NORFOLK, VA – Slow down! This simple statement is echoed by many Norfolk residents. To address resident concerns and as part of its Vision Zero initiative, Norfolk’s Department of Transit is introducing a speed reduction program which will lower the speed limit on neighborhood streets to 20 miles per hour.
Norfolk City Council passed an ordinance on Tuesday, October 26, that aligns with new state legislation that allows localities to slow speeds on local/neighborhood streets without requiring speed studies. The Department of Transit already identified priority areas throughout the city to establish an implementation plan beginning on the south side of the city. Sign installation is expected to take place in that area Tuesday, November 9, through Friday, November 12, weather permitting.
At lower speeds, drivers have a wider field of view and are more likely to notice other road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. This is especially important in neighborhoods where more people are walking, biking, scootering, or playing.
Nationally recognized as a new speed limit for neighborhood streets, 20 miles per hour accounts for people traveling in different ways and creates a safer roadway environment.
Vision Zero is the city’s strategy to eliminate all pedestrian and bicycle fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safety, mobility, and equity for all road users. Norfolk City Council adopted the Vision Zero policy in November 2019.