NTMP - Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) is designed to help residents address traffic concerns they may have in their neighborhood. The NTMP represents the City's commitment to helping citizens improve the safety and livability of their neighborhood. If an individual citizen or neighborhood identifies a vehicle speed or traffic volume problem in their neighborhood, Transportation staff will work with them toward a solution.

Learn about the NTMP application process, public process steps, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, program goals, and program guidelines.  

Application Process:

Just fill out the printer friendly Project Request Form describing the traffic concerns you want addressed in your neighborhood. A project can be requested by an individual citizen or by a neighborhood. Transportation staff reviews the request and collects data on volume and speed. The data is used to determine if your project qualifies for the program, based on qualification criteria.

Scheduling of Projects:

If your project qualifies, Transportation staff will notify you in writing and place your project on a waiting list. Qualified projects are scheduled in the order they are received and as funds become available. 

Public Process Steps:

  1. Notification and Support Survey. Project street residents receive a newsletter notifying them that their street is being considered for traffic calming. Included with the newsletter is a support survey that is used to gauge support from project street residents for the installation of traffic-calming devices on their street. If there is sufficient support, the project will move to Step 2.
  2. Traffic-calming Plan Proposal. Project street residents will receive a second newsletter updating them on the survey results, public meeting date, and overview of the public process. Staff develops a traffic-calming plan proposal for the project street residents to consider. The plans are reviewed by the Olympia Fire Department prior to meeting with residents.
  3. Public Meeting. Staff holds a public meeting to share the traffic-calming plan proposal with project street residents and other potentially affected parties. The goal of the public meeting is to reach consensus on a traffic-calming plan at this one meeting. Therefore, project street residents are encouraged to come to this public meeting. Feedback on the proposed traffic-calming plan can also be provided via e-mail, by written comment, or by telephone. When consensus is reached, the project moves to Step 4.
  4. Design and Construction. The approved traffic-calming plan is forwarded to Engineering staff for the design and construction phases. Project street residents and other affected parties will receive a newsletter informing them of the timeline for the design and construction phases.  

Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation:

Transportation staff monitors the completed project and conducts an evaluation of the project within three to five years after the project is constructed. This is to determine if the devices are solving the original problem or concern. Monitoring and evaluation may include collecting volume data, speed data, collision history, and conducting traffic surveys. 

Program Goals:

  • Improve neighborhood livability by reducing the speed and impact of traffic on residential neighborhoods.
  • Promote safe and pleasant conditions for residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists on neighborhood streets.
  • Encourage and promote citizen involvement in all phases of neighborhood traffic management activities.
  • Make efficient use of City resources by developing a project plan where the neighborhood benefits outweigh the costs.
  • Support the Olympia Comprehensive Plan by "accommodating the safe and efficient movement of goods and people, acknowledging the importance of both functions to long-term economic vitality and livability and contribute to the quality of life in the area."  

Program Guidelines:

  • Traffic from arterial streets will be discouraged from using neighborhood streets.
  • Commuter traffic will be encouraged to use arterial streets. As a result of the proposed solution, traffic may be shifted from one street to another. Transportation staff will review the amount of traffic being diverted to other streets on a project-by-project basis.
  • Reasonable emergency vehicle access will be preserved.
  • Reasonable automobile access should be maintained. Pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access to neighborhood destinations, such as neighborhood parks, will be encouraged.
  • Physical devices, in combination with other techniques, will be used to slow traffic through the neighborhood, including: 14-foot Speed Cushions, Two-lane Narrow Point, Bulb-outs, and One-lane Narrow Point.
  • Spacing of devices will be approximately every 500 feet.
  • Project streets are limited to a $60,000 per project funding cap for design and construction.

Need More Information about Public Works Programs or Services? Contact the Public Works office.

  • Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
  • Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
  • Download printer-friendly (PDF) directions to our office
  • Hours: M - F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for City-recognized holidays)
  • Phone: 360.753.8588
  • TTY: 360.753.8270
  • Email: publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us