Engineering
The Engineering Division provides design services, standards and regulations, and project administration to support the execution and oversight of infrastructure projects and services related to engineering plan reviews, stormwater management guidance, traffic engineering requests and information, and erosion and sediment control.
Core Programs and Services
- Project Management - City projects including procurement and regulatory compliance
- Technical Support - engineering assistance for City-wide projects and services
- Traffic Engineering - traffic optimization, signal management, multimodal master planning, sign management
- Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Development - in support of infrastructure submissions across the City
- Grant Management - Opportunity analysis and application/administration process management
- Inspections & Compliance - VSMP/VESCP, CIP Infrastructure, and BMP
- Development & Project Review - for capital and new development projects
Traffic Engineering is Responsible For:
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Implementation
- Intersection improvements (turn lanes, center lines, edge lines)
- Neighborhood traffic management:
- Attending neighborhood meetings
- Traffic calming process
- Permit parking management:
- Perform surveys to install new permit parking zones (at least 75% of spaces must be full, with 50% of those being commuters)
- Determine how many parking spaces each property in the zone should receive (per Zoning Ordinance requirements)
- Signing installation and changes:
- Parking signs, warning signs, advisory signs using Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- Site development plan review:
- Critique developer’s site plans to ensure they comply with City standards and create a quality development:
- Number of parking spaces (inc. HC spaces)
- Size of parking spaces
- Width of drive lanes
- Traffic generation (will traffic study be required?)
- Access to property
- Critique developer’s site plans to ensure they comply with City standards and create a quality development:
- Traffic safety:
- Pedestrian safety (evaluating crosswalk locations)
- Traffic signal studies:
- Decide when a new signal should be installed
- Implementing signal coordination system to create more efficient City streets
- Traffic modeling and optimization:
- Analyze data to create better timings for City signals
- Transportation planning:
- Work with MPO in planning of new roads
- Temporary street closure permits:
- Work with contractors who need to temporarily close a right-of-way (street or sidewalk) to perform construction work
- Notify City personnel of closures (police, communications, public works)
- Review their traffic control plan to ensure safety of pedestrians and vehicles
The Transportation Department is responsible for managing transportation projects of all sizes - from standalone bicycle and pedestrian projects to multi-modal roadway projects. The Department also provides opportunity analysis and administrative support for state and federally funded transportation grants. You can find more information on current projects on the Transportation Projects web page.
The Engineering Division continues to maintain the annual Best Management Practices (BMP) Inspection program as part of City’s Virginia Stormwater Municipal Permit requirements and conduct capital project inspections.