Dates	Number of Participants (unique individuals)
May 5-19, 2025	783

 

The following needs have been identified for this study. Do you agree with these needs?
Capacity preservation (keep traffic flowing smoothly)	78%
Safety improvement	67%
Pedestrian safety improvement	61%
Bicycle access	51%
Transportation demand management (TDM)	40%
Transit access	36%

 

Rank the following needs in order of importance to you along the study area.
Reducing traffic congestion	86%
Corridor safety / intersection safety	82%
Pedestrian safety and accessibility	80%
Speeding / aggressive driving	78%
Proper pavement marking and signage	78%
Public transit access and service	77%
Bicycle safety and accessibility	75%

 

Which of the following safety issues concern you?
Speeding / aggressive driving	54%
Lack of sidewalks / missing sidewalks	54%
Insufficient / missing crosswalks and pedestrian signal timing	47%
Inadequate bicycle facilities	37%
Sudden stopping / rear-end crashes	35%
Difficulty weaving / merging	35%
Running red lights	26%
Inadequate pavement marking and signage	26%
Side-impact crashes	24%
Inadequate transit / bus stops	21%
Inadequate lighting	21%
Lack of ADA ramps and accessibility	18%
Closely spaced driveways	13%
Other	4%

 

What mobility issues do you typically experience when using the study area?
Difficulty making left turns	55%
Poor signal coordination	38%
Lack of turn lanes	36%
Difficulty when walking	31%
Difficulty when riding a bicycle	30%
Difficulty accessing businesses	21%
Vehicles blocking entrances	17%
Other	4%

 

What mode(s) of travel do you use when traveling along the study area?
Personal vehicle	97%
Walking	31%
Biking	25%
Truck or commercial vehicle	6%
Carpool / Vanpool	3%
Metro bus, local bus, or commuter bus	2%
School bus	2%
Taxi / Uber / Lyft	2%
Other	1%

 

ST-25-01 Phase 1 Executive Summary - PDF, 900KB

The Phase 2 survey regarding proposed alternatives for the Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) corridor between Gay Street and the Harrisonburg city limits was completed in December 2025. 

Dates	Number of Participants (unique individuals)
December 9-23, 2025	438

 

1. Virginia Avenue & Gay Street

Need: The intersection of Virginia Avenue and Gay Street experiences crashes related to drivers running red lights. Fifteen of 29 total crashes at the intersection were related to red-light running during the study’s five-year analysis period (2020-2024). Additionally, the existing intersection geometry does not sufficiently accommodate northbound tractor trailers turning right onto Gay Street eastbound. Therefore, large trucks must instead travel further north on Virginia Avenue into more residential areas in order to make a right turn elsewhere. Sight distance is also very limited for drivers turning right from Gay Street onto Virginia Avenue, making it more difficult to safely turn right on red. 

Description of Alternatives 

Alternative 1: 

The proposed alternative is the restriction of right turns from Gay Street. This restriction would remove the potential conflict between vehicles turning right from Gay Street and vehicles on Virginia Avenue. Sight distances for drivers attempting to turn right from Gay Street are very limited, making it difficult to safely turn right on red. This change is expected to slightly increase delay for vehicles on Gay Street (the average intersection delay was projected to increase by 0.9 seconds per vehicle during the morning peak hour and by 0.3 seconds per vehicle during the afternoon/evening peak hour). The following improvements are proposed as part of Alternative 1: 

• No right turn on red from Gay Street 

Alternative 2: 

The proposed alternative is the installation of more pavement at the southeast corner of the intersection and relocation of the westbound Gay Street stop bar to provide a larger turning radius for northbound trucks turning right onto Gay Street eastbound. The installation of a supplemental signal head for southbound left-turning vehicles is also proposed in the southeast corner of the intersection. This will make the signal more visible and potentially mitigate the red-light running crash pattern. The following improvements are proposed as part of Alternative 2: 

• Install additional pavement at the southeast corner of the intersection 
• Relocate the westbound Gay Street left turn lane stop bar 
• Install supplemental signal head in the southeast corner of the intersection 

Alternative 3: 

The proposed alternative is the relocation of the westbound Gay Street stop bars further to the east to provide more space for trucks to turn right from northbound Virginia Avenue onto eastbound Gay Street, while requiring less additional pavement than proposed in Alternative 2. This would result in a slight increase in average delay at the intersection, with simulated delays increasing by 3.0 seconds per vehicle during the morning peak hour and by 2.4 seconds per vehicle during the afternoon/evening peak hour. This increase would occur due to the increased amount of time required for all signals to be red, necessitated by the relocated stop bars, causing vehicles to take longer to drive through the intersection. The installation of a supplemental signal head for southbound left-turning vehicles is also proposed in the southeast corner of the intersection. This would make the signal more visible and potentially mitigate the red-light running crash pattern. 

• Relocate both westbound Gay Street stop bars 
• Install additional pavement in the southeast corner of the intersection 
• Install supplemental signal head in the southeast corner of the intersection 

Please rate the proposed alternatives at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Gay Street on a scale of 1 to 5. (383 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Alternative 1: Restricting right turns on red from Gay Street.	20%	12%	16%	18%	34%
Alternative 2: Adding pavement to the southeast corner of the intersection and adjusting the westbound left-turn stop bar on Gay Street to accommodate trucks turning right from northbound Virginia Avenue to eastbound Gay Street. Installing a supplemental southbound left-turn signal head in the southeast corner of the intersection.	27%	14%	21%	19%	20%
Alternative 3: Relocating the westbound Gay Street stop bars to accommodate trucks turning right from northbound Virginia Avenue to eastbound Gay Street. Installing supplemental pavement in the southeast corner of the intersection. Installing a supplemental southbound left-turn signal head in the southeast corner of the intersection.	16%	13%	27%	27%	17%

 

2. Virginia Avenue from 1st Street to 4th Street

Need: The segment of Virginia Avenue between 1st Street and 4th Street has a significant amount of pedestrian traffic, with three (3) pedestrian crashes having occurred within the segment, all of which resulted in injury and involved people crossing Virginia Avenue at 3rd Street. Eight-hour pedestrian data (collected on April 29, 2025, from 6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.) show that 52 people crossed Virginia Avenue between 1st Street and 4th Street. This proposed alternative will provide more crossing opportunities, as well as countermeasures intended to improve pedestrian safety throughout the segment. 

Description of Alternative 

Alternative: 

The proposed alternative will improve pedestrian safety and mobility by improving pedestrian visibility by installing signs, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, high-visibility crosswalks, and curb extensions that clearly identify locations where drivers need to stop or yield to pedestrians. Currently, there are only two opportunities for pedestrians to cross Virginia Avenue between Gay Street and 5th Street, at Gay Street and 3rd Street. The data collected as part of this study indicates that there is demand for more crossing locations. To address this demand, this proposal includes new crossings of Virginia Avenue at 1st Street, 2nd Street, and 4th Street. At the intersection of 3rd Street and Virginia Avenue, a leading pedestrian interval will be used, allowing pedestrians to start crossing Virginia Avenue five (5) to seven (7) seconds before any vehicles get a green light. The curb extension will reduce the distance pedestrians would have to walk to cross the street. The following improvements are proposed as part of this alternative: 

• Pedestrian Crossing Warning Signs with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons 
• Leading Pedestrian Interval 
• High Visibility Crosswalks 
• Curb Extensions 
• Curb Ramps 

Please rate the proposed alternatives for the segment of Virginia Avenue from 1st Street to 4th Street on a scale of 1 to 5. (326 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Installing crosswalks, curb extensions, pedestrian crossing warning signs, and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at the intersections from 1st Street to 4th Street.	10%	8%	14%	21%	47%

 

3. Virginia Avenue & 3rd Street

Need: Queues at the intersection on Virginia Avenue can extend significantly due to vehicles waiting to turn left onto 3rd Street.   

Description of Alternatives 

Alternative: 

This proposed alternative is the replacement of the southbound street parking along Virginia Avenue between 2nd Street and 4th Street with northbound and southbound left-turn lanes at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 3rd Street in addition to the aforementioned pedestrian improvements proposed for the segment of Virginia Avenue from 1st Street to 4th Street. The purpose of the northbound and southbound left-turn lanes is to address the significant queues caused by vehicles waiting to turn left onto 3rd Street. 

Please rate the proposed improvements for the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 3rd Street on a scale of 1 to 5. (316 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Replacing the southbound street parking on Virginia Avenue from 2nd Street to 4th Street with left-turn lanes at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 3rd Street.	13%	6%	19%	26%	36%

 

4. Virginia Avenue & 5th Street

Need: Visibility from 5th Street eastbound and westbound is very limited, making it difficult to turn onto Virginia Avenue. There were four (4) crashes at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 5th Street during a five-year period (2020-2024). Three (3) of these crashes involved a vehicle traveling southbound, one (1) of which was a fatal crash. 

Vehicles traveling southbound on Virginia Avenue typically drive 9 mph above the posted 35 mph speed limit near the 5th Street intersection. This intersection serves as the transition point from the higher speed, three-lane road to the lower speed, two-lane residential roadway, but the existing geometry does not sufficiently encourage lower speeds. 

Description of Alternative 

Alternative: 

The construction of a grass median through the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 5th Street and the installation of southbound shoulder striping to promote lower speeds and prevent left turns and through movements from 5th Street and left turns onto 5th Street. This alternative would reduce crashes and excessive speeds at this intersection. 

Please rate the proposed alternative at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 5th Street on a scale of 1 to 5. (300 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Constructing a grass median and installing shoulder pavement striping to promote traffic calming.	18%	8%	15%	28%	30%

 

5. Virginia Avenue & Edom Road

Need: Additional space is needed for trucks turning right from northbound Virginia Avenue onto Edom Road to access the industrial land use to the east. 

Currently, southbound Virginia Avenue merges from two lanes to one within the intersection at Edom Road. Drivers start transitioning to the correct lane well in advance of the merge point, making it more difficult for other drivers who have yet to merge to do so. Similarly, northbound Virginia Avenue expands from one lane to two lanes within the intersection. As a result, it can be difficult for drivers turning right from Edom Road onto Virginia Avenue northbound to predict which lane northbound drivers will select. 

Description of Alternative 

Alternative: 

The proposed alternative includes the consolidation of the Edom Road approach at the intersection from two lanes to one. This will provide more space for vehicles turning right from Virginia Avenue onto Edom Road. It also includes the relocation of the northbound lane addition and southbound lane reduction north of their current locations to reduce conflicts within the intersection. The average delay in seconds per vehicle on Edom Road is expected to increase from 13.5 seconds per vehicle to 14.1 seconds per vehicle during the AM peak hour and from 28.4 seconds per vehicle to 33.6 seconds per vehicle during the PM peak hour, increases of 0.6 and 5.2 seconds per vehicle, respectively. 

Please rate the proposed alternative at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Edom Road on a scale of 1 to 5. NOTE: These improvements are not mutually exclusive and can be implemented together. (290 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Consolidating the Edom Road approach from two lanes to one lane.	17%	11%	27%	26%	20%
Relocating the northbound widening and southbound narrowing of Virginia Avenue north of the intersection at Edom Road.	16%	9%	29%	27%	19%

 

6. Virginia Avenue & Mount Clinton Pike

Need: At the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Mount Clinton Pike, and the driveways immediately around the intersection, 16 angle crashes involving left turns occurred over a five-year period (2020-2024). Several movements at the intersection are forecasted to experience failing levels of service (more than 55 seconds of delay per vehicle).  

Currently, there is a gap in the sidewalk on the southern side of Mount Clinton Pike west of the intersection. Within the same five-year period of crash data, two pedestrian-related crashes occurred on Mount Clinton Pike west of the intersection. 

Description of Alternatives 

Alternative 1: 

This proposed alternative is the reassignment of lanes on the eastbound and westbound Mount Clinton Pike approaches at the intersection with Virginia Avenue from a shared left-turn/through lane and a dedicated right-turn lane to a dedicated left-turn lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. This would allow for phasing that permits vehicles from both Mount Clinton Pike approaches to turn left at the same time onto Virginia Avenue. This modification is expected to significantly improve the operations of the intersection. 

Alternative 2: 

This proposed alternative is the installation of a median along Mount Clinton Pike west of the intersection with Virginia Avenue, extending from the stop bar approximately 200 feet to the west. This would restrict left-turn movements into and out of the two closest driveways to the intersection, both of which currently have significant angle crash patterns. 

Alternative 3: 

This proposed alternative is the construction of a sidewalk along the southern side of Mount Clinton Pike west of the intersection with Virginia Avenue to fill in the current gap in sidewalk availability. The proposed sidewalk will extend from the intersection in the east to the entrance of Gift and Thrift in the west. 

Please rate the proposed improvements at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Mount Clinton Pike on a scale of 1 to 5. NOTE: These alternatives are not mutually exclusive and can be implemented together. (294 responses)

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Alternative 1: Reassigning lanes on Mount Clinton Pike to allow for concurrent left-turn phasing.	12%	5%	21%	27%	34%
Alternative 2: Constructing a median along Mount Clinton Pike west of the intersection.	17%	12%	23%	23%	25%
Alternative 3: Constructing a sidewalk along the southern side of Mount Clinton Pike west of the intersection.	9%	5%	18%	20%	48%

 

7. Virginia Avenue from Birch Drive to Old Windmill Circle

Need: There were 19 crashes on Virginia Avenue between Birch Drive and Harmony Drive/Harman Road during a five-year analysis period (2020 through 2024). Of these crashes, 18 were angle crashes and one (1) was pedestrian related. Ten (10) of the crashes resulted in injury, including one (1) fatality. Southbound vehicles average a speed of 58 mph, with many measured at speeds of 63 mph.    

Description of Alternatives 

Alternative 1a: 

This proposed alternative is the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Harmony Drive/Harman Road. This roundabout alternative would lower the risk of severe angle crashes at the intersection, improve intersection operations and capacity, and provide a transition point between the high-speed section of Virginia Avenue to the north and the more heavily developed area to the south. This proposed alternative would directly lower the speeds of vehicles traveling southbound, which are regularly much higher than the posted speed limit around this intersection today. In order to maintain throughput, the roundabout would have two lanes for the northbound and southbound directions, whereas the eastbound and westbound approaches would only require one lane. This alternative would also include the construction of a median on Virginia Avenue extending from the roundabout to just south of the northern entrance to the Harmony Square Shopping Center. This entrance was the site of three angle crashes involving vehicles turning left during a five-year period (2020-2024), which would be prevented with a median. 

Alternative 1b: 

This proposed alternative is the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Harmony Drive/Harman Road. This roundabout alternative would lower the risk of severe angle crashes at the intersection, improve intersection operations and capacity, and provide a transition point between the high-speed section of Virginia Avenue to the north and the more heavily developed area to the south. This proposed alternative would directly lower the speeds of vehicles traveling southbound, which are regularly much higher than the posted speed limit around this intersection today. In order to maintain throughput, the roundabout would have two lanes for the northbound and southbound directions, whereas the eastbound and westbound approaches would only require one lane. This alternative would also include the construction of a median on Virginia Avenue extending from the roundabout to just south of Sharon Lane. This would prevent left-turning movements to and from Virginia Avenue and the commercial entrances between Sharon Lane and the proposed roundabout. Five angle crashes involving vehicles turning left occurred at these intersections during a five-year period (2020-2024), including one fatality and one sideswipe crash, all of which would be prevented by the construction of a median. 

Alternative 2: 

This proposed alternative is the construction of a sidewalk on the western side of Virginia Avenue adjacent to the Harmony Square Shopping Center, filling what is currently the only gap in sidewalk availability between Gay Street and Harmony Drive/Harman Road. 

Alternative 3:  

This proposed alternative is the installation of a warning sign assembly on Virginia Avenue southbound approximately 450 feet north of Harmony Drive/Harman Road. This assembly would include an Intersection Warning Sign, “Watch for Turning Vehicles” Warning Sign, and 45 mph Advisory Speed Plaque. These signs are intended to address the existing angle crash and speeding patterns present at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Harmony Drive/Harman Road. 

Alternative 4: 

The proposed alternative is the construction of a sidewalk on the western side of Virginia Avenue from Harmony Drive/Harman Road in the south to Old Windmill Circle in the north, providing a safer route for individuals who live north of the intersection and wish to access the shopping center south of the intersection on foot. This alternative would also include the installation of a crosswalk and curb ramps at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Harmony Drive/Harman Road, as well as at any driveway crossings. 

Please rate the proposed improvements at the segment of Virginia Avenue between Acorn Drive and Harmony Drive/Harman Road on a scale of 1 to 5. NOTE: Alternatives 1a and 1b are mutually exclusive. (313 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Alternative 1a: Constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Harmony Drive/Harman Road and a median on Virginia Avenue extending from the roundabout to just south of the northern entrance to the Harmony Square Shopping Center.	50%	7%	7%	14%	21%
Alternative 1b: Constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Harmony Drive/Harman Road and a median on Virginia Avenue extending from the roundabout to just south of Sharon Lane.	54%	7%	11%	11%	17%
Alternative 2: Constructing a sidewalk on the western side of Virginia Avenue to connect the existing sidewalk segments adjacent to the Harmony Square shopping center.	8%	3%	20%	20%	48%
Alternative 3: Installing Intersection Ahead, "Watch for Turning Vehicles" and 45 mph advisory speed plaque warning signs approximately 450 feet north of the intersection.	12%	8%	24%	19%	38%
Alternative 4: Constructing a sidewalk on the western side of Virginia Avenue from Harmony Drive/Harman Road to Old Windmill Circle.	8%	3%	19%	22%	48%