"On behalf of the City of Richmond Department of Transportation, I want to express our concern for the people injured during yesterday morning’s incident at the temporary GRTC Downtown Transfer Station. We are grateful that the injuries reported were not life-threatening, and our thoughts remain with those who were affected.

We want to thank the quick actions of first responders, including Richmond Police, Richmond Fire and Richmond Ambulance Authority, and emergency personnel who responded immediately, cared for those injured, secured the area, and helped restore safe conditions. We also recognize the outstanding work of GRTC staff, who maintained transit operations during a challenging emergency event and worked diligently to minimize disruptions for riders.

A bus trip is an extension of a walking trip, which means transit operations and pedestrian safety are closely linked. The City remains focused on improving safety throughout Richmond’s transportation network, particularly in high-activity transit areas where thousands of people walk, wait, and transfer every day.

This incident occurred at the temporary Downtown Transfer Station, a facility that continues to play a critical role in connecting riders while Richmond and GRTC advance plans for a permanent Downtown Transit Hub immediately adjacent to the current site. The future transit hub represents an important investment in safe, reliable access to increase the comfort of the riders' experience. We look forward to continued progress on this transformative project, which will provide modern facilities designed to better serve both transit riders and the surrounding region for decades to come.

As part of ongoing efforts to evaluate operations and enhance safety, the Downtown Transfer Station will undergo a full safety review and targeted improvements. To support this work, additional planned closures of the transfer station will occur from August 31, 2026, through September 11, 2026. During this period, bus routes will continue operating from designated temporary transfer locations nearby.

Before the closure begins, riders will receive a detailed map showing where each route will stop within the temporary transfer area, and signage will be installed throughout the area to help customers navigate the temporary changes. We encourage people to pay close attention to posted information and GRTC service announcements during this period.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding. The City of Richmond and GRTC remain committed to providing a safe, reliable access to all the places Richmond offers while continuing to invest in the long-term improvements that will strengthen transit service throughout our region."

The City of Richmond has completed installation of its pilot Safety Camera Program, bringing the program to 13 school-zone speed cameras and 10 red-light enforcement intersections across the city.

The program is designed to deter dangerous driving, encourage compliance with traffic laws and reduce serious and fatal crashes, and data from the school-zone cameras show measurable reductions in vehicle speeds at most locations.

A 29-month analysis of the City’s 13 school-zone camera locations found that 10 schools experienced measurable reductions in vehicle speeds after cameras were installed. Three schools maintained speeds at or below the 25-mph school-zone limit throughout the analysis period. At Richmond High School for the Arts, the largest improvement was recorded, with average speeds dropping from 41-mph to 33-mph. 

“Every mile per hour matters when it comes to safety, especially near our schools where children are walking, biking, and crossing streets,” said Andy Boenau, Director of the Richmond Department of Transportation. “Safety cameras are not about revenue, they are about changing driver behavior and saving lives, and the data shows they are working.”

The final red-light camera in the pilot program has been installed at Fairfield Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike. A 30-day warning period begins August 27, 2026. During the warning period, motorists who run a red light at the intersection will receive a warning notice rather than a citation.

Following the warning period, registered vehicle owners who receive a red-light violation captured by the safety camera will be issued a $50 citation, in accordance with the Code of Virginia.

The addition of Fairfield Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike brings the red-light enforcement portion of the pilot program to completion, with 10 safety cameras installed and operational or entering the warning period:

• Fairfield Avenue & Mechanicsville Turnpike
• Hull Street Road & East Belt Boulevard
• Midlothian Turnpike & German School Road
• 25th Street & Main Street
• Belvidere Street & Cary Street
• Chamberlayne Avenue & Brookland Park Boulevard
• Chamberlayne Avenue & Laburnum Avenue
• Hull Street & Warwick Road
• Hull Street & Cowardin Avenue
• Commerce Road & Maury Street

Drivers are encouraged to:

• Slow down as traffic signals turn yellow. Yellow means prepare to stop, not speed up.
• Stop fully at red lights. Entering an intersection after the light has turned red is a violation.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions while driving.
• Plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination safely.

Red-light running contributes to hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries across the country each year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 1,000 people are killed and more than 100,000 are injured annually in crashes involving drivers who run red lights.


For more information about Richmond’s Safety Camera Program, visit rva.gov/police/safety-camera-program.

For more information about Richmond’s Vision Zero efforts, visit rva.gov/public-works/vision-zero.

***PLEASE ADVISE: This meeting has been canceled.***

The City of Richmond Office of Elections will be closed from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026 for a staff meeting. 

Please plan accordingly. We appreciate your understanding. 

For voter and election information, visit

rva.gov/elections

This notice is being provided to alert the public that an Electoral Board meeting is scheduled.

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location:
City of Richmond Office of Elections
2134 W. Laburnum Avenue
Richmond, VA 23227
2nd Floor Conference Room

The agenda for this meeting will be posted once it has been reviewed and approved by the Electoral Board. Please note that the agenda is subject to change. Items may be added, removed, or modified prior to or during the meeting, as permitted by law.

Members of the public who wish to speak at the meeting must submit their request by email to Executive Assistant, Caitlin Shelton, at electoral.board@rva.gov no later than Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

This meeting will be recorded.

Additional updates related to meeting logistics will be communicated as necessary.

Agenda

Richmond’s cross-sector work to expand economic mobility will be featured on August 19 at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Regional Conference. 

The panel, Local Approaches to Upward Mobility: Lessons from Richmond, Virginia and the Urban Institute , will highlight how Richmond is using evidence-based practices, industry partnerships, and community voices to deliver opportunity for residents. 

Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II will co-present alongside: 

• Isabel Eljaiek, Vice President, Research & Strategy, Community Foundation for a greater Richmond  
• Martha Shickle, Executive Director, PlanRVA  
• Alexis Weaver, Policy Program Manager, Urban Institute  

Together, the group will outline how Richmond is addressing the barriers residents face. The presentation will also detail how the City is applying the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Initiative to build systems that support long-term stability across housing, transit, workforce development, and economic growth.

“Richmond is a shining example of how to leverage partnerships to accelerate economic mobility,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “The City and our cadre of partners are tackling the barriers that hold residents back, by building systems that cross local borders to help people climb the economic mobility ladder. This progress leads to real visible results. That’s the story we’re bringing to ICMAs national membership, and it’s a story Richmond is proud to stand behind.” 

“Economic mobility is built locally, through the systems that shape access to housing, transit, jobs, and opportunity,” said Martha Shickle, Executive Director of PlanRVA. “Richmond’s leadership shows what intentional policy and partnership can achieve. Our role is to connect these efforts across the region so communities can learn from one another and scale strategies that expand opportunity beyond any single jurisdiction.” 

Richmond’s presence at ICMA will spotlight the City’s leadership in practical, community‑driven approaches that strengthen upward mobility and provide a model for other communities nationally. 

Visit the ICMA Regional Conference website for session details, and look for Richmond’s full slide deck to be shared following the presentation

Media Contact:

Monica Annette Manney

Public Information Manager, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

Email: monica.manney@rva.gov

Phone: 804.947.9981