neighbors yard, or a nearby park.

Instruct children in the proper way to cross the street.

Tell children not to dawdle, but to cross quickly when safe to do so, and to continue watching for traffic until they are safely on the curb at the other side. Teach your children this simple rhyme:

Teach your children the safest route to school.

The best routes for your children to use takes advantage of signalized crossings and adult crossing guards. Copies of the walk routes and crossing guard locations can be obtained from the School District.

As A Resident...

Get involved.

Be aware of road conditions, traffic patterns and alternate routes to your destination. Be aware of the rules of the road as a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorist.

Talk with your neighbors about traffic safety.  Be aware of existing conditions and notify the City when situations seem to create a problem.  Think about ways in which these situations might be changed prior to contacting the City.

Report damaged, faded or missing traffic signs and help maintain good visibility by trimming landscaping. Especially important is sight distance at intersection corner lots.

What can the City do to help?

Traffic Signs

The City installs traffic signs to regulate parking, regulate speeds and to warn of traffic hazards. Residents can request that warning or regulatory signs be placed at appropriate locations to warn of hazards or regulate parking.

Street Lighting

To increase the visibility of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles, the City installs street lighting in residential neighborhoods. This higher visibility generally leads to a reduction in accidents. The installation of street lighting has also shown to reduce neighborhood crime.

Maintain The Roadway System

Report damaged sidewalk or streets, as well as missing or old signs. The City has maintenance crews that will repair damages to the infrastructure.

The Residential Traffic Calming Program

In February 2003, the City Manager, with Council's endorsement, adopted a policy approving a Traffic Management and Calming Pilot Program. The Program offers various options to address speeding and cut through traffic concerns on residential streets. This policy only applies to traffic flow changes on public streets that are initiated by citizens. The City’s policy does not apply to the modification of traffic flow on public streets initiated by the City to address specific traffic safety issues or to comply with State and Federal Regulations.

The process involves citizens obtaining neighborhood consensus by circulating petitions to residents living in the area that will be impacted by the physical changes. An outline of the City's Neighborhood Traffic Management and Calming Program can be obtained by requesting an information brochure from the City. 

The brochure provides enough information for residents to determine if their street is eligible for the program and how the program works.

If you have questions, requests or suggestions concerning traffic, please call the Department of Engineering at 926-8611