Posted January 9, 2025

~Your voice matters: Join the conversation Jan. 14 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Main Street Station~ 

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond, in partnership with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and Drive Smart Virginia, is launching a community-led seat belt safety initiative to further reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. The effort builds on Richmond’s ongoing Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through safer streets, safer speeds, and safer behaviors using education, engineering, and enforcement.  

This initiative will launch with a series of free, public community meetings to increase seat belt safety and usage. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street.

Subsequent meetings will also be held at Main Street Station on the following dates: January 28, February 5, and February 19. The meetings will provide residents with a forum to share their experiences, ideas, and recommendations for improving seat belt use. Feedback from the meetings will help ensure messaging reflects community needs. 

"Improving seat belt use is a critical part of keeping people safe, but our Vision Zero work goes beyond cars to protect everyone on our streets," said Mayor Danny Avula. "Seat belts remain one of the simplest ways to save lives, yet unbelted occupants account for 65% of local crash deaths, and too many residents remain unbuckled. Through partnerships with IIHS, Drive Smart Virginia, and the community, we're working to prevent pedestrian deaths and make every street safer for all."

“Community engagement is at the heart of sustainable behavior change,” said Kristin Pettway, Executive Director for Drive Smart Virginia. “By incorporating residents’ perspectives, Richmond is setting a model for how cities can protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.” 

“Richmond’s work demonstrates the power of pairing research-based strategies with community input,” said David Harkey, President of IIHS. “Engaging residents in traffic safety initiatives helps ensure interventions are tailored to local needs.” 

The community is encouraged to attend, share their voice, bring a neighbor or friend, and register for the meeting at rvacampaign@iihs.org to help increase seat belt safety across Richmond. 

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 225 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 issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages Main Street Station, the RVA Bike Share program. 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers, and safety professionals.

DRIVE SMART Virginia is a non-profit organization charged with raising awareness and changing behavior to improve the safety of the roadways of the Commonwealth. We have endeavored to improve the lives of all Virginians through our public information and education initiatives. Founded in 1995, the organization is led by a diverse board representing safety advocates, the insurance industry and law enforcement.

Posted January 9, 2026

Richmond, VA – Due to forecasted weather, The City of Richmond’s Bring One for Chipper E-Cycle Event, originally scheduled for January 10, has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 17 to protect the safety of residents, volunteers, staff, and vendors.

NEW Event Details: 

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

What: 17th Annual Richmond Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling E-Cycle Event

When: Saturday, January 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (New Date)

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, 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 listed in the table section). 

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 locations or use the curbside option:

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 17, 2026.
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
3. 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 through Thursday, January 15.
   • 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

For more information on DPW, 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 X @DPW_RichmondVA or on Instagram at RVACleanCityCommission 

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 225 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 issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages Main Street Station, the RVA Bike Share program. 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, VA - The City of Richmond and the Partnership for Housing Affordability (PHA) are proud to announce that Highland Grove, a 253-unit mixed-income community in Richmond's Northside, has received $2.5 million in funding from the Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program, administered by Virginia Housing. The award will support the construction of 53 affordable, for-sale homes at Highland Grove for mortgage-ready households earning between 80 to 120 percent of Area Median Income. project:HOMES, the Better Housing Coalition, Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, and the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust will construct and sell the homes to income-qualified buyers.

"This $2.5 million award builds on the strong momentum behind the Highland Grove development and the many partnerships which have turned it into reality," said Mayor Danny Avula. "By continuing to invest in mixed-income housing, we're committing to a future where all of our residents can realize a path to homeownership for generations to come. We have a long way to go, but achievements like this are critical in laying a strong foundation."

The development of Highland Grove began in 2012 with the construction of 128 rental units consisting of apartments and townhomes. The homeownership phase of the project broke ground in 2024 and includes a total of 125 for-sale homes including detached single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes-60 homes designated affordable for 80% AMI and 120% AMI buyers and 65 market-rate units constructed by private sector builder Eagle Construction. This mixed-income approach provides a more equitable housing model and meets a need for attainable homeownership options. The Better Housing Coalition serves as the master developer of Highland Grove and is responsible for the community's infrastructure improvements including sidewalks, streets, utilities, lighting, and landscaping.

"This award is a paragon example of collaboration," said Jovan Burton, Executive Director of the Partnership for Housing Affordability. "By bringing the city, non-profit partners, and state partners together, we will be able to provide greater housing opportunities to Richmond families. Highland Grove really does stand as a model for how mixed-income housing communities can erase inequities in housing attainment."

The Workforce Housing Investment Program was launched in 2024 by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The Program is aimed specifically to help catalyze investment in housing for middle-income workers in communities experiencing job growth. Increasing the supply of affordable housing in the City of Richmond is essential to expanding economic development growth. These new, for-sale homes will allow Richmond to safeguard the city's ability to grow inclusively, support essential workers, and increase the return on investment that housing delivers to the local economy.

Site work on the second phase of Highland Grove has already started. The City of Richmond has extended water, sewer, and other utilities for each home site. Construction of new homes is underway with homes being delivered as early as Q2 2026 and a project completion date of December 2027.

About Partnership for Housing Affordability 

The Partnership for Housing Affordability envisions a coordinated, regional approach to affordable housing that is supported by the citizens and elected leadership of the jurisdictions that make up the Richmond metropolitan area. With the commitment of needed resources and the adoption of necessary policies by local leaders, Richmond residents can live in vibrant and sustainable communities, characterized by a breadth of diversity among the residents, a variety of affordable housing choices, the integration of needed services, efficient use of the public infrastructure, and strategic preservation of natural resources. The Partnership for Housing Affordability was founded in 2004 as a philanthropic extension of the Richmond Association of REALTORS® in response to housing needs in our communities, we champion policies, developments, and programs for quality affordable housing in the Richmond region. For more information, please visit https://pharva.com/.

On Thursday, January 8, Mayor Danny Avula announced a series of immediate and accelerated actions to improve pedestrian safety following the deaths of six pedestrians in just the past three weeks. In total, 13 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related incidents in Richmond in 2025.

"These losses are heartbreaking, and the recent frequency is, frankly, terrifying," said Mayor Danny Avula. "We cannot treat traffic deaths as normal, and we cannot accept that losing your life while walking, crossing a street, or heading to a bus stop is just part of living in a city. In a Thriving Richmond, everyone deserves to get where they're going safely."

New Actions Announced Today

As part of an accelerated Vision Zero response, Mayor Avula announced a set of immediate actions to strengthen coordination and improve outcomes across Richmond's transportation and street safety efforts. Vision Zero is the City's strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

• Creation of a new Department of Transportation (DOT): A new Department of Transportation will be stood up immediately within the Department of Public Works to lead the City's street safety and mobility work. The DOT will serve as the central authority for planning, designing, delivering, and maintaining a transportation system that prioritizes people over speed and safety over convenience. Mayor Avula appointed Andy Boenau as Director. The department will coordinate across agencies, deliver evidence-based street designs, engage communities, and set measurable Vision Zero safety goals
• Expanded Safety Camera Program: The City will expand its Safety Camera Program to include red-light cameras targeting one of the most dangerous driving behaviors. Ten intersections will come online in the coming months, with four operational by the end of January, including several in South Richmond.
• Accelerated street safety improvements: Mayor Avula directed the immediate deployment of local transportation funding to fast-track life-saving infrastructure, including advancing roadway reconfigurations for dedicated bus and bike lanes, implementing left-turn hardening at more than 80 intersections on the High Injury Network, installing 14 additional pedestrian hybrid beacons for mid-block crossings, adding 40 new speed tables by the end of the second quarter of 2026, and improving crosswalk visibility through expanded corner clearance enforcement.
• Targeted corridor and campus safety: The City will convene a Pedestrian Safety Task Force in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University to address safety concerns around City Hall and the VCU Health campus, and will conduct a multidisciplinary road safety assessment of East Broad Street from 1st Street to 14th Street to identify near-term fixes and long-term redesign strategies.

"These recent incidents are a painful reminder about the need for all of us to be aware when driving or walking - near VCU, VCU Health or anywhere in the city. With thousands of students returning for spring semester at VCU next week, we ask that all travelers take a renewed focus on remaining alert when traveling near our campuses. While VCU's partnership with the city continues, we all must do our part to keep each other safe," said VCU Chief of Police Clarence T. Hunter, Jr.

City Councilmember Andrew "Gumby" Breton (1st District) shared, "Speed tables, safer crossings, and clearer sightlines for pedestrians and cyclists make a difference for a livable city. As a dad and cyclist myself, I know that when we calm our streets, we calm behavior. Calmer streets save lives. I'm grateful to see this structural change and acceleration of funds for safety infrastructure. I'll be watching closely to see these projects deployed urgently."

Enforcement and Shared Responsibility

Police enforcement remains a critical part of the City's approach.

"While we are changing the streets and strengthening enforcement, I need drivers to do their part," Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said. "Slow down. Drive the speed limit. Put your phone away; we have a hands-free law in Virginia, and texting and driving is illegal. Vision Zero only works if we all take responsibility for one another."

"We owe it to the people we've lost-and to everyone who walks our streets-to act with urgency and resolve," Mayor Danny Avula said. "We will redesign our streets, we will enforce the rules, and we will keep pushing until no one has to fear for their life just getting where they need to go."

Major Investments Already Underway

Richmond's Department of Public Works has secured more than $750 million in discretionary funding for transportation projects aligned with Vision Zero, with total investments expected around $1.2 billion over the next five to six years.

"These investments are transforming our most dangerous corridors into safer, multimodal streets," said Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works. "Projects like Hull Street Road and the upcoming Jahnke Road improvements reflect what data-driven, people-centered street design looks like in action. Construction is already underway. With the additional new and accelerated projects, we are speeding up our work towards Vision Zero. Everyone plays a role in the shared responsibility to make our streets safer. I urge everyone - drivers, walkers, riders - look both ways twice."

Mayor Avula was joined by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II; Richmond City Councilmember Andrew "Gumby" Breton (1st District); Jason Kamras, RPS Superintendent; Bobby Vincent, City of Richmond Director of Public Works; Clarence T. Hunter, Jr., VCU Chief of Police; Rick Edwards, Richmond Chief of Police; Sydney Collier, Deputy Chief, Richmond Police Department, and Major Ronnie Armstead, Richmond Police Department.

Click here to learn more about Vision Zero.

On January 8, 2026, Mayor Danny Avula announced that City Hall's Observation Deck has reopened to the general public. The 18th floor overlook closed to the general public in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For decades, the City Hall Observation Deck has been one of Richmond's gems," said Mayor Danny Avula. "It's a place where you can step back, see our city from a new perspective, and appreciate how all our neighborhoods connect in ways that aren't always visible from the ground. Reopening the Observation Deck has been a major goal during my first year in office, and I'm so thrilled that we've been able to put the processes in place to welcome Richmonders back to this special space."

Updating security measures and elevator logistics enabled the reopening. "All our recent changes to City Hall have been about making sure residents and visitors feel welcome in the space," said Director of General Services Gail Johnson. "From our updated signage and new concierge on the first floor to renewed access to the Observation Deck, we want community members to know that this building is for them."

"City Hall is and always will be the people's house," said CAO Odie Donald II. "Opening this space is a reminder that buildings are also places of pride, connection, and perspective to the people they serve. From 18 floors up, you can see just how connected our city truly is-and now we have a safe and welcoming space for the public."

Currently, the Observation Deck is open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding City holidays), weather permitting. Members of the public can access the Observation Deck through a dedicated elevator. Explore the "Visiting City Hall" webpage for more information about reaching the Observation Deck and other City Hall services.