How Richmond's proposed budget targets pedestrian safety
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What the new Arthur Ashe Bridge might look like. Rendering: Courtesy of the city of Richmond
Richmond's proposed budget could reshape how people walk across the city, from replacing a 75-year-old bridge to adding more sidewalks on Hull Street.
Why it matters: The spending shows how city leaders, who are facing growing pressure to respond to pedestrian deaths, plan to make streets safer over the next five years.
The big picture: The investments, some of which include projects already underway, are part of a capital plan to overhaul Richmond streets through 2031 — backed by regional, state and federal dollars.
- It comes as the city aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2030.
Zoom in: Mayor Danny Avula's budget leans heavily on the "Complete Streets" approach that the city adopted over a decade ago, allocating $105 million through 2031 for adding or repairing sidewalks, pedestrian crossing improvements, more visible crosswalks and other traffic calming measures.
- It separately targets major high-risk corridors — like Hull and Leigh streets and Richmond Highway — to add pedestrian signals, fill sidewalk gaps, improve lighting and more.
- It would fund new sidewalks, long cited by residents as a top need, around Chimborazo Park and Jahnke Road.
Zoom in: Some of the largest projects include building new pedestrian bridges by:
- Replacing the 75-year-old Arthur Ashe Bridge that connects Scott's Addition to the Diamond District, starting this fall.
- Connecting Semmes Avenue to the Potterfield Bridge.
- Replacing the Lombardy Street Bridge that connects Northside and VUU to Broad Street, starting in winter 2027.
What we're watching: Many of the projects are still in early phases, meaning construction will roll out over the next several years.
- But since the city is combining quick fixes with longer-term upgrades, residents might first see the changes through a new pedestrian beacon in their neighborhood or new traffic signals near schools.
What's next: City Council meets Monday for a budget work session — an early step ahead of their May 29 deadline to approve the budget.