Interim Chief Appointed 

Posted Dec. 27, 2024

Richmond, VA – Today, Richmond Fire Department Chief Melvin Carter announced that he will retire effective December 31, 2024. Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal will be appointed as the interim chief. 

"Today, Chief Melvin Carter informed me he will retire at the end of the month. He's the first African American native of Richmond, born and raised in the city, to rise to the rank of Fire Chief of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. After nearly 40 years of service and seven years as our Fire Chief, I want to thank him for his unwavering commitment to the safety of his hometown. We are a safer city because of Melvin Carter, and I wish him the best in retirement.” said Mayor Levar Stoney. 

“The City thanks Chief Carter for his dedication and service in public safety and wishes him well in his future endeavors,” said Sabrina Joy-Hogg, Senior Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. “We are confident that Interim Chief Segal and the dedicated staff of the Fire Department will continue to serve the City with excellence.”  

On his career of service to the City of Richmond, Chief Carter said, “I am profoundly grateful God provided me opportunity to serve the city where I was born and raised for the past 37 years. It has been a true blessing to realize my childhood dream in this capacity. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mayor Stoney for entrusting me with the leadership of the Richmond Fire Department during his tenure. It has been an honor to serve in this role.” 

The City will conduct a national search for a chief to lead the Richmond Fire Department in the coming weeks. 

About Jeffrey Segal: Assistant Chief Segal joined the Richmond Fire and Emergency Services Department in 2020. He previously served in the Baltimore City Fire Department for over 30 years, advancing through the ranks from Fire Pump Operator to Assistant Chief. He also served as the Interim Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department. Segal received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in The Science of Management from The Johns Hopkins University. He has been married to Dana Segal since 1986 and has three children. 

By: Ross Catrow

Over the last eight years, Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works, and his street crews have been hard at work paving street after street, neighborhood after neighborhood all across Richmond. With constant attention (and financial support in the budget), DPW has paved thousands of lane miles of streets (we have over 2,400 in the City). Over the last six years, that hard work brought the percentage of our streets with a “Paving Condition Index” (PCI) of Satisfactory or Good from 35% in 2018 all the way up to 75% in 2024!

But what does “all across Richmond” actually mean? Check out the below .gif to see how many of our streets’ PCI shifted from reddish (Serious, Very Poor, Poor) in 2017 to a soothing sea of green (Satisfactory, Good) in 2024. This kind of citywide quality-of-life improvement makes a big difference to all users of our streets—people who ride, roll, take the bus, or even drive.

P.S. If you’ve got a pothole that needs filling or a road that needs repairing, head on over to RVA311.com and submit a request.

Originally posted December 18, 2024

NOTE: Updated and reposted January 7, 2025 with the new date

This recycling event also includes paper shredding, the collection of electronics, mattresses, and box springs

Who:   The Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW), The Clean City Commission, and the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA)

What: 16th Annual Richmond Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event

When: NEW Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Where: 1710 Robin Hood Road (23220) Northeast corner of Robin Hood Road & North Arthur Ashe Boulevard

The city offers this event to promote responsible recycling, sustainability and to help reduce waste in our community. Richmond residents can recycle their Christmas trees, shred sensitive documents, dispose of unwanted mattresses (and box springs), and drop off old electronics – all in one easy drive-through location with curbside assistance from our volunteers. Proper recycling helps save natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and diverts waste from landfills. It also helps keep city waterways, streams, and rivers clean.

This free event is available to city residents – proof of residency is required. No commercial or business items will be accepted. Note: some fees apply to recycling electronics (go to rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission and click on the tab for recycling to get the list of fees).

Christmas Tree Recycling Options | no charge (please remove all lights and decorations):

Trees will be chipped into mulch onsite and used in local parks, gardens, and for landscapes. Free mulch will be available.

• Tree Drop-off: Residents can drop off their trees at the following two locations:

1. 1710 Robin Hood Road on the day of the event or prior to the event
   
   • If dropping off prior to the recycling event, please place the tree in the designated area
   • Note: No trees will be accepted at 1710 Robin Hood Road after the event ends at 2 p.m. on January 18, 2025.

2. East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC), located at 3800 East Richmond Road
   
   • The ERRCC hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday
   • Residents can start dropping off Christmas trees after the holiday through January 16, 2025.

• Curbside Collection Instructions – handled by the department’s bulk and brush team:

• • Please place your Christmas tree (with no lights or decorations) beside your recycle cart and it will be picked up on your regular recycle collection day (or during the week) by the bulk and brush team (not by CVWMA).
  • The team will collect Christmas trees curbside after the holiday through Thursday, January 16, 2025. 
  • Note: All trees collected curbside or dropped off at the ERRCC will be recycled.

This recycling event also includes:

Paper Shredding – no charge

Securely shred personal documents to prevent identity theft and keep sensitive information safe.

• Up to five (5) paper bags or boxes of paper documents
• Remove staples and clips
• Paper shredded onsite

Electronics – various fees apply

Electronics will be collected for environmentally responsible disposal.

• Computer systems (hard drive or CPU) and accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.) VCRs, camcorders, stereos, and all phones
• Televisions, computer monitors and printers
• Other electronic equipment (almost anything with a plug - see the online list for clarification)
• To get fees and the full list of electronics go to:
  
  • www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission and click on the tab for recycling

Back by Popular Demand! Mattresses and Box Spring Recycling – no charge (in partnership with CVWMA

With limited landfill capacity, these items occupy valuable space, and they take decades to break down. Recycling them will reduce the environmental impact and will help prevent the release of harmful chemicals and other materials found in mattresses, such as flame retardants and synthetic fibers from leaching into the soil and water system. This initiative provides a convenient and eco-friendly solution for disposing these items properly. It also promotes a circular economy where products are reused and repurposed, leading to a more sustainable community. 

• • Acceptable:
    
    • Clean or lightly soiled
  • Unacceptable:
    
    • Wet, heavily soiled, or with bed bugs

1. • Drop-Off Options for Mattresses/Box Springs:
1. Starting Sunday, January 5, 2025, residents can drop off mattresses/box springs at the event location (1710 Robin Hood Road, 23220)
   
   1. Please place them in the designated area in the recycle container

2. Drop-off Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the event from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
   • • NOTE: No mattresses or box springs will be taken after 2 pm on the day of the event

For more information on DPW, please visit us online at 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 X (formerly Twittter) @DPW_RichmondVA or on Instagram at RVACleanCityCommission

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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

Department of Public Utilities celebrates 50 Years of the Safe Drinking Water Act

December 2024 marks the 50^th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) – a law that established national standards for the quality of drinking water and regulations for public water suppliers. This groundbreaking law has ensured public health and safety since it was passed on December 16, 1974. The law also increased emphasis on providing information about the quality of drinking water to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the public at large.

Over the past 50 years, the SDWA has made significant strides in guaranteeing access to safe, clean drinking water for millions of Americans. It has established water quality standards, reduced harmful contaminants and supported water systems of all sizes in delivering safe water to their communities.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities has worked to invest in advanced water treatment technologies, upgrade aging infrastructure, replace lead service lines, educate the public about water safety and surpass the quality standards of our drinking water. These efforts align with the spirit of the Safe Drinking Water Act and its mission to protect public health.

As we celebrate this milestone, DPU also celebrates our own successes in the water sector as well as our water professionals who work around the clock to keep Richmond’s water safe, clean and reliable. We also invite the community to reflect on the importance of safe drinking water and the role everyone plays in protecting this essential resource.

For more information about the Safe Drinking Water Act and our work in the community follow us on X and Facebook @RichmondDPU.

Click here to view the entire Safe Drinking Water Act Timeline. 

Posted December 4, 2024

~ Weather permitting, the signal will be activated by mid-December ~

RICHMOND, Va. –  The installation of a new traffic signal is near completion at the intersection of Chamberlayne Avenue and Bacon Street. Over the next week, weather permitting, it will be energized and temporarily placed in flash mode until the intersection goes fully operational with standard traffic signal operations.

Motorists are advised to exercise caution as the new signal is activated.

• Motorists driving on Chamberlayne Avenue will see signals flashing yellow, while
• Motorists on Bacon Street will see signals flashing red

The temporary flashing gives motorists an opportunity to adjust to the new signal before it becomes a functioning signalized intersection. Drivers should approach the intersection with increased awareness and reduced speed.

Features of the new traffic signal project include:

• Traffic signal mast arm poles with traffic signal heads and high visibility backplates
• Countdown pedestrian signals with push buttons and high visibility crosswalk markings
• Accessible ramps with new sidewalks

For information on the Department of Public Works, please go to www.rva.gov/public-works or email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

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