~Scheduling changes are effective August 24, 2014~ The following routes will have significant schedule changes .      Routes: 11, 43, 62, 101      New Route: 21 Brook Azalea      Discontinued Routes: 22 and 67      Routes 24, 44, 45 and 72-73 will have Transfer Plaza Bay changes. Routes that serve the Temporary Transfer Plaza may have minor schedule changes.  Please check the new printed public timetables/schedules available closer to August 24. Look for new individual route schedules on ridegrtc.com , closer to August 24, 2014, or call the Customer Service Center at 804-358-GRTC (4782).

The City of Richmond is partnering with CultureWorks, the Cameron Foundation and City of Petersburg to conduct a major online survey of artists, individuals involved with arts organizations and creative businesses in the region to determine the feasibility of creating one or more multi-use arts facilities. The survey will conclude on September 5, 2014. This effort represents a collaboration of multiple partners, including The Cameron Foundation, Artspace Projects, CultureWorks, and the cities of Richmond and Petersburg. Artspace Projects, the nation’s leading developer for the arts, will use the survey to identify the types and number of spaces needed by those who are part of the area’s creative economy. The results of the survey will help Artspace Projects determine the size of the market in Richmond and Petersburg region for affordable live/work housing, studio and public space of various kinds. The survey is the second phase of a scope of work that began last year when an Artspace ...

The City of Richmond recently received recognition for being a national leader in overall small business friendliness. Finishing as the 10th best city, Richmond earned an A grade for its small business friendly policies and earned an A+ for the friendliness of its licensing rules. “Receiving this honor acknowledges the City’s continued efforts to provide quality resources to our local businesses,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Helping entrepreneurs and local businesses grow and thrive is central to the City’s anti-poverty strategy. By being a ‘business-friendly’ city, we are also creating local jobs and advancing our neighborhood revitalization efforts.”  Thumbtack, a consumer service headquartered in San Francisco, partnered with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to conduct a survey of more than 12,000 small businesses nationwide. The Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey is the largest survey of its kind and is the only survey to obtain data from an extensi...

Richmond, VA – Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement in respect to the passing of Richmond Free Press founder, publisher and editor Raymond H. Boone, Sr.: “The passing of Ray Boone really marks the end of a personality who was an integral part of our city. His stalwart support for the black community, for economic justice and fairness paved the way for change in so many ways. As Founder/Editor/Publisher of the Richmond Free Press, week after week, he offered many a window into the world of black Richmond. He provided visibility for people who might otherwise be invisible to some. He voiced concerns and desires in ways that might not otherwise have gotten expressed. When I think of Ray, the word that comes to mind for me is ‘crusader.’ It’s clear to me that Ray Boone was a giant of a personality that won’t soon be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time of loss.”

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond Police Chief Ray Tarasovic addressed media today regarding recent incidents of crimes involving children. The following are Mayor Jones’ remarks as prepared for delivery for today’s press briefing. Thank you for joining me here this morning. I wish we could be meeting under better circumstances, but I’m here with Police Chief Tarasovic to talk about some of the challenges we’ve been facing recently. As Mayor, one of the standards I’ve set is for prompt notification – no matter what time of day or night – when there is a major crime incident in the city and incidents involving children. Over time, I’ve taken calls from our chief at 1:00 a.m. in the morning, 4:00 a.m. in the morning, and at various other times. It’s horrible when I receive the calls that a tragedy has occurred somewhere in our city. The only thing worse is the Police Chief having to make the call to report in on something tragic that has sadly occurred. Today, I feel that I’ve been get...

Mayor Jones issued the following statement concerning the anticipated vote on the Shockoe Bottom Development Ordinance:   “I was disappointed to read in the news media that certain Council members plan to vote against new jobs, tax revenue, and a Slavery Heritage site in Richmond. Doing that would hurt Richmond by leaving money on the table.   “That’s because keeping the ballpark on the Boulevard would restrict the revenue-producing potential of our most valuable piece of under-utilized land. That’s a bad business decision, and it demonstrates a failure to consider the needs of the city as a whole.   “This decision is surprising since they’ve chosen to vote against something without learning about it first. At no point have all City Council members been briefed on the most up-to-date information about all aspects of the plan. Council members are receiving the detailed information they requested, but most briefings have taken place in committee meetings or in lightly-a...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced the appointments of Norman D. Butts as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Finance and Debra D. Gardner as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services. Norman Butts , previously Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg, will begin his tenure with the City on June 23. Butts is a lawyer, accountant, educator, public administrator, and a former elected official. He has been an Inspector General, Auditor, Chief Finance Officer, Debt Manager, and a City Manager. His decade of service as Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg has positioned Leesburg for a Triple A bond rating, up from an A1 standing when he started. His career includes being named the first Inspector General for Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most diverse and complex jurisdictions in America. He was also an auditor in Concord, New Hampshire, where he served three terms on the City Council. In that elected office, he served as a member of the fiscal po...