Richmond ranks among the safer U.S. metros for speed-based pedestrian risk, according to new StreetLight data.

Why it matters: That doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to walk here, per the report. The metric captures where people actually walk — not where they're afraid to.

What they're saying: "There may be places where unsafe conditions dissuade people from traveling via foot, bike, or transit, thus lowering fatality rates but not accurately reflecting safety conditions," the report states.

State of play: This caveat is significant in the Richmond area, where recent pedestrian deaths have drawn community concern and haven't always been speed-related.

• For example: Police charged the dump truck driver who killed a man crossing West Leigh Street in January with failure to stop for a pedestrian.
• Another driver who killed a woman in an East Cary Street crosswalk in February faces a felony hit-and-run charge.

Meanwhile, Richmond ranks 21st out of 100 U.S. metros for road safety, according to StreetLight's U.S. Safe Streets Index.

• That's higher than other Southern cities like Atlanta (77th) but lower than Virginia Beach (19th).

How it works: The index looked at driving patterns, speeds and truck activity using "billions of data points from connected vehicles, mobile devices, sensors" and more.

By the numbers: Richmond came in at 23rd for speed-based pedestrian risk, which measures how often people are walking on busy roads where cars travel 30 mph or faster.

• The region ranks 32nd for residential speeding and 41st for how much people drive.
• Its weak spot: truck activity, where it ranks 60th, likely due to the region's position along I-95 — an active freight route.

Between the lines: Heavier vehicles, more cars on the road and higher speeds can increase danger for residents who aren't driving.

The bottom line: The data says metro Richmond is doing relatively well, but what road safety looks and feels like for residents is much more complicated.

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Meanwhile, VCU is going all-in on pedestrian safety education and traffic enforcement in response to the spate of pedestrian deaths in Richmond.

Why it matters: Despite traffic calming and infrastructure improvements made by the school made in 2023, drivers are still hitting dozens of pedestrians around campus each school year.

State of play: There have been 38 collisions involving cars and pedestrians, cyclists or scooters within VCU Police's jurisdiction so far this academic year, spokesperson Jake Burns tells Axios.

• That's up from the 37 recorded last school year and 35 in 2023-2024, per the Times-Dispatch.
• VCUPD's footprint includes through most of the Fan and Shockoe Bottom, so at least two recent pedestrian deaths are included in the school's numbers.
• In response, VCU is once again deploying its Operation Safer Streets drive, posting pedestrian "referees" on campus and using data to make more infrastructure improvements.

Zoom in: Through Operation Safer Streets, which focuses on intensified traffic enforcement, VCU Police have made more than 1,200 traffic stops since January, including over 500 for speeding and more than 150 for red light running.

• Its pedestrian referees were out last week calling "fouls" on students stepping into the street before the light changed, or ones crossing the street wearing headphones or looking at their phones.
• And VCU worked with the city to retime pedestrian signals at four key intersections where thousands of students were previously given just 25 seconds to cross.

What's next: Those referees will be at the medical campus today.

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🏄🏻‍♂️ Construction should resume "in a matter of days" on The Lake, the massive mixed-use development with a surf park that's been in the works since 2017 near River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield. (BizSense)

• A legal dispute between the developer and the contractor was resolved last week.

The deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport yesterday led to 11 canceled flights from Richmond and LaGuardia. (WWBT)

A fourth former Richmond Ballet student is suing for $11.5 million, alleging staff subjected her to abuse, starvation tactics and inappropriate touching starting at age nine. (Times-Dispatch)

• A ballet spokesperson didn't respond to RTD's request for comment.

🏀 UVA's women's basketball team defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in double overtime and now heads to the Sweet Sixteen. (Cville Right Now)

Richmond's gas prices won't stop going up.

Why it matters: A gas tank that might have taken about $45 to fill last month might now cost over $60.

The big picture: The war with Iran is driving one of the sharpest gas price surges in recent history, reports Axios' Dave Lawler.

• That means metro Richmond is averaging about $3.87 for regular gas a month after it was averaging less than $3, per AAA.
• Statewide, the average is $3.84.

Yes, but: It's even higher in some Richmond-area gas stations, per GasBuddy, which crowdsources prices.

• So maybe avoid the Exxon on Brook Road, where the gas is $4.09, and go to the BP on Chamberlayne where it's $3.76.

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VCU's epic win over UNC last week helped deliver the NCAA Tournament's most-watched first round ever.

Why it matters: Everybody loves the Rams, especially when they crush UNC in overtime.

By the numbers: An average 12.5 million viewers tuned into Thursday's primetime games, which included VCU-UNC and Michigan-Howard, per March Madness Men's Basketball TV.

• Overall, the day averaged 9.8 million viewers, up 6% from last year and the tournament's "best opening day on record," per Nielsen ratings.

Yes, but: For our money, Thursday was all about the Rams executing, as ESPN noted, one of the biggest comebacks in NCAA Tournament history.

• That comeback is likely why VCU extended coach Phil Martelli Jr.'s contract through 2032 this week, per the Times-Dispatch.
• His contract was set to end in 2030.

The bottom line: The Rams might be out of the tournament after falling to Illinois, but March Madness is clearly better when VCU is in it.

Tell a Ram