Share Email Print RSS

Why Richmond, Why?!?

I have lived in my downtown apartment for almost five years and since I've been here, there has ALWAYS, ALWAYS been some sort of construction along Jefferson St./Broad St. (but never crossing Grace St.). It is absolutely ridiculous and frankly, I am fed up with it. What's wrong with that area?!

-- Kathrine

Jemila M. Woodson , public information assistant for the City of Richmond Department of Public Works, answers:

Several downtown long term projects have been under construction over the past few years. The City is investing millions of dollars in street and sidewalk improvements, facility renovations, and upgrades to many Richmond landmarks such as the Carpenter Center and the Landmark Theatre. In this neighborhood specifically, there have been numerous apartment and restaurant renovations.  All of these projects also require underground utility upgrades and crane work, which can sometimes be a timely process.

How come the tolls don't work? I am waiting for my EZpass but until then every other time I go through the toll at Forest Hill and the Downtown Express I throw my 70 cents in the gate does not go up! I end up throwing in more then 70 cents!

Also, the full service lanes are SOOO slow ... and almost every time I go through them the toll operators are on their cell phones and take their time to hand me my change! I'll have my EZ Pass any day now but come on! It's not fair to have to pay 75 cents and have to wait for two minutes to get change.

-- KK

Linda McElroy , public relations manager for the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, answers:

I will say that with any type of mechanical equipment, issues do occur. Our toll collection machines will sometimes reject coins. However, we have not had any issues recently with the machines and gates at the Forest Hill Avenue and Downtown Expressway toll plazas. If a motorist does encounter a machine that is not operable, they should contact the gate attendant assistance.

If the writer can provide us with feedback on an attendant who is on their cell phone, that would certainly help us in our effort to improve customer service. In addition, our TCAs are trained to process motorist transactions as quickly as possible, but more important, efficiently. This is not always accomplished by rushing through a toll transaction, which can lead to mistakes. Our attendants are now tasked with dealing with more coins (quarters, dimes and nickels) than they have in the past since the toll increase. For general comments or concerns regarding the RMA Expressway System, please call (804) 523-3300.

How can I help make Richmond.com better and also register to win a $500 prize pack?

-- Blatant Plug for Internal RDC Survey

Great question! All you have to do is fill out our short, online Richmond.com Survey and you too can be a winner. Just click here to play.

Why is it that every time the City of Richmond is put on either a voluntary or mandatory water restriction we STILL see sprinklers watering the avenue along Monument Avenue? I would think if the city is requesting citizens to do this they would do the same.

-- AM

Jemila M. Woodson answers again:

The restrictions limit watering to three days a week, days are specified depending on even or odd blocks. 

During restrictions, there would be no watering permitted on Mondays, and even blocks could water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd blocks would be scheduled to water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The City of Richmond always adheres to these water restrictions by limiting watering to three days a week.  It is ideal for the City to water on a working day as opposed to a weekend. If an incident were to occur during the watering process, such as a water line break, crews could respond much quicker than if it were to happen on a Saturday or Sunday.

Is there some sort of noise curfew for construction work? It is currently 2:39 a.m. and I have been wide awake due to construction being done right outside my apartment. I absolutely adore living downtown but this construction work has got to STOP. Not only does their equipment make excessive noise (pipes, or some sort of metal apparatus, are clunking, drilling, beeping, among others) but so do the construction guys. When Popkin Tavern was under construction, they used to start at the wee hours of the morning and end at the wee hours of the night. It was so bad that I constantly left my apartment to sleep at friends' places. I don't mind construction ... at a DECENT TIME! Noise curfew? Stop and start time?

-- Kathrine

Jemila M. Woodson answers again:

Almost all Public Works projects do not extend past 7 p.m. There are few operations and maintenance projects that can take place after normal business hours. Please keep in mind that work performed on private property is not performed by the City of Richmond.  Citizens requesting information on private property construction should contact the Building Commissioners Office.

Improving Broad Street under I 95, leading up to the I 95 N/S on-ramp would greatly relieve traffic coming from Church Hill. People driving from Shockoe Bottom or Church Hill remain in the left lane until right before the on-ramp in order to avoid the potholes. This causes a back-up and traffic accidents (I've personally witnessed two) because of people bullying their way into the right hand lane. It is frustrating to move to a City where blatant road hazards remain untouched for years.

-- T

Jemila M. Woodson answers again:

Street maintenance in this area was completed on October 8, 2008.