Posted on Jan. 25, 2025

Now Accepting Individual Donations to Aid Impacted Richmonders 

The City of Richmond today announced a partnership with the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg to support Richmonders impacted by the water crisis. This partnership will allow individuals to support their neighbors by contributing to the Water Recovery Fund, which will begin accepting applications on Jan. 31. 

The Fund will be open to Richmond residents with a demonstrated financial need related to the water crisis. Eligible expenses, which must be paid directly to the biller, may include rent, mortgage payments, health-related expenses, childcare, utilities, and missed car loan payments. The Fund will not begin accepting applications until Jan. 31. Residents will be able to apply both online and over the phone at that time. 

Additionally, Mayor Danny Avula has committed $25,000 from his Richmond Forward Together PAC to the Fund. He also encourages others to contribute as they are able to help impacted residents. Donations are being accepted through the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg:  

• https://www.yourunitedway.org/rvawaterfund/ 

“Helping our friends and neighbors is not only the compassionate thing to do, it’s also how we continue to build thriving communities that leave no one behind,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “This recovery fund is an important tool to provide needed support after the recent water crisis.” 

Posted January 24, 2025

~ The artwork reflects unique perspectives on the history and beauty of Main Street Station ~

RICHMOND, VA – The “I Love Main Street Station” Art Exhibit is a stunning tribute to the city’s historic architectural gem - Main Street Station. Featuring the works of 20 talented local artists, this exhibition explores a diverse array of mediums – painting, sculpture, photography and more – all capturing the essence of the venue’s iconic structure, historic railroad station and the cultural significance it holds for the community. The gallery, located inside Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission.

The community is encouraged to vote for their favorite artwork using a special QR code available in the gallery. The top three vote-getting works will be announced at the closing reception. The winners will earn a permanent space at Main Street Station.

The exhibit will culminate with a closing reception offering an evening of music, refreshments, and interactive art experiences on Friday, January 31 from 6 – 8 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists and discuss their work.

For more on Main Street Station, go to www.mainstreetstationrichmond.com

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

Main Street Station (MSS) is owned and operated by the Department of Public Works. Built in 1901, the station is centrally located in the heart of the city and is a historic transportation hub offering a blend of modern amenities, historic charm and classic, stunning architectural design. It features a grand central atrium, intricate stonework, head house, train shed, outdoor space (and patio), and a distinctive clock tower creating a lasting impression of Richmond along the I-95 corridor. This historic venue offers a unique setting for both public and private events. It provides Virginia and the northeast corridor a unique world-class event space that includes 47,000 square feet enclosed in glass, providing breathtaking views of downtown Richmond. It’s a top venue for weddings and events, appearing on numerous “best of” listings. Main Street Station serves as a key point for both Amtrak and local commuter rail services. The station is a vital connection to the region’s transportation network which include partnerships with bus services, such as, GRTC Pulse Bus Rapid Transit, Greyhound and various Megabus services. It also offers bike paths connecting to the Virginia Capital Trail. Described as an “architectural gem” by the United States Postal Service, MSS was selected and featured on a postage stamp!

Posted Jan. 24, 2025

The City of Richmond, along with small business and restaurant partners, is excited to announce Jan. 24 through Jan. 31 as Water Recovery Week. Residents are encouraged to Let It Flow and directly support local businesses impacted by the water crisis. 

“Local small businesses are such an important part of what makes Richmond one of the very best places to live, work, or visit. This week, I’m asking Richmonders, if they’re able, to join me in supporting their favorite local restaurant, coffee shop, salon, or other small business,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “Working together as we’re able, we can all help our local small businesses and their staff recover. I hope to see you when I am out and about.” 

Residents and business owners can share their participation and encouragement on social media using the hashtag #LetItFlowRVA. 

"The water crisis was tough on local restaurants and particularly tough on our staff. We are a tight-knit group of restaurants in Richmond, and we’re more than ready to bounce back with the community’s help. We appreciate the City’s efforts to help and promote local Richmond restaurants," said Liz Kincaid, CEO of RVA Hospitality 

Richmonders and residents across the region can kick off Let It Flow: Water Recovery Week by also visiting any of the restaurants participating in the 8th annual Vegan Food Week through Sunday, Jan. 26. 

The City will also be announcing more information on the resident recovery fund efforts as soon as the final logistics and capacity have been established to intake and administrate the funds. 

Let It Flow! 

Posted Jan. 22, 2025

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond has retained HNTB Corporation, an infrastructure development firm with more than 100 years of experience, to conduct an independent after-action report of the circumstances surrounding a weather-related power disruption to the water treatment plant that resulted in facility flooding, equipment malfunction, and a water service outage beginning on Jan. 6.
HNTB specializes in an array of infrastructure services including architecture, aviation, bridges and highways, construction management, mass transit, tunnels, and water systems.

From the earliest days of the outage – even as efforts were underway to restore water service – Richmond Mayor Danny Avula pledged that the City would bring in outside experts to lead a comprehensive, transparent, and independent investigation.

“I am committed to having a thorough investigation into what happened at the water treatment plant last week, and bringing HNTB on board is a key step in that process,” said Richmond Mayor Danny Avula. “As we move forward, my partners on City Council and I will keep the public informed and up to date on the after-action process.”

Having HNTB probe the water treatment plant outage will help officials better understand the events that transpired and provide a clear assessment of the performance of plant equipment and personnel during the outage.

Mayor Avula, in collaboration with City Council President Cynthia I. Newbille and City Council Vice President Katherine Jordan, interviewed a series of firms before narrowing the list to a few finalists, from which HNTB was selected.

"Vice President Jordan and I were pleased to work collaboratively with the Mayor and Administration to identify an independent third-party consultant to help us complete a thorough review of the water system and the recent crisis response. We have confidence that the community's voice will be at the center of HNTB's process.” said City Council President Cynthia I. Newbille.

The hiring of HNTB is an important step forward in identifying root causes and any potential system breakdowns in water treatment plant processes and operations.

Posted on Jan. 22, 2025

Due to wintry precipitation, City offices will open on a delayed schedule at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Although light snow is expected to end overnight, low temperatures may cause black ice. DPW crews will treat bridges, roads, and intersections overnight. Please commute with caution.

Employees are encouraged to contact their supervisor to confirm their adjusted reporting times and work arrangements. Supervisors will provide guidance based on departmental needs to ensure a smooth and efficient start to the workday.

Updates will be shared via email, the City website, and social media.