City News

Press Releases and Announcements

New traffic signal installation work coming to three key intersections 

Posted January 30, 2024

~ City plans new traffic signals to improve safety and access for people who walk, roll and drive ~

RICHMOND, Va. – Starting in mid-February, the Department of Public Works will begin work to install new traffic signals at the following intersections:

  • Cary Street at Libbie Avenue
  • Clarkson Road at Warwick Road
  • Granite Avenue at Grove Avenue

This project includes the installation of new traffic signal poles and equipment, new accessible curb ramps, pedestrian countdown signals, high visibility crosswalks, traffic signal controllers, and traffic signal indications with high visibility backplates.

During construction, there will be intermittent lane and sidewalk closures. Please give our construction workers extra space and slow down when you see orange cones in the work zones.

Weather permitting, this project is scheduled for completion by Winter 2025.

Funding for this $2.112 million project is provided by the Federal Highway Administration and Virginia Department of Transportation through the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program.

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/Twittter @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

New Upgraded Traffic Signals at North Huguenot and Cherokee Road Installed to Improve Safety

Posted January 24, 2024

~ Signal temporarily flashing red and yellow~

RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works (DPW) activated new traffic signals at the intersection of North Huguenot Road and Cherokee Road today. The new signals replace flashing beacons. The new signals will be placed in flash mode for the next week. Drivers will see yellow flashing lights along Huguenot Road and flashing red lights along Cherokee Road. The temporary flashing gives motorists an opportunity to adjust to the new signals. To further alert motorists, “New Traffic Pattern Ahead” signs have been posted.

This $218,000 project was funded through the local Capital Improvement Program and includes the installation of:

  • Traffic signal mast arm poles with traffic signal indications and high visibility backplates
    • These backplates are retro-reflective and therefore more visible to drivers in both daytime and nighttime conditions, helping to reduce potential crashes.
  • Countdown pedestrian signals with push buttons
  • Accessible ramps with sidewalk
  • High visibility crosswalk markings

Weather permitting, the last components of this project, installing accessible ramps with sidewalk and high visibility crosswalk markings, will be completed by the end of March.

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

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/Twittter @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

Richmond E-Cycle: Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event - Saturday, January 13

Reminder: Posted January 9, 2024

Note: this event also includes paper shredding, the collection of electronics, household hazardous waste items and oil based-paint

Who:   The Richmond Department of Public Works and The Clean City Commission

What: 15th Annual City of Richmond Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event 

When: Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Background: The City of Richmond’s E-Cycle Day event offers City residents an efficient option to recycle Christmas trees, paper, electronics, and household hazardous waste items to keep them out of the landfill. Recycling these items also helps keep city waterways, streams, and rivers clean. Recycling Christmas trees allows them to be re-purposed and used as mulch. This free event is available to city residents – proof of residency is required. No commercial or business items will be accepted.

Christmas Tree Recycling Options:

  • 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
    • Remove all lights and decorations
    • 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 13, 2024.
  2. East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC), located at 3800 East Richmond Road
    • Residents can start dropping off Christmas trees after the holiday through January 11, 2024 
    • 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
  • 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 by the bulk and brush team (not by CVWMA). The team will collect Christmas trees curbside after the holiday through Thursday, January 11, 2024. 

Note: All trees collected curbside or dropped off at the ERRCC will be recycled.

The event also includes:

Paper Shredding – no charge

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

Electronics – various fees apply

  • 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

Household Hazardous Waste Items – no charge

  • Pesticides, herbicides (Roundup, Weed B Gon, bug spray, rodent poison etc.)
  • Oil-based paints

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 Twittter @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

MyCheckFree Retirement Announcement

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is aware of a communication customers are receiving regarding the retirement of MyCheckFree, a bill payment service DPU’s billing partner Kubra utilizes. Current customers are able to utilize this service until it is retired March 13, 2024. DPU is actively pursuing a similar service and anticipating that to be in place by March 13, 2024 to ensure a seamless transfer of customer information. We invite impacted customers to follow this space for updates. Information on other payment options can be found here.

UPDATE 2

MyHQ is now LIVE.

MyHQ is a new eBill option available for enrollment. All customers are encourage to take advantage of this free, easy and paperless electronic billing and payment option to ensure safer delivery of bills and payments.

Click here to access MyHQ.

UPDATE 1
City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities customers
who are using the MyCheckFree platform may receive subsequent reminders informing them of its retirement on March 13, 2024.

This past month, DPU has been working very closely with our billing vendor Kubra to provide a replacement platform which is called MyHQ. The MyHQ platform will have the following features:

  • Notification of current bill
  • Ability to view current and historical bills (up to 36 months, versus the 6 months currently with MyCheckFree)
  • ACH payments
  • Auto pay set up

DPU is anticipating a Go-Live date of February 26, 2024 at which time MyCheckFree customers can establish an account with MyHQ to continue their e-bill options. Future updates will be posted here.

Richmond Soft Launches Real Time Crime Center

Using new technology, the real time crime center will assist officers in the field 

RICHMOND, VA The Richmond Police Department had a soft launch of their inaugural real-time crime center, also known as the Capital City Intelligence Center, earlier this week. While there are still personnel to hire and software and equipment to acquire, the center will begin assisting law enforcement officers to respond quickly to crimes in progress or to those that recently occurred using new technology.

Earlier this year, the City of Richmond received a $750,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to launch a real time crime center. The center will provide the Richmond Police Department with the ability to capitalize on a comprehensive and expanding range of technologies for efficient and effective policing. The technologies available include security cameras, license plate readers (LPR) cameras, shot detection, officers' body-worn cameras, and more – all tools that will allow officers to respond to calls for service more efficiently, more deliberately, with improved operational intelligence, and with a proactive emphasis on officer, citizen, and community safety.

“The key to a thriving city is a safe city – and day in and day out my administration is working to create a safer Richmond,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “We’re throwing the kitchen sink at this issue. And this is what the kitchen sink looks like. With a Real Time Crime Center officers in the field will have the assistance of modern technology to maximize the efficiency and speed of investigations and most importantly, keep Richmonders safe.” 

"From Las Vegas to Miami, Real-Time Crime Centers have demonstrated their effectiveness and efficiency," said RPD Chief Rick Edwards. "Whether it is to help lock up violent offenders, assist the Commonwealth Attorney's office in the successful prosecution of offenders, locate firearms held by those not lawfully permitted to possess them, the CCIC will be a force multiplier and act as an 'Air Traffic Controller' for our officers. I am proud to see this project come to fruition and look forward to continuing our work of keeping the public safe."

"The bottom line is we need to do more with less. Across the nation, officers are leaving the profession for various reasons. I have to work leaner and smarter. I must use every tool in the toolbox. Police technology, used and leveraged appropriately, can counter labor shortages, and educating the public on our strategic plan to reduce crime in our city improves public trust," said Chief Edwards.

The City of Richmond plans to provide information sessions in the new year on the Capital City Intelligence Center.

 

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