City News

Press Releases and Announcements

Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project starting soon at Mary Munford Elementary School

~ This project is a continuation of pedestrian safety improvements happening citywide ~

RICHMOND, Va. – Starting April 10, the Department of Public Works (DPW) Transportation Engineering Division will begin work on enhancing pedestrian safety on streets around Mary Munford Elementary School. High traffic volumes, speed and wide crossing distances (streets) make it difficult for pedestrians to cross both Cary Street (SR 147) and Grove Avenue.

Project improvements include:

  • Replacing school flashers on Cary Street and Grove Avenue
  • Enhancing the existing crosswalk with a high visibility crosswalk on Grove Avenue at Commonwealth Avenue
  • Upgrading the existing speed table to a raised crosswalk on Westmoreland Street in front of the school
  • Installing new ADA curb ramps on Cary and Westmoreland
  • Providing safety enhancements to make pedestrian crossings easier

Funding for this $477,571 project is provided from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and city funding.

Work will occur during off-peak times Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weather permitting, this project is expected to be completed in mid-July 2023.

Other recent pedestrian safety improvement projects include Oak Grove Elementary School as well as ongoing pedestrian safety improvements near Linwood Holton Elementary School and Huguenot High School.

Current utility work in the area, managed by the Department of Public Utilities, and work for this project will be coordinated to minimize disruption to residents in the area and travelers using the roadways.

For details on the DPU Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project at Libbie Avenue & Cary Street Road and its related traffic impacts, go to www.rva.gov/public-utilities/news/sanitary-sewer-replacement-project-libbie-avenue-and-cary-street

For more DPW information, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on 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.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is a premier provider of utility service. DPU provides natural gas, water, wastewater and stormwater service to more than 500,000 residential and commercial customers in the metropolitan region. In addition, DPU operates an electric street lighting utility, which maintains 37,000 streetlights throughout the City. For more information, visit DPU's website at www.rva.gov/publicutilities.

Citywide Traffic Signal Retiming Project is Underway

RICHMOND, Va – The Department of Public Works (DPW) operates and maintains 480 traffic signalized intersections. DPW periodically evaluates traffic signal timing to stay up-to-date with changes in technology. Retiming for 115 signalized intersections south of the James River and 285 signalized intersections located north of the river started March10 and is scheduled for completion next spring.

The project will:

  • Improve safety and operations through updated traffic signal timings
  • Support people who walk, roll, bike, drive, and ride transit by minimizing stops and starts
  • Improve air quality by reducing fuel usage and emissions
  • Improve traffic flow along corridors

Each corridor takes several weeks to fine tune before a traffic pattern is finalized. All transportation users are encouraged to slow down, pay attention and stay alert as they become accustomed to the new traffic patterns. 

The department is working in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Richmond Regional Planning Organization (RRTPO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Funding for this $1.765 million project was provided by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program.

For more information, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on 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.

City Vacuum Leaf Collection Program Ending March 13, 2023

RICHMOND, Va. – City residents who still need vacuum leaf removal must request the service by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 13. No requests will be accepted after that date. Service requests currently in the system and those made by the deadline will be honored. Vacuum service requests can be made online at https://www.rva311.com or by calling 3-1-1.


Residents have the option of paying the $30 vacuum leaf collection fee by adding it to their utility bill using the RVA 311 system (online or by calling 3-1-1) or by mailing a check/money order to the Department of Public Works, Leaf Collection Program, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 704, Richmond, VA 23219. The payment must be received before the collection will be scheduled. If mailing a check/money order, the payment must be received by the March 13 deadline.

Vacuum Leaf Collection Reminders:

  • Leaves must be raked and ready for pickup at the time of the request
  • Rake leaves to the property line (front or side) but not in the street
    •  Do not block ditches, gutters or the street
  • Remove any sticks, stones or other objects that may damage equipment
  • Leaves will not be collected from the alley

 

For more information, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works/leaf-collection or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on 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.

Annual Neighborhood Clean-Up Program starts March 11

RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works (DPW) is committed to providing a clean, safe and healthy environment for Richmond residents. In addition to bi-weekly bulk and brush collections that coincide with the recycling collection schedule, the Neighborhood Clean-Up Program is another service provided to help residents dispose of bulk items.

Residents in each of the designated neighborhood zones across the city will have two additional opportunities during the year to place bulk and brush items out for collection.

The program runs on selected Saturdays starting on March 11 and ending November 18.

DPW crews will collect items curbside and in alleys (wherever trash is normally placed to be collected) from 8 a.m. until noon on the designated Saturdays.

We take everything except:

    • Electronics
    • Construction debris
    • Hazardous waste items and
    • Broken glass

Additionally, all brush must be cut into four foot lengths and bundled

Examples of acceptable items include: furniture, mattresses, tires (four per household) and appliances.

Please see the attached map and the Neighborhood Clean-Up schedule below:

Note: All clean-ups are from 8 a.m. to noon. (rain or shine)

Residents can also use the DPW Service Finder to verify Clean-Up dates for their neighborhood. 

2023 Clean-Up Dates & Schedule:

  • Zone 1 Bellevue/Ginter Park/Washington Park | Clean-Up dates: March 11 & July 22
  • Zone 2 Northside/Highland Park | Clean-Up dates: March 18 & July 29
  • Zone 3 Church Hill/Fulton | Clean-Up dates: March 25 & August 5
  • Zone 4 Newtowne/Carver/Jackson Ward | Clean-Up dates: April 1 & August 12
  • Zone 5 The Fan/Shaffer | Clean-Up dates: April 15 & August 19
  • Zone 6 Museum District | Clean-Up dates: April 22 & August 26
  • Zone 7 Maymont/Byrd Park/Oregon Hill/Carillon | Clean-Up dates: April 29 & Sept 9
  • Zone 8 Bellemeade | Clean-Up dates: May 6 & September 16
  • Zone 9 Westover Hills/Forest Hill/Woodland Heights | Clean-Up dates: May 13 & Sept 23
  • Zone 10 Broad Rock/Brookbury | Clean-Up dates: May 20 & September 30
  • Zone 11 Worthington Farms | Clean-Up dates: June 3 & October 14
  • Zone 12 Westover Gardens | Clean-Up dates: June 10 & October 21
  • Zone 13 Stratford Hills/Willow Oaks | Clean-Up dates: June 24 & October 28
  • Zone 14 Windsor Farms/University of Richmond/Far West End |Clean-Up dates: July 1 & Nov 4
  • Zone 15 Stony Point | Clean-Up dates: July 15 & November 18

For more information, go to https://www.rva.gov/public-works/neighborhoodcleanups or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov or call 804-646-8325.

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on 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.

City Awarded $8,859,934 Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant

 RICHMOND, VA. – The Department of Public Works has been awarded an $8,859,934 Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program (VHSIP) grant by Commonwealth Transportation Board action to provide safety improvements throughout the City. The city is dedicated to creating safer streets for every road user regardless of age or ability. The grant (comprised of 100% federal grant funding with no required matching funds from the city), will focus on the following systemic safety improvements at intersections:

  1. High Visibility Traffic Signal Backplates
  2. High Visibility Crosswalks
  3. Flashing Yellow Arrows for turning movements
  4. Left Turn Hardening
  5. Regulatory Signs
  6. Warning Signs
  7. Intersection Pavement Markings

Additional details | the Department plans to install the following safety improvements throughout the City of Richmond:

  • Up to 772 high visibility signal backplates (HVSB) at 277 signal controlled intersections
  • Up to 338 high visibility crosswalks at 131 signal controlled intersections
  • Up to 255 flashing yellow arrow signal heads at 81 signalized intersections. 
  • Up to 200 stop-controlled intersections will have new regulatory and warning signs as well as pavement markings for stop lines and corner clearance marks
  • Up to 10 intersections with left turn hardening measures

The planned safety improvements are either on the City’s High Injury Street Network, within a pedestrian safety action plan corridor or within an underserved community.

Over the next year, a standard project agreement between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the City of Richmond will go before City Council for review and approval. Funding is provided for fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1, 2024.

The Department of Public Works appreciates the partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and VDOT to further its Vision Zero objectives through its Highway Safety Improvement grant program. Additionally, the Vision Zero Task Force would like to thank Richmond’s Safe and Healthy Streets Commission for their partnership to seek resources for important changes to the built environment to shift our safety culture.   

For more information on Vision Zero, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public‐works/vison-zero or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW‐related projects, activities and events visit us on 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.

The City of Richmond, Virginia, in 1966, codified one of the oldest continuously operating transportation safety commissions in North America - The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC). Since its inception, the SHSC has advised the Richmond City Council on all transportation safety matters. The SHSC has a diverse membership and includes citizens, transportation safety professionals, a city council member, the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works, the Superintendent of Schools, and the City Transportation Engineer.

The SHSC sets annual priorities focused on executive, legislative, budgetary, and cultural changes. These priorities work towards the Richmond City Council’s 2016 goal, backed by Mayor Stoney, to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to ZERO by 2030. The SHSC’s annual priorities reflect the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, the Safe System approach (SSA), and Complete Streets policies. The SHSC adopted the twelve strategies and five supplemental planning needs, based on their set annual priorities, to improve Richmond’s built environment and strengthen the culture of safety. With its high-functioning Vision Zero organizational structure, Richmond is well positioned to implement these projects and supplemental planning activities that showcase the impact of the SSA using proven safety countermeasures and low-cost, high-impact strategies.

The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC) adopted Richmond’s Vision Zero Action Plan in 2018, and is charged with monitoring and reporting progress on the Action Plan. The Mayor and the SHSC established a Vision Zero Task Force, made up of City department leaders, charged with implementing the strategies, projects, and policies set out in the Action Plan.

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