The City’s East End Vision Charrette was presented the 2012 Community Economic Development Award, in the Community Involvement category, from the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) during an awards presentation in Williamsburg today. The East End Vision Charrette was formed by a unique public/private partnership of the City of Richmond, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital in the spring of 2010 to engage the community in a dynamic planning process. The CEDA award program is designed to recognize outstanding communities in the Commonwealth for their efforts in advancing the economic viability of their community through economic and community development programs. “This award recognizes the community, private sector and government partnership that brought forth the planning effort and continued its commitment to ensure a transformational change in our city’s East End,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “I again thank all o

The Department of Public Works Transportation Engineering Division is set to begin the first phase of an approximately $21 million federally funded project to upgrade the City’s outdated traffic signal system. The new state-of-the-art system will connect the City’s approximately 500 signalized intersections and flashers to the Traffic Operations Center in City Hall. Richmond Signal System Upgrade funding was provided through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) using Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program funds. The upgraded system will be installed over the next five years and will involve development of a new traffic management computerized central control (located at City Hall), system wide communications consisting of fiber optic and copper cable, and closed circuit TV (CCTV) surveillance cameras. When the system is complete, motorists will experience a reduction in vehicle stops and delays, resulting in le