🏀 Plus, why John Marshall boy's basketball is so good
6AM City In-house

Slow down and read this story ⚠️

City lands $8 million for street safety improvements
RICtoday_Skyline_Richmond_MonroePark
Main, Cary, and Broad near VCU are on the High Injury Street Network. | Photo by @stabomediaphotography
Richmond will have $8,859,934 more towards creating safer streets, thanks to funds from the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program. The Department of Public Works announced the grant on Wednesday.

The VHSIP money comes from federal grants and requires no matching funds from the city.

DPW says the money will go towards safety improvements on roads that are either on the city’s High Injury Street Network, within a pedestrian safety action plan corridor, or within an underserved community.

RICtoday_HighInjuryMap_VDOT

The city will focus on improvements to high-injury streets. | Screenshot via city documents

Here are some of the improvements that could be added to our streets, by the numbers.
  • 772 high-visibility signal backplates that could be installed on traffic lights
  • 338 high-visibility crosswalks
  • 255 flashing yellow arrow signal heads
  • 200 stop-controlled intersections with new signs and pavement markings
  • 10 intersections with new left turn hardening measures
Each of the improvements would help the city move towards its goal of Vision Zero — a global strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

Before work begins, VDOT and the city will form a project agreement and present it to City Council for review and approval. The funding is marked for fiscal year 2025, which begins in July 2024.

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Feb. 24
Saturday, Feb. 25
  • “The Land Before Time” | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 10 a.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $5 | This family flick follows a group of young dinosaurs on a quest to find the legendary Great Valley.
  • Marielle Kraft with Deau Eyes | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall, 623 E. Main St., Richmond | $12 | Experience indie pop from the Rhode Island musician and a local favorite.
  • Richmond Symphony: Rennolds Memorial Concert | Saturday, Feb. 25-Sunday, Feb. 26 | Times vary | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond | $15-$85 | Violinist María Dueñas will play Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, plus hear new work by Juan Pablo Contreras and Brahms’ haunting Third Symphony.
Monday, Feb. 27
Tuesday, Feb. 28

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 65º | Partly cloudy | 3% chance of rain
Civic
  • Since Jennifer McClellan won the special election for a seat in the US House of Representatives, there will be another special election to fill her seat in the Virginia Senate. Democrats are hosting a firehouse primary on Sunday, Feb. 26; the election will be March 28. Check your Senate district.
Development
  • Construction has begun on a new shopping center at the intersection of West Broad Street and Gayton Road, just west of Short Pump Town Center. West Village will be anchored by Fink’s Jewelers. We’ll stay alert for additional retailer announcements.
Community
  • Recyclers in Henrico County can expect to find a new, 95-gallon cart on their curb in a few months. CVWMA and the county are providing the free carts to 90,000 households starting May 15. By July 1, all recycling should be placed in those carts instead of in bins, bags, or other containers. ♻️ (Henrico Citizen)
Edu
  • Stabilization and cleaning has been completed at Fox Elementary School, which was severely damaged in a fire last year. Work on a new roof should begin in April. Negotiations between RPS and VAcorp, the district’s insurance company, are still ongoing to determine how much it will pay toward the new school. (VPM)
  • Over 150 students from 18 schools around the country will compete at VSU this weekend in the National HBCU Speech & Debate Championship. The event — the only one like it in the country — has been hosted at VSU for the past four years.
Sports
  • The undefeated boy’s basketball team at John Marshall has reclaimed the top spot in the nation according to MaxPreps. National basketball editor Jordan Divens said the Justices stand out due to their team chemistry and strong starting five. 🏀 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Arts
  • The VMFA announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Visual Arts Fellowships. The 19 winners are all Virginia residents, including five artists from Richmond and five VCU students. The museum will award $116,000 in total to fellows this year.
Plan Ahead
  • Two local experts have been added to the lineup of the Richmond Home + Garden Show, which will be held Friday, March 3-Sunday, March 5 at the Richmond Raceway. YouTuber Randy Battle and designer Lea Yager will be onstage with tips for spring gardening and kitchen renovation. 🌱
Finance
Number
  • 55°. That’s the optimal temperature for storing wine. So unless you enjoy keeping your humble abode chilled year round, we recommend buying a wine fridge to foster favorable conditions for long-term aging. Our pick: this sleek wine fridge with touch-panel control and capacity for 24 bottles. Cheers. 🍷 *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Global contest comes to Richmond

Doodle your dreams at this Red Bull event
RICtoday_RedBullDoodle_StudioTwoThree
You can also submit a doodle online until March 16. | Photo provided by Scrimshaw PR
If the margins of your notebooks are filled with stylish scribbles, head to Studio Two Three tonight. The Red Bull Doodle Art competition is rolling through Richmond for a creative workshop from 6-9 p.m.

Success in the global competition could take you to New York and Amsterdam for the final stages of the contest. It’s free to enter and anyone 18 years or older can participate. Walk-up entries are welcome, but you can also pre-register for the workshop.

The event also promises live tunes, drinks, and a guest artist. Can’t make it tonight? Enter your doodle online until March 16.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: I’m headed to the ICA’s spring opening tonight — you can still reserve a free ticket to experience new exhibits and music.

Missed our last newsletter? See where Richmond is tracking in hitting its 300th birthday goals.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.
Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY