Project News
Exciting progress is underway for the Granby Street Bike Lanes project in Norfolk, Virginia! After meticulous planning and valuable community input gathered over several years, we are thrilled to announce that the project has officially entered its construction phase. The formal posting for contractor bids went live on the City’s procurement platform on January 31, 2025, and the deadline for bid submissions is set for late February. Following a thorough review and verification process of all received bids, the Department of Transportation will finalize the contract with the most qualified contractor.
Once the contract is secured, we are committed to keeping the community informed about the construction timeline and any potential impacts on Granby Street and neighboring areas. Residents can anticipate construction to commence in the spring. This project is a significant step towards enhancing the infrastructure and walkability of Norfolk, particularly along Granby Street.
In addition to the dedicated bike lanes, this initiative includes the implementation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at five key intersections and a pedestrian hybrid beacon. These safety enhancements are designed to significantly improve pedestrian safety along Granby Street in Norfolk, VA. The RRFBs will be strategically positioned at the intersections of Dumont Avenue, Elvin Road, Fife Street, Oxford Street, and Talbot Hall Road. Furthermore, the pedestrian hybrid beacon, which will bring traffic to a full stop with a red signal upon pedestrian activation, will offer a safer crossing point for pedestrians navigating Granby Street. These additions demonstrate the City of Norfolk’s commitment to creating a safer and more accessible environment for all road users along Granby Street.
Project Location
The Granby Street Bike Lanes project focuses on the stretch of Granby Street located between Willow Wood Drive and Admiral Taussig Boulevard. This section is conveniently situated just south of the I-564 overpass in Norfolk, VA, making it a crucial corridor for improved connectivity and safety.
Project Information
Initiated in 2021, the City of Norfolk Department of Transportation collaborated closely with the local community to conceptualize and develop the Granby Street Bike Lanes project. The primary goal is to establish dedicated bike lanes along Granby Street, specifically between Willow Wood Drive and Admiral Taussig Boulevard, just south of the I-564 overpass. This will be achieved by repurposing an existing vehicle lane in each direction to create these bike lanes. This strategic reallocation of space underscores Norfolk’s dedication to promoting cycling as a viable and safe mode of transportation.
Beyond the bike lanes themselves, city staff and community stakeholders have worked synergistically to identify and integrate additional multimodal and pedestrian safety improvements at various points along Granby Street. These supplementary enhancements are designed to complement the bike lanes and create a more comprehensive safety network for all users of Granby Street in Norfolk, VA.
The project reached a significant milestone in January 2022 when the City Council gave their approval to accept SMART Scale funding. This pivotal decision marked the successful conclusion of the Project Development phase and paved the way for the project to move forward. Since early 2023, the Transportation Department team has been diligently working on the 60% designs for the bike lanes, ensuring a well-planned and effective implementation.
For those seeking more detailed information about the project development process, we encourage you to explore the Project Fact Sheet (PDF) and the Project Q&A Sheet (PDF), both updated as of January 10, 2022. These resources offer valuable insights and address common queries related to the Granby Street Bike Lanes project in Norfolk, VA.
Project Fact Sheet (PDF)
Project Q&A Sheet (PDF)
Public Outreach
Design
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of the Granby Street Bike Lanes project. On January 18, 2024, the project team hosted an in-person community meeting to present and discuss the 60% designs. This meeting took place from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the Tabernacle Church of Norfolk, located at 7000 Granby St. This provided an invaluable opportunity for residents to review the designs, ask questions, and provide feedback directly to the project team.
As the project progresses through the Design phase, the project team remains committed to ongoing communication and collaboration with the community and local stakeholders. This continuous engagement ensures that the final design reflects community needs and preferences for the Granby Street Bike Lanes in Norfolk, VA.
Construction
To keep residents fully informed about the upcoming construction phase of the Granby Street Bike Lanes project in Norfolk, public notifications will be disseminated through multiple channels. These include mail, website updates, and other relevant communication methods. We strongly encourage residents to regularly check this webpage for the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.
Project Development
The initial phase of public outreach for the Granby Street Bike Lanes project development involved a virtual workshop held on March 11, 2021, and an online survey accessible from March 11 to April 13, 2021. These virtual platforms allowed for broad community participation and input at the project’s inception.
A second virtual workshop followed on June 29, 2021, focusing on gathering public feedback on the traffic study findings and preliminary design concepts developed based on the initial round of public input. A subsequent public comment period extended until October 22, 2021, allowing ample time for community members to contribute their thoughts and suggestions.
The final round of public outreach culminated in an in-person open house, offering residents and community members a direct opportunity to discuss the proposed Granby Street Bike Lanes with representatives from the City of Norfolk. This event was held at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Newport Avenue on September 22, 2021. Furthermore, the project team actively participated in civic league and task force meetings throughout Fall 2021 to deliver project updates and address any questions or concerns from residents.
Project updates are consistently distributed via email to all workshop registrants and are also available upon individual request. We encourage interested individuals to contact us to be added to our email update list. In addition to email updates, all project information is regularly posted on this dedicated webpage and the official City of Norfolk social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and NextDoor. This multi-faceted approach to communication ensures that all stakeholders are well-informed about the progress of the Granby Street Bike Lanes project in Norfolk, VA.
