Posted April 9, 2025

~ Stay alert, work is set to begin April 14, weather permitting ~

RICHMOND, VA – In a continued effort to improve safety, construction will begin next week to replace traffic signal equipment on Roseneath Road at the intersections of Patterson Avenue and Kensington Avenue with all way stop control. The traffic signal equipment will be removed and replaced with all-way stop signs. Construction timelines include:

• April 14, construction start date, weather permitting:
  
  • During the first week, all-way signs will be installed, and the existing traffic signals will be switched to an “all red flashing pattern” as a transition to alert drivers of the change.
• April 21: the traffic control signals will be begin, weather permitting:
  
  • Once the traffic control signals, poles and other equipment have been safely removed, the all-way stop control will continue to provide traffic control.

These improvements are designed to maintain safety for all users.

Reminder guidelines for all-way stop signs for people that drive:

• Come to a complete stop (even if there are no other vehicles visible)
• Always stop for people crossing the street
• The first vehicle to arrive and stop at the intersection should be the first to go
  
  • If two or more vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the right has the right-of-way

Please give our construction workers extra space and slow down when you see orange cones in the work zones.

For more information on the Department of Public Works, go to rva.gov/public-works

We’re Social! For updates on activities and events visit us on X (Twitter) @DPW_RichmondVA

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

Posted April 8, 2025

RICHMOND, VA – On Wednesday, April 9, Open High School students will embark on an educational journey through Richmond's urban core, participating in a unique field trip focused on wayfinding, navigation, pedestrian safety, and urban exploration. The event, culminating at Richmond City Hall's observation deck, aims to provide students with practical skills and insights into their city.

Approximately 30 students will walk from Open High School to City Hall, observing and analyzing the city's layout, public art, and infrastructure along the way. Upon reaching City Hall’s observation deck, students will engage in a scavenger hunt designed to test their navigation skills and knowledge of Richmond landmarks.

The event will feature special appearances from community members who will address the students and share perspectives on Richmond’s development. Representatives from the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works and Vision Zero team will also be on hand to discuss pedestrian and traffic safety initiatives.

“This field trip is a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about their city in a hands-on, engaging way,” said Edward Ingold, teacher at Open High School. “We want to empower them with the skills to navigate their city safely and confidently, while also fostering an appreciation for Richmond’s history and vibrant community.”

The event will highlight the role of public art in wayfinding, with participation from local muralists and graffiti artists. Urban boutiques, entrepreneurs, and businesses have generously donated prizes for the scavenger hunt, demonstrating their commitment to supporting youth education.

“We are grateful for the support of our community partners, including the City of Richmond, local businesses, and artists, who are helping to make this event a success,” added Ross Catrow Director of Strategic Communications.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 9
• Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m.
• Location: Walk from Open High School to Richmond City Hall, culminating at the City Hall Observation Deck
• Participants: Approximately 30 students from Open High School
• Special Guests: Representatives from the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works and the Vision Zero team, local artists, and business owners.

For more information on Vision Zero go to rva.gov/visionzero

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

Posted on April 4, 2025

Market study to determine best use

Richmond, VA - On Thursday, March 27, 2025, the City of Richmond finalized the purchase of 95.93 acres of land from Philip Morris USA for $5.5 million, allowing the City to create a new signature park in Southside, establish another east-west travel route along its southern edge, and conduct a market study to determine the best uses for the remaining acreage.

The site, in the City's 8th district, has frontage on Walmsley Boulevard, Trenton Avenue and Kalimat Lane and is bordered by CSX Railroad to the west. Nearly half of the undeveloped property includes wetlands and ponds, which the City will look to incorporate into a 45-acre signature park for the surrounding Southside communities. The acquisition will also allow the City to extend Walmsley Boulevard westward to Richmond Highway, thereby creating another critical east-west travel route.

Philip Morris USA will retain and continue to operate the Semi-Works Building located on a separate 11-acre parcel. The vacant Operations Center Building that is part of the acreage purchased by the city will be demolished later this year. Next steps include a market study to analyze the best and highest uses for the remaining acreage. Planning for the park project will begin with community engagement later this year.

"We are thrilled to announce the purchase of this property in Southside." said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Planning and Economic Development, Sharon Ebert. "It marks a pivotal step in our commitment to accessible community green space, new economic development, and greater transit connectivity for generations to come."

Friday, April 04, 2025

Up to $13 million available for multi-family development and preservation and new single-family construction

The City of Richmond, through its Department of Housing and Community Development, has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Equitable Affordable Housing Program (EAHP), making up to $13 million available for the development and preservation of multi-family housing units in the City.

This NOFA is the City's second under the EAHP, which was established in 2023 under the 5-year Capital Improvement Program for the production and/or preservation of affordable housing. The first, in FY24, awarded $7 million to eight projects for the construction of 822 units of affordable housing. This year's funding includes $3 million of carry-over from FY24 and $10 million from FY25.

"We are proud to bring additional resources to bear in moving the needle on the development and preservation of affordable housing in Richmond" said Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone. "There can be no doubt that access to affordable housing is one of the surest ways we can uplift our communities. By improving this access, we are empowering families, fostering stability, and laying the foundation for a brighter, more equitable future."

How to Apply

Applications for this round of funding will be accepted in two phases. The first opened officially on April 3, 2025, and will close on May 16, 2025. The second will open on June 1, 2025, with applications accepted on a rolling basis thereafter.

Priority will be given to those projects that help to advance the City's housing strategic goals:

• 2,000 new low- and moderate-income homeowners (50%-80% AMI), by January 1, 2033.
• 10,000 new affordable rental units by January 1, 2033.
• 350 new Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units by January 1, 2026.
• The transformation of the six properties owned by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority referred to as the "Big Six" into "Communities of Choice" development sites and the de-concentration of poverty in Council Districts 3, 6, and 7 by January 1, 2037.

Additional details, scoring criteria, and application can be found on the City's Housing and Community Development webpage.

Posted on April 03, 2025

Independent investigation provides detailed analysis and recommendations to prevent future water service disruptions

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond is releasing the final After-Action Assessment report from HNTB, the independent firm investigating the January water crisis that affected residents and businesses across the region. This in-depth assessment is the final of HNTB's findings, following preliminary and draft reports, released on February 14th and March 3rd, respectively.

The assessment builds upon earlier findings, offering additional insights into the root causes of the water outage and a review of the City's response. It expands upon earlier short- and long-term recommendations—several of which have already been implemented—with robust and concrete measures which the City can implement to better respond to and prevent future crises.

"I want to thank HNTB for their thorough investigation and comprehensive report," said Mayor Danny Avula. "We are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again, and I'm grateful that the recommendations provided in this final assessment will put us on the right path. I have been working closely with our Director of Public Utilities, Dr. Morris, and across City government, to enact a number of these changes as quickly as possible. Resiliency in the delivery of critical services to Richmonders and the surrounding communities is a top priority for this government."

Key Findings

The final report confirms findings delivered in earlier versions, namely that the Jan. 6 incident began with a total loss of power at the City's water treatment plant during a winter storm. The outage and resulting service disruption were compounded by two critical factors:

1. The water treatment plant was operating in "Winter Mode," which relied on a single critical component instead of the more resilient "Summer Mode," which had redundant components.
2. When the main power feed failed, an automatic transfer switch (called a "Bus Tie") failed to activate, preventing power from switching to the second available power source.

This combination of factors led to a loss of power at the plant for approximately 80 minutes, which led to water flooding the plant's basement and damage to essential electrical equipment that resulted in the service disruption.

In addition to a thorough review of the root causes, the report goes on to analyze the City's response and highlights underlying factors which contributed to the Jan. 6 service disruption, including inadequate staffing and training, a lack of comprehensive standard operating procedures, and deficiencies in internal and external crisis communications, among others.

Recommendations and Immediate Actions Already Taken

HNTB provided a number of short- (3-6 month) and long-term (multi-year) recommendations to mitigate the impacts of future crisis events. Under the leadership of Director Morris, the City has already implemented several key recommendations:

• The water treatment plant now permanently operates in "Summer Mode" with dual power feeds, eliminating the single point of power failure that contributed to the January incident.
• New emergency response protocols have been established for inclement weather events.
• Staffing standards have been upgraded, particularly for critical operations, electrical, and engineering positions during potential emergency situations.
• Emergency communications protocols are under review and will be updated to ensure consistent, clear, and accurate communications.
• Inspection protocols for equipment, fuel, chemicals, and systems have been strengthened.
• Approximately $5 million has been invested in critical plant repairs and upgrades.

These improvements have already shown positive results, with the plant successfully maintaining operations through several subsequent winter and spring storms without service disruptions.

Next Steps

The City will continue to implement recommendations outlined in the HNTB assessment, including improvements to backup power systems, valve controls, communication protocols, emergency operations, and staff training.

In addition to the HNTB assessment, the City is awaiting a separate assessment from Hagerty Consulting, an Illinois-based independent emergency management consulting firm tasked with reviewing and making recommendations to the City's incident response procedures. That report will be made available to the public, once completed.

The City remains committed to full transparency throughout this process and to implementing the necessary improvements to ensure resilient water service for residents.

• Final After-Action Assessment Report
• January 2025 Winter Storm Water Emergency Q&A, City Council