City of Germantown
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The Germantown Engineering Department is dedicated to creating a well-maintained, safe, and efficient transportation system for everyone. By leveraging real-time data and modern technology, we ensure a smooth travel experience throughout the city.
Germantown SmartStreets
Your real-time look at how our city is moving.
Smart Signals
Most major intersections do not just run on a timer. They use smart sensors to detect waiting cars and adjust green lights in real-time to keep you moving.
TDOT Smartway
We integrate directly with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to feed real-time hazard, incident, and closure data straight into our local dashboard.
Railroad Crossings
We map all railroad crossings in the city to give you instant access to the specific Crossing ID and the Railroad Emergency Contact Number in case of an extended blockage.
MLGW Outages
Stay informed on local power losses that may be directly affecting traffic lights and flow in your area.
Core Operations
- Traffic Signal Management: We operate and maintain 40 signalized intersections across Germantown, including advanced school zone warning lights that protect students and parents during drop-off and pick-up.
- Pedestrian Safety & Crossings: We maintain 2 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crosswalks to ensure safe and highly visible pedestrian travel across key roadways.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
To protect our neighborhoods, the City of Germantown implements a comprehensive, data-driven Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP). This policy applies strictly to minor, residential streets. Collector streets, arterial streets, and streets in commercial zoning districts are not eligible for physical traffic calming measures.
Eligibility & Criteria
Individual citizens are not eligible to initiate projects for the NTCP. A request must be submitted by a homeowner's group representing at least 10 percent of the property owners along a street. To be considered for physical measures, the street must generally meet the following data criteria:
- The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume is 500 vehicles or greater per day.
- The 85th percentile speed is at least 7 mph faster than the posted speed limit.
- The posted speed limit is 35 mph or less.
- The street is a through street, but is not a transit route or primary emergency access route.
Check Your Street's Data
Curious about the actual speeds and traffic volume in your neighborhood? We use the Urban SDK platform to track this data citywide. Before submitting a formal traffic calming request, we highly encourage residents to explore the interactive map below to see if your street meets the initial criteria.
How the Process Works
Step 1: Request Traffic Calming
A homeowner's association or group must submit a written request identifying the perceived traffic problem and providing representative contact information.
Step 2: Neighborhood Petition
The City will define a study area and provide a petition packet. The requester must host a publicized neighborhood meeting and obtain supporting signatures representing a majority of the households within the petition area within 90 days.
Step 3: Data Evaluation
The City will evaluate the Urban SDK data and deploy additional sensors if needed to collect traffic volume and speed data to confirm the street meets the required intervention criteria.
Step 4: Education & Enforcement
All qualifying projects begin with a 3 to 6 month period of education and enforcement efforts, requiring coordinated participation from the neighborhood and the Germantown Police Department.
Step 5: Implementation & Monitoring
If education efforts do not sufficiently address the problem, the City will develop construction documents, prioritize the project for funding, install the traffic calming measures, and monitor their effectiveness.
The City's Stance on Speed Bumps
The City of Germantown has a strict policy against installing raised traffic calming devices, such as speed bumps or speed cushions, on public streets. These devices can hinder emergency vehicle response times and cause excessive wear-and-tear on roads. Instead, we are committed to researching and deploying modern, non-raised traffic calming strategies.
(To report immediate or chronic speeding in progress, please contact the Germantown Police Department's non-emergency line).
Report a Problem
Our traffic network's responsiveness is largely fueled by citizen reports. The more detailed information you provide, the more effectively we can work to fix the problem. We highly encourage residents to report non-emergency signal issues and severe potholes directly to us so we can investigate and resolve the issue promptly.
Please note: Streetlight outages are managed and repaired by Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW).
If this is an emergency, a severe accident, or an immediate life-safety hazard, call 911 immediately. These online forms are not monitored 24/7 for emergency response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I hit every red light on Poplar Avenue?
Our signals are coordinated to push "platoons" of cars through multiple intersections at once. If you are hitting red lights, you may be driving out of sync with the platoon (either too fast or too slow), or a priority vehicle (like an ambulance or train) recently interrupted the signal cycle.
How should I treat a flashing or broken traffic signal?
- Completely Out: Treat the intersection as a 4-way stop.
- Flashing Red: Come to a complete stop and proceed cautiously when safe. (Treat as an all-way stop if all directions are flashing red).
- Flashing Yellow: Proceed through the intersection slowly and with caution.
(Please note: This does not apply to the dedicated flashing yellow left-turn arrows at Poplar Avenue & Exeter Road, or at Wolf River Boulevard & Houston High School. At those specific intersections, a flashing yellow arrow means you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before safely turning).
The left-turn arrow skipped me! What should I do?
Our intersections use smart cameras and radar. If you pull too far past the thick white stop bar—or stop too far behind it—the sensor might not detect you. If you wait through two full signal cycles and are skipped, safely turn right and make a U-turn at the next appropriate intersection. Please use the "Report a Traffic Light" button above so we can recalibrate the sensor.
Who do I call if a freight train is stopped for over an hour?
The City of Germantown does not own or control the railroad tracks. If a train is blocking a crossing for an extended period, call the railroad's emergency contact number (located on the blue sign at every crossing) or check our SmartStreets map for the Crossing ID.
Contact & Alerts
Get instant text alerts for major road closures, severe weather, and emergency routing.
Sign Up for ENoticesTraffic Engineering Department
Email: Traffic@Germantown-TN.gov
Phone: (901) 623-6540
Address: 1930 South Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138