Posted March 31, 2026

RICHMOND, VA. – The Richmond Department of Transportation will install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and St. Christopher’s Road as part of its ongoing commitment to Vision Zero. Construction for the project is scheduled to begin in early April, weather permitting, and is expected to be completed by Summer 2026. 

This project includes the installation of:

• ADA-compliant curb ramps
• High-Visibility crosswalks, and
• Countdown pedestrian signal heads
• High-visibility traffic signals with reflective backplates (HVSB)
  
  • Used to improve signal recognition for drivers by creating contrast and enhancing visibility at night and in low-light conditions. 

“Every infrastructure improvement we make is grounded in Vision Zero,” said Richmond Transportation Director, Andy Boenau. “This installation reflects our data-driven approach to identifying high-risk locations and delivering targeted solutions that make a difference for the community.”

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

This $680,000 project is funded through General Obligation (G.O.) bonds.

Vision Zero emphasizes safe systems approach to prevent severe crashes. By combining safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe roads, and safe people, and the best post-crash care, the City continues to build a healthier transportation network that prioritizes safe access using engineering, education, and enforcement.

For more information about Vision Zero, visit rva.gov/visionzero or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov.

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities, and events, visit us X  @DPW_RichmondVA and follow us at x.com/RVA_DOT for transportation news and projects. 

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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; urban forestry; civil engineering and capital improvement projects along with the Department of Transportation (DOT). DPW delivers essential services that keep the city clean, safe, and healthy. The DOT plans, builds and maintains the city’s transportation system to ensure safe, reliable, and equitable mobility for all users. The department is responsible for traffic operations, street signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, bike lanes, and transportation programs that support economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Guided by the city’s Vision Zero commitment, the DOT works to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through data-driven policies, street design, and community partnerships. In addition, the DOT issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages Main Street Station and the RVA Bike Share Program. Report service requests to RVA311.com or call 3-1-1.

The Richmond Office of Elections will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2026, in observance of the Spring Holiday.

Please note that early voting will not be available on this day.

Early voting will resume during regularly scheduled hours on the next voting day. Voters are encouraged to plan ahead and review important dates and voting information before visiting.

View Election Updates and Voting Information
rva.gov/elections/news

Need Assistance? 

Call: (804) 646-5950

Email: vote@rva.gov

In a memorandum delivered to City Council on Monday, Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II provided a performance update to City Council on the RVA Pay Gap grant program . The program, which provides income-based housing grants to qualifying Richmonders, was paused in January to give staff additional time to process program applications and to reevaluate the program’s administration with an eye towards efficiency and the timely delivery of financial assistance.

“Director Shelton and our Finance team has been working in overdrive these past two months to clear the backlog in Gap Grant applications,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Tanikia Jackson “Doing so gives us the space and time to now focus on more permanent solutions to improved program delivery and to focus on delivering core services.”

“Between January and March 2026,” the memo reads, “staff have processed 1,802 backlog applications resulting in an average of 29 daily or 100 to 145 applications per week for approximately twelve (12) weeks.”

Of the 3,931 applications received since the program's inception, the memo details:

• 53% were received without the required documentation
• 32% were denied because:
  • The applicants were non-residents;
  • They were already receiving public assistance;
  • They did not meet the low-income threshold;
  • Their housing cost was equal to or greater than 30% of household income

In that same January to March time frame, the City distributed an additional $388,800 to residents in need, bringing the total program distribution to $732,000 across more than 600 applicants.

“We are committed to delivering dependable services to Richmonders. Hitting our internal goal to clear this Gap Grant backlog is a key step in reaching that standard” said CAO Donald . “We remain laser focused on best-in-class service delivery for all   programming, and we’re seeing step-by-step improvement in Finance: highlighted by progress on the Gap Grant, to our recent unmodified audit opinion with the ACFR, and the historic resolution of audit recommendations in coordination with the City Auditor.”

As a next step, CAO Donald is recommending that the City reappropriate the Gap Grant program’s unobligated funds to a third-party, non-profit vendor which can oversee the administration of the program and further allow Finance staff to focus on the delivery of core services.

The reallocation of $3,168,000.00 in unobligated funds to a nonprofit organization is just one of several next steps proposed in the memo. The others include: a repeal and replacement of existing legislation to improve program design and implementation, community outreach planning, and the consolidation and documentation of lessons learned so that they may be incorporated into program delivery.

“Clearing the backlog, as committed, is step one,” the memo says. “Next, aligning the resources that have been allocated to the appropriate service delivery is poised to support Richmonders in need, as originally intended by the enabling legislation.”

About the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program

Introduced at the end of 2024 for a 2025 rollout, the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program is a first-come, first-serve housing relief program that offers a one-time payment of $1200 for rental or mortgage payment assistance to qualifying applicants. This program is jointly operated by the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Services to provide financial assistance that helps fill the gap for low-income households in the City of Richmond.

The City of Richmond will be closed Friday, April 3, in observance of the spring holiday. All city offices, including City Hall, will be closed. We will return to our regular business hours on Monday, April 6.   

For the full city holiday calendar, please visit the Holiday Closings page.   

• There will be no trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Friday, April 3.  Operations will resume regular schedules on Monday, April 6. 
• The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC) Landfill, located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be closed on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4. ERRCC will reopen on Monday, April 6. 
• Recycling services will operate as normal on Friday, April 3. For more information, visit cvwma.com.  
• All Richmond Public Libraries are closed on Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5. Libraries will be open for normal business hours on Saturday, April 4.
• RVA311 will be closed on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4. The public will have 24/7 access to self-service via RVA311.com and mobile apps.
• Richmond Public Schools are closed beginning Wednesday, April 1. They will reopen on Monday, April 6. (Note that this is a change based on weather-related closures). RPS offices will be closed on Friday, April 3.
• All Parks and Recreation offices and community centers are closed Friday, April 3.  
• The Department of Public Utilities Call Center is closed Friday, April 3. For utility emergencies, customers should call 804-646-4646 and press Option 1. For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911.  
• Richmond Animal Care and Control is open and running a holiday adoption special on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4! 

Actions will strengthen transparency, modernize systems, and ensure policies are practical and implementable    

On March 26, Mayor Avula announced a series of actions aimed at improving how the City delivers payment registry data, as required under City Code §12-16. This effort is part of a broader initiative to address long-standing operational challenges within City government, especially the Finance Department, and ensure that the City’s commitment to transparency is supported by reliable systems and processes. 

The current reporting requirement, adopted in 2015, has not functioned as intended. In response, the Administration is applying its “look for it, find it, fix it” approach to conduct a review of the ordinance, including internal workflows, staff training, and technology needs. The goal is to close the gap between the policy’s goal and its day-to-day implementation. 

As part of this effort, Mayor Avula announced his intent to introduce an ordinance that will align disclosure requirements with regional practices and state law, as well as update workflows and identify necessary technology improvements to reduce reliance on the labor-intensive manual processes. Development of the ordinance will be carried out in coordination with the departments responsible for implementation to ensure the requirements are practical, efficient, and sustainable. 

Mayor Avula has released a registry of Fiscal Year 2025 payments, which includes financial data such as payment identifiers, dates, amounts, fund codes, cost centers, account codes, payment methods, and disbursement types. This step represents a meaningful move toward improved transparency while longer-term system enhancements are underway. 

“Good policy only works if it can be implemented,” said  Mayor Danny Avula . “We’re taking a clear-eyed look at what hasn’t been working, fixing the gaps, and putting in place processes that consistently deliver accurate, accessible information to the public.”

The release of payment information, and effort to update the ordinance and workflows, aligns with the Chief Administrative Officer’s 100 Day Report, including its Technology Modernization Roadmap. It also reflects the Administration’s broader commitment to strengthening collaboration with City Council to ensure policies are fully implementable. 

The effort builds on recent actions to modernize City operations and improve accountability, including the launch of TechDesk, updates to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, passage of FOIA Library legislation, and enhancements to the RVA Business Portal.