City officials are promising changes to city streets, and fast.

Driving the news: Drivers have struck and killed two pedestrians on Main Street in VCU's Monroe Park campus so far this year.

• The most recent death was Shawn Soares, a 26-year-old grad student who had previously worked for former Gov. Ralph Northam's administration and was well known in the local politics and advocacy scene.

What's happening: Officials say that they plan to begin installing new traffic-calming measures on VCU's campus beginning this week.

• That includes speed tables, bump outs and additional signage.

What they're saying: City council members voiced frustration during their Monday meeting at what they described as increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior by drivers.

• They pledged to take additional steps in the coming months, with some calling for a dramatic reengineering of some of the city's busiest thoroughfares.
• "The roads of the city were designed in 1970," councilman Andreas Addison said. "Everything is about cars getting in and out as quickly and as fast as possible. What we need to do is take our city back and make it a place that people want to walk and come to, not get out of."

What's next: VCU is in the midst of a traffic study examining potential roadway improvements on its campus.

• The study is due July 1 and expected to include recommendations for "traffic-slowing street alterations."
• "VCU will enact meaningful change to the city streets on and adjacent to campus through our partnership with the city," said VCU President Michael Rao in a letter to the community after Soare's death.

💭 Ned's thought bubble: The city has a spotty record when it comes to following through on pledges to reduce traffic deaths.

• One of the city's most visible initiatives to date — the placement of signs in major crosswalks reminding drivers they're supposed to yield to pedestrians — resulted in all of the placards being destroyed after being repeatedly hit by cars.
• A second round of signs installed recently isn't faring much better.

The big picture: Traffic safety advocates say they're going to hold the city accountable.

• "The unfortunate reality is that it has been getting worse as a pedestrian for several years in Richmond," the advocacy group Bike Walk RVA said in a statement.

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Looking for some summer concert tickets on a budget? Then this is your week.

What's happening: Live Nation's annual Concert Week deal starts today at 10am, offering $25 tickets with no extra fees to nearly 4,000 shows nationwide.

• Prices include all fees.

Why it matters: The Concert Week promotion hits at a time when ticket prices have skyrocketed.

How it works: Find participating events at livenation.com/concertweek.

• Select one and search for the "concert week promotion" ticket type.

Be smart: Live Nation doesn't operate any Richmond venues, but it does run three in Virginia:

• Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion in Portsmouth.
• Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach.
• Jiffy Lube Live in Northern Virginia.

Participating artists with local shows include:

• Janet Jackson: Virginia Beach, May 14.
• Tears for Fears: Virginia Beach, July 7.
• Boy George & Culture Club: NoVa, July 28.
• Snoop Dogg: NoVa, Aug. 1 or Virginia Beach, Aug. 5.
• Pentatonix: NoVa, Aug. 12.
• The Smashing Pumpkins: NoVa, Aug. 31.

Of note: Some local dates may not offer the $25 promotion.

💸 RMTA approved the proposed toll hike for Powhite Parkway, the Downtown Expressway and Boulevard Bridge effective Sept. 1. (Times-Dispatch)

• Under the new rates, a trip down the Expressway will cost 90 cents if paid by E-ZPass and $1 in cash. The cost of crossing the Boulevard Bridge will rise to 45 cents, or 50 cents if paid in cash.

🏛 Ultra conservative Virginia Rep. Bob Good announced he's breaking with Trump and will back Ron DeSantis for president. (WRIC)

👀 Former Gov./Mayor (and current VCU distinguished professor) Doug Wilder called on the university to fire Rao, citing the health system’s $73 million payment to back out of a downtown development. (BizSense)

• In response, the university reiterated its position that the decision headed off a worse financial outcome and that no state funds were used.

🏭 The Trojan condom plant in Chesterfield is planning a $27 million expansion to produce "an innovative scent boosting laundry product." (Style Weekly)

🎥 Movieland is converting its four-screen Criterion Cinemas building into restaurant and retail spaces, citing a dearth of specialty and independent films. (BizSense)

🦊 City school officials celebrated the start of construction on Fox Elementary's new roof. They say the school should be ready to open in time for the 2025-2026 school year. (NBC12)

👋 Hello again. It is I, Karri. Thanks to the 708 of you who voted in Round 2 of our best special occasion restaurants tournament.

Once again, y'all were fantastic with your comments on the bracket challenge.

• One restaurant owner even texted to say they'd be launching a bracket of their own: best local food journalist.
• (😂 Fair enough, say I. And let me offer my advance congratulations to Richmond Mag's Eileen Mellon.)

Round 2 surprise (to me): Richmond's Lemaire love. After securing a one-vote win over Shagbark Monday, the restaurant inside The Jefferson easily beat Alewife, the Church Hill restaurant named one of the best in the country in multiple national publications since it opened in 2018.

What's happening: Now we head to the Final Four.

📬 Vote for Round 3 here.

Reminder: Voting will open daily until 3pm, with the next round announced each day.

• Don't forget to hit reply and tell Ned all the ways he failed us in this round. And remind him how to spell palate.