Voter referendum documents for entertainment and gaming venue introduced to City Council 

Tonight, the City of Richmond will introduce papers for the anticipated ONE Casino + Resort, a world-class entertainment and gaming venue that will benefit all of Richmond by infusing a $562 million project and 1,300 good-paying jobs into Richmond’s economy. The project will not utilize any taxpayer money and is projected to generate $30 million in new General Fund revenue annually in addition to a one-time payment of $25.5 million to the City upon passage of the voter referendum. The revenue from the project will be used to address city priorities.

ONE Casino + Resort will be a world-class entertainment and gaming resort that features a 12-story luxury hotel, live entertainment venue and conference 
center, audio and visual production studio, food and beverage amenities featuring local Richmond restaurants, and a 55-acre green space and park. With the introduction of today’s resolution and ordinances, the City continues its push for economic growth across the entire city.

“This is about more than just a casino,” said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. “This is about the 1,300 good-paying jobs and estimated $30 million in additional annual revenue generated that would enable us to provide an abundance of new opportunities for our residents, especially those who live in South Richmond. It is critical that we continue to find ways to diversify the revenue streams that feed our local economy, which is why I am excited about another shot at this game-changing development.” 

"If you know me, then you know that I am thrilled about the introduction of this casino paper,” said Councilwoman Reva Trammel. “I am thrilled because it 
places 1300 well-paying jobs back on the table for many who have been hit hard the last two years. And it's more than just jobs; it’s the creation of new revenue that will help the entire city.” “Over the years, we've discussed building a diverse economy, and with this project, along with the many others that are on the horizon, that conversation is a reality. My hope is that our residents will come together to do what is best for all, and that is to allow the casino project to move forward." 

“The proposed casino in Richmond offers an opportunity to promote economic growth and inclusivity for all residents,” said Council President Michael Jones. “With the infusion of 1300 well-paying jobs, the casino project could revitalize the area and strengthen Richmond's overall revenues and resiliency. Placing the project on the ballot would allow us to move forward and celebrate the start of this transformation. Let's work together to create a brighter future for our city.” 
“We continue to be very excited to work with the City of Richmond to bring this opportunity that will provide jobs and tax revenue that can support the City’s priorities, especially education,” said Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One. “We are thrilled to work with our new partner, Churchill Downs, in bringing a first-class entertainment and gaming resort to Central Virginia.” 

“Churchill Downs is proud to bring 150 years of history in entertainment, racing, and gaming to the City of Richmond,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “We pride ourselves on projects and partnerships that provide real benefits to the communities in which we operate while offering extraordinary experiences to our guests.” 

ONE Casino + Resort (RVA Entertainment Holdings, LLC) was selected as the City’s preferred casino gaming operator after a competitive process. The company is a partnership between Urban ONE and Churchill Downs Incorporated. Urban ONE is a publicly traded integrated media company. Churchill Downs Incorporated is a publicly traded company that owns and operates the Kentucky Derby and has expanded through the operation and development of regional casino gaming properties, live and historical racing entertainment venues, and the growth of TwinSpires horse racing online wagering business.

Richmond City Council has introduced this paper in order to meet deadlines in state law to place the referendum on the November ballot. Council is expected to formally consider and act on the paper in June following public comment and input. If approved by Council, the Virginia Lottery and Richmond Circuit Court will have to review and approve the referendum before it can be placed on November’s ballot.

RICHMOND, Va. –   Due to a last-minute, two day notice and shut down by Bewegen Technologies, the city was forced to suspend the current bicycle rental system until a new software system is in place.

Bicycles will not be available to rent while the City secures a new contractor. In the meantime, the City encourages bike share users to utilize the three e-scooter vendors - Bird, Lime, and Spin.

Once the new bike share system is operational, the City will welcome users back with free rides for everyone for 30 days.

The City is diligently working to resolve the situation and we appreciate our residents and visitors patience as we go through this transitional phase.

For more information, please visit us online at 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.

~ Requests for a public hearing must be received prior to June 16, 2023 ~

RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works (DPW) has completed 30 percent design plans for the Canal Walk Improvements Project – Phase II. The project will provide improvements to the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure along the Canal Walk in Shockoe Bottom. The proposed improvements will provide better accommodations for bicycles from the Virginia Capital Trail to Brown’s Island, and the Tyler Potterfield Bridge.

The new infrastructure will provide connectivity via the existing bridge over the Canal with modifications to improve the conditions for bicycle access, including eliminating the need for bicyclists to use the switchback, through the extension of the ramp to provide a continuous straight decent from bridge deck to Canal Walk. This will be accomplished by further eliminating the steps, retaining wall, and landscaping at the foot of the first ramp run. These modifications will provide a straight ramp to the Canal Walk.

To review project information, go to www.rva.gov/public-works/construction-projects-road-improvements and go to the tab at the bottom of the page or call Mr. Adel Edward at 804-646-6584, to make an appointment to review the documents. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer questions.

If your concerns cannot be satisfied through review of the materials online or an in-person meeting, the City of Richmond is willing to hold a public hearing. You may request that a public hearing be held by sending a written request to Mr. Adel Edward at adel.edward@rva.gov Please reference “Canal Walk Improvements Project – Phase II” in the subject heading.

Comments can also be mailed to Adel Edward, City of Richmond Department of Public Works, 900 E. Broad Street, 6th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219. Requests for a public hearing must be received prior to June 16, 2023. If it is deemed necessary to hold a public hearing, notice of date, time and place of the hearing will be posted.

The City of Richmond ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, call Adel Edward at 804-646-6584.

For more information, 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 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.

~ This project is part of ongoing efforts to improve safety for people who walk and roll ~

RICHMOND, Va. –   The Department of Public Works (DPW) secured Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds through its partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. This project is a continuation of the work by the Department to use low-cost, systemic, quick build improvements that provide proven immediate safety benefits through changing the built environment. 

This project will start this summer and it is expected to be completed by spring 2024, weather permitting. During this phase of the project, the Department will make improvements at the project intersections listed below and will install:

• High visibility crosswalks
• Accessible ramps, and
• Pedestrian countdown signals at locations currently without them

Project Intersections:

This phase of improvements total approximately $2.4 million and is part of a larger $10.5 million investment in improving the safety of people who walk and roll across streets.

The Department operates and maintains 480 traffic signal controlled intersections and continues to work to improve the safety of people who walk, roll and cross city streets regardless of their age or ability. 

Please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works for more information or email 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.

~ Several PHB installations near schools and parks ~

RICHMOND, Va. – Over the next few weeks, drivers along Forest Hill Avenue near Huguenot High School, Semmes Avenue near Fonticello Park, and Laburnum Avenue near Holton Elementary School will notice new traffic signal control devices in operation. These new traffic signals are Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHB) and they are designed to help pedestrians and bicyclists safely cross busy or higher-speed, multi-lane roadways and uncontrolled intersections.

Most traffic related deaths involving people walking occur at night and at non-intersection locations with drivers that create more crash energy than a person can withstand. In these cases, vehicle size and speeds are always the major contributing factor. As a safety strategy to address this crash risk, the PHB is an intermediate option between a flashing beacon and a full pedestrian signal because it assigns right of way and provides positive stop control. It also allows people who drive to proceed once the pedestrian has cleared their side of the travel lane(s).

In general, PHBs are used where it is difficult for pedestrians to cross a roadway, such as when gaps in traffic are not sufficient or operating speeds exceed 35 miles per hour. They are very effective at locations where three or more travel lanes will be crossed or traffic volumes are above a certain threshold. Installation of a PHB must also include a marked crosswalk and pedestrian countdown signal.

PHBs are also planned for the following locations:

• Belvidere Street at Virginia War Memorial
• Hull Street at Silverwood Drive
• Hull Street at Worsham Way
• Hull Street at 29^th Street
• Main Street at 24th Street (GRTC)
• Williamsburg Avenue at Stony Run Road

Additionally, existing emergency signals/beacons at the following fire stations will be retro-fitted and modified to function as PHBs:

• Semmes Avenue near Canoe Run Park with Fire Station #17
• Leigh Street near Abner Clay Park with Fire Station #5. 

These projects are a continuation of the Vision Zero commitments made to serve people of all ages and abilities by changing the built environment to shift our safety culture.

Instructions on how to use PHBs:

The beacon head consists of two red lenses above a single yellow lens. The lenses remain “dark” until a pedestrian desiring to cross the street pushes the call button to activate the beacon, which then initiates a yellow to red lighting sequence consisting of flashing and steady lights that directs motorists to slow and come to a stop and provides the right-of-way to the pedestrian to safely cross the roadway before going dark again.

This project is funded through the FHWA Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and a partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

PBHs have been installed at the following locations: Grove Avenue at Summerset Avenue and on East Broad Street (at the mid-block) between the I-95 Bridge and 16th Street.

For more information on Vision Zero, please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works/vision-zero or email us 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.