Safe Neighborhoods

Norfolk’s Ward 2 has some of the city’s most storied and celebrated neighborhoods. From West Ghent to Wards Corner, Park Place to Suburban Park, Downtown to the NEON, ensuring these communities are as safe as possible for your family and her own is critical for Courtney.

Some of Courtney’s accomplishments in this area include:

• Traffic Safety
  • Vision Zero was adopted by Norfolk City Council and Courtney is a leader in supporting the efforts to have no traffic deaths or serious injuries for drivers, cyclists or pedestrians on our roadways in Norfolk. Improvements include:
    • City – wide speed limit reductions. 
    • Speed zone cameras placed at 10 Norfolk Public School locations to address speeding at drop off and pick up time.
    • New stop signs placed throughout neighborhoods in and around 38th Street in Lambert’s Point and on North Colley
    • Improved crosswalks and medians in and around 38th Street in Lambert’s Point and on North Colley
    • New speed tables installed along Willow Wood Drive to slow vehicles from speeding
    • Funding to support safety improvements along Granby Street between Willow Wood Drive and Admiral Taussig Blvd. Speed limit will be reduced to 30mph. New pedestrian safety beacons will be placed at the intersections of Dumont Avenue, Elvin Road, Fife Street, Oxford Street, and Talbot hall Road.  Dedicated bike lanes will be placed in the outer lanes in both directions.  
  • Hampton Boulevard Task Force, which is inclusive of civic leagues, ODU, Navy, Eastern Virginia Medical Campus, Virginia Maritime Assn., Virginia Trucking Assn., HRT, Virginia Port Authority, Norfolk Police Dept. and more, is chaired by Courtney. The Task Force’s goal is to improve traffic safety for all users of Hampton Boulevard, including vehicles, pedestrians, bikers and transit. The following has been implemented:
    • Installed a red-light camera at Princess Anne Road and Hampton Boulevard
    • Installed LED streetlight upgrades
    • Reduced school zone speed limits to 15mph
    • Installed speed zone cameras at 10 Norfolk Public School locations
    • Replaced the traffic lights at Azalea Garden Court and Hampton Blvd. 
    • Received a roadway study from the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization
    • Installed protected left turn signal upgrades along Hampton Boulevard
    • Secured VDOT Revenue Sharing funding to replace signal at Hampton Blvd and Azalea Court
    • Introduced text notifications when trains cross Terminal and Hampton Boulevards thanks to the Virginia Port Authority
    • Placed speed calming measures between Jamestown Crescent and the Hampton Blvd. Bridge
    • Increased fines for trucks who violate the hours allowing for trucks on Hampton Blvd.
    • Installed speed display signs
    • Improved median safety
    • Increased police traffic enforcement
• Community Safety
  • Conditional Use Permits:
    • Courtney has worked with the community to address late night safety issues for residents and businesses alike, through enhanced police presence and the removal of Conditional Use Permits (CUP) for nightclubs who have been in violation of the permit, among other measures.
    • A Business Compliance Unit was developed that to assure that businesses and entities are compliant with their CUP and will focus on nightclubs, short-term rentals and marijuana legislation.

• Revitalization of older city buildings: The old Stuart School in the Colonial Place neighborhood had long sat dark and unkept before being developed into apartments. Along with her council colleagues, Courtney supported the sale of this property to be converted into apartments thus, revitalizing this large property as a valued and safe part of the neighborhood.
• Public Safety Officials: Additional money was provided to increase funding and pay for Norfolk’s public safety team members, which will help to resolve recruitment and retention challenges in these ranks.