Norfolk should pump its brakes on traffic signal plan

The city of Norfolk recently surprised our civic league with news that a $950,000 five-way traffic light and crosswalk are planned for a July installation on Hampton Boulevard at the intersection of Jamestown Crescent, Hanover Avenue and Richmond Crescent — about 1 mile north of Old Dominion University. This relatively minor city project has major potential to worsen traffic congestion for thousands of unsuspecting Hampton Roads commuters, cripple regional commerce and endanger residents along adjacent side-streets.

During the city’s presentation, neighbors spoke both in support and against the project. There were many unanswered questions and a dearth of historic traffic and safety data, all standing in stark contrast with the presenters’ assurances about the project’s benefits. I thought the city had not done the due diligence required for such a potentially disruptive change.

Hampton Boulevard is one of the region’s most important transportation corridors. The thoroughfare serves countless daily commuters, local business vehicles and commercial tractor-trailers linking downtown, the Midtown Tunnel and Naval Station Norfolk. Norfolk International Terminal and Interstate 64 traffic add to the mix, and daily train crossings at Terminal Boulevard periodically stop all traffic. Speeding is also a problem. In 2018 Norfolk created the Hampton Boulevard Task Force to address safety concerns and improve quality of life along the route.

A three-way traffic light previously existed at the same intersection. In 2015 an overheight tractor-trailer irreparably damaged the original light, and for eight years traffic has flowed freely. Some residents question whether a traffic light is needed, even after one major accident.

On Sept. 5, 2021, at 11:30 p.m., an intoxicated driver was racing on Hampton Boulevard and struck a sidewalk while turning onto Jamestown Crescent. The horrific single-car incident caused multiple injuries and the death of one passenger. In 2022, a jury sentenced the driver to 12 years in prison. No one knows whether the lack of a traffic light contributed to this tragedy.

Local residents and commuters are keenly familiar with Hampton Boulevard’s rush-hour traffic. Adding a five-way traffic light and crosswalk will worsen existing congestion, and nearby crosswalks already exist.

When traffic currently stops on Hampton Boulevard, a large number of commuters re-route east through Larchmont and become a safety risk to the small neighborhood with its narrow curving streets. The preponderance of street parking near intersections also creates blind-spots for unfamiliar drivers who are often seen using their smartphones for navigation. Larchmont also has a large number of young families with children, bike riders and retirees who go on daily walks. These are also the same avenues school children and stroller-pushing parents use to access two large neighborhood schools and one church preschool.

For me, the risk of a fender-bender on Hampton Boulevard is far more acceptable than a distracted driver striking a child on an adjacent side-street.

Ironically, the city’s well intentioned plan to install this five-way traffic safety light and crosswalk may create a more dangerous situation than doing nothing at all.

The nearly $1 million project price tag is out of the city’s operational budget. If canceled, the money could be earmarked for hiring more police who could further deter speeding.

Following the city’s presentation, our civic league conducted a traffic survey of our residents. Approximately 58% of 428 respondents are not in favor of the city moving forward with this project, with 35% in favor (the remainder being indifferent or desiring more information). We will send the results to City Council, but our neighborhood isn’t the sole stakeholder. Other voices should be heard.

Norfolk City Council should pump the brakes and collaboratively develop a holistic traffic solution that considers neighborhood safety, speed-reduction alternatives and traffic congestion — or put it in park, turn it off and walk away.