DIRECTOR

Bobby Vincent, Jr. is the Public Works Director.  His duties include overseeing the day-to-day operations for the department, which comprises Operations, Engineering & Technical Services, Special Capital Projects, Parking/Public Transportation/Shared Mobility, and Administrative Services.  Mr. Vincent has been with the City of Richmond since 1992 working in the Departments of Public Works and Public Utilities. His past duties have included Deputy Director of Operations for Public Works, Preventive Maintenance Engineer, Project Manager, Program Manager, Operations Manager, and Chief of Construction and Inspections.  He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Virginia State University.

Executive Assistant to the Director

Jacqueline Howie is the Executive Assistant to the Director. She manages the day-to-day operations of the DPW Executive Offices by monitoring/supervising customer service representative activities, providing administrative support to the Director (managing appoints, conference room calendars, correspondence, compiling reports, receiving/assigning/tracking customer escalated inquiries/complaints. Jackie also manages the departmental Recognition Program and is the Project Manager for the DPW’s Re-Accreditation Project and serves as a national Accreditation Evaluator through the American Public Works Association. She has been with the City of Richmond since 1984 and has worked in the Departments of Public Utilities and Public Works.  Ms. Howie earned and maintains her Certified Administrative Professional, Office Management credentials through the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).

DEPUTY DIRECTORS

Gail R. Johnson, is the department’s Deputy Director of Finance and Administration. She oversees DPW’s $61 million General Fund operating budget, the department’s Capital Budget, Internal Service Fund Budget, Special Fund and the Parking Enterprise Fund. Johnson’s duties include payroll, finance budgets, contract management, purchasing and all aspects of finance budgets as well as Fleet Maintenance and DPW Human Resources. Johnson has been with the City of Richmond since 2000.  Ms. Johnson has worked in the Richmond Police Department where she served as the Program Manager overseeing budget, procurement, payroll, and grants management. She previously served as the Project Management Analyst for DPW with the oversight of payroll, and financial management. She also has worked in the City’s Finance Department and Public Utilities.

M. S. Khara, PE is the City Engineer (Deputy Director) overseeing the 'Engineering & Technical Services' Unit in the Department of Public Works. He is responsible for overseeing the management of the 'Transportation Engineering Division' 'Capital Projects Management Division' 'Right-of-way Management Division' 'Bridge and Structures Management Division' and 'GIS and Asset Management'. He is responsible for delivering a safe, efficient and effective multi-modal transportation system and implementing the Vision Zero initiative in the City of Richmond. Under his leadership, the Unit is managing and administering design and construction of roadways, bridges, streetscapes, signals and other special development projects funded through private, city, state and federal funds to assure on-time and within budget project delivery.  Since 1985 Khara has garnered experience working with state, county and city governments. He has been working for the City since 1996. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Punjab University, Chandigarh, India and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia.

Lynne Lancaster is the Deputy Director of Parking & Special Capital Project Group and is responsible for management of the Divisions of Parking and Special Capital Projects. Her responsibilities include overseeing both on and off street parking operations, towing operations and the vertical development. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture. Since coming to Richmond in 1995, she was employed by the City of Richmond as an economic development professional for 12 years with nearly three decades of experience in economic development. Before returning to the City in 2010, she was the Administrator for the Broad Street Community Development Authority, overseeing their parking operations and special assessment district. Ms. Lancaster is the recipient of the Metropolitan Business League’s 2003 Distinguished Service Award for her assistance to small and minority-owned businesses and is a member of the 2004 class of Leadership Metro Richmond.

Torrence Robinson is the Department of Public Works Deputy Director of Operations. His portfolio includes Solid Waste, Urban Forestry, Grounds Maintenance, Street Cleaning and Roadway Maintenance. Mr. Robinson started with the City of Richmond in 1991and has over 20 years of high level management experience. He previously served as the Residency Administrator for the VDOT Sandston Residency, where he was responsible for overseeing maintenance responsibilities in three counties. He also worked with Richmond’s Transportation Engineering Division for more than 15 years, overseeing operations for the Signs, Signals and Markings divisions. Mr. Robinson studied Engineering at Virginia State University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bluefield College and an MBA from Strayer University.

Mission Statement
The City of Richmond Department of Public Works mission is to provide a clean, safe and healthy environment.

Values

• Accountability
• Teamwork
• Respect
• Training
• Communication
• Consistency
• Professional/Organizational Growth

Vision Statement

The Department of Public Works will become the organizational leader in customer satisfaction by improving communication, assuring organizational alignment and affecting positive change while preserving our national accreditation.

Customer Value Proposition

The Department of Public Works strives for excellence while providing safe, quality and efficient services in a fiscally responsible manner.

Accreditation

The Department of Public Works has been accredited through the American Public Works Association [APWA] since 2005. Every four years APWA representatives visit the department to make sure it is operating in compliance with the APWA and according to its documented practices. DPW has been reaccredited twice. The next reaccreditation visit is Fall 2021..

Emergency Response

In the event of an emergency, such as an accident with injuries or a crime in progress, please call 9-1-1. Public Works plays a vital support role in any declared emergency, such as snow removal or fallen trees and limbs during inclement weather. We help manage transportation, refuse, and other logistical issues that may arise during local or regional emergencies.

Two ways to make a service request, just click or call:

• RVA311  
  RVA311 is the City of Richmond's Citizen Self Service Online Portal! This tool is designed to improve our service delivery efforts as well as our citizen engagement by providing citizens a way to REPORT NON-EMERGENCY INCIDENTS and SERVICE REQUESTS to City agencies.
• Call 3-1-1 or 804-646-7000

Stay Informed

• CodeRED
  WANT TO BE INFORMED DURING AN EMERGENCY? The City of Richmond has a FREE emergency notification system, CodeRED. This system is used to provide mass notifications to those within the City of Richmond during emergency situations.

If you have made an RVA311 service request and you feel if it has not been addressed properly, contact either: 

M. Khara - City Engineer 
M.Khara@RichmondGov.com 
Phone : 804-646-5413 

Michael Sawyer, P.E. – City Transportation Engineer 
Michael.Sawyer@RichmondGov.com 
Phone: 804-646-3435 

Torrence Robinson – Deputy Director of Operations 
Torrence.Robinson@RichmondGov.com 
Phone: 804-646-6444 

If you have been unable to reach our executive staff or if you require additional assistance, please contact the DPW Director through his Executive Assistant: 

Bobby Vincent – Director 
Jacqueline.Howie@RichmondGov.com 
Phone: 804-646-3702