~ 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.

~ Online survey available May 11 – June 1 ~

RICHMOND, VA. – The Department of Public Works (DPW) invites the public to learn about the Proposed Bike Lane Projects along State Route 161 (SR 161) and to provide feedback on the proposed detailed designs. These bike lane projects will enhance our transportation infrastructure and improve safety for all roadway users. The online survey will be available Thursday, May 11 through Thursday, June 1.

The project includes:

• PHASE I:
  
  • Roadway bicycle improvements on Westover Hills Boulevard (SR 161) begin just south of the Boulevard Toll Bridge and run south to the intersection with Dunston Avenue/49th Street.
  • This segment/phase will also propose pedestrian and bicycle improvements along 49th Street beginning at the Dunston Avenue/Westover Hills Boulevard intersection and running south to the cul-de-sac at the  Hill Top Drive intersection.

• PHASE II:
  
  • On-roadway bicycle improvements along Park Drive and Blanton Avenue (SR 161) begin at Pump House Drive and run north to the French Street intersection.
  • This phase will also include improved pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Blanton Ave and Park Drive.

Note: Your input is valuable and is needed for the success of this project. Based on previous survey participation, DPW received significant feedback to add physical protection to the proposed bike lanes and therefore, the new proposal recommends placing a physical barrier between the bike lane and traffic. So, please take time to provide input.

To review the project materials and comment on the detailed design for each corridor, please go https://arcg.is/5me4S0 and complete the online survey by Thursday, June 1, 2023.

For more project details or if you need assistance with alternative means to review and comment, contact Afshin Famili at 804‐646‐6334 or email Afshin.Famili@rva.gov

For more information on the Department of Public Works, 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.

~ Meeting scheduled to provide information and solicit public input ~

RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works (DPW) invites the community to attend a public meeting Monday, May 22 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street to learn more about the US-60 Downtown Expressway Gateway Pedestrian Improvements Project. The project will provide improvements to the pedestrian infrastructure around Kanawha Plaza (South 9th Street, East Canal Street, South 7th Street, and East Byrd Street) in the vicinity of the downtown expressway. The proposed improvements will provide safer pedestrian access to the Plaza. The development team will be available to answer questions. Public engagement is important to the success of the project.

The proposed improvements include:

• Increased pedestrian accessibility
• Adding and widening sidewalk
• Reconstruction of intersection geometry
• Enhanced pedestrian crossings by reducing the length of the crossing and clearly marked crosswalks
• Installation of pedestrian signals
• Planting street trees
• Installation of a new traffic signal at South 7th and East Byrd Streets

Project information will also be available at City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Please call 804-646-2467 to make an appointment to review project documents. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer questions.

Comments can be submitted at the meeting or mailed to: Ms. Yongping Wang, Richmond Department of Public Works, 900 East Broad Street, 6th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219 or by email to Yongping.Wang@rva.gov. Please include "UPC111702 – US 60 Downtown Expressway Gateway Pedestrian Improvement Project” on the email subject line. All comments must be received by the June 5, 2023 deadline.

If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, email Yongping.Wang@rva.gov or call 804-646-2467.

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.

~ The event includes document shredding and the collection of household hazardous waste items and electronics ~

WHO:   The Department of Public Works, The Clean City Commission and The Department of Public Utilities

WHAT: Richmond E-Cycle Day

WHEN:  Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:  Broad Rock Sports Complex, 4825 Old Warwick Road (23224)

BACKGROUND:  The City of Richmond’s E-Cycle Day offers City residents an efficient option to recycle paper and electronics to help keep hazardous waste materials out of city waterways, streams and rivers. This event is available to city residents – proof of residency is required. Please note, this is a drive-thru event. Volunteers will remove items from the cars.

Paper Document Shredding

• • Up to five (5) boxes of documents
  • Be sure to remove all binders, staples and clips

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 used electronic equipment (almost anything with a plug - see the online list for clarification)
• Go to www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission to get fees and the full list of electronics to recycle

Household Hazardous Waste Items (HHW)

• Pesticides, Herbicides and Oil-based Paints
• Bug spray, rodent poison and herbicides (Roundup, Weed B Gon etc.)
• Latex and water based paints will not be collected. These items can be left in open paint cans until they have dried out and then put in with regular curbside trash pick-up.

For more information on recycling or the event, please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission 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/public-utilities.

WHO: Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility

 WHAT: Speed Management Symposium

The City implements a comprehensive safety program to achieve significant reductions in traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries on public roadways – Join us to learn more on the actions the City is taking to help manage speed!

• Presentations
  
  • Speed Management Program
  • Vision Zero Initiative
  • Richmond Connects and Safety
• Safer Streets Information Tables
  
  • Representatives from various divisions throughout DPW,  Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, RPD and VCU Police, Fire, Plan RVA and Bike Walk RVA | Sports Backers  
• Feedback with question and answer session
• Refreshments will be served, please RSVP

WHEN:  Tuesday, April 18 from 5:30 – 8 p.m.

WHERE: Main Street Station, 1500 Main Street (2nd Floor Shed)

BACKGROUND:  Speed management in the City of Richmond involves a balanced program effort with all hands on deck. Despite a reduction in the overall number of crashes in the City of Richmond, severe-injury and fatal crashes are increasing, even in the face of concerted efforts to curtail them. Speed is the common vector in these tragic incidents, and the city’s engineering efforts to manage speed and improve safety cannot achieve that alone. We need everyone to work together to slow down, and create a culture of safety in our City in order to reverse this trend. Learn about new and future projects addressing speed management,  how the city is using road design and engineering, reducing speed limits and applying enforcement efforts to increase safety on our roadways, and how community members can help create a safer traveling environment for people, regardless of whether they walk, roll, bike, or drive.

Go to: https://www.rva.gov/public-works/speed-management-symposium to RSVP.

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.