HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program gave a presentation during last night’s Harrisonburg City Council meeting on updates that could make some improvements. 

The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program was created in 2001 to improve traffic issues such as speeding and “cut-through traffic.”

The areas that were introduced to update included frequency of neighborhood traffic calming, clarity on what warrants traffic calming, and more.

A Point-based Prioritization System was introduced through a flow chart. Director of Public Works Tom Hartman said this process is more fluid. The system would score streets and allow residents to compare their scores with others.

 “Versus having a neighborhood group call us, do some talks, have a neighborhood meeting, come to Council to get approval for a study, go do the study, develop the plan, talk to the neighborhood, find funding,” said Hartman. “Instead of a 4- or 5-year process.”

Some of the criteria listed includes Speed, Volume, Street Density, Pedestrian Generators, and Roadway Typology.

 No action was taken on this subject but there is a plan for council consideration in July 2025. The next step for Spring 2025 is having an Open House and updating based on public comments.