One silver lining of the pandemic is that car traffic is way down, and with it, hopefully air pollution as well…
Beating The Traffic
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Category Archives: traffic
Flyer On Proposed Parking Permits
Some neighbors put together this flyer and distributed over 200 copies yesterday to residents within the proposed restricted parking zone.
It was produced with the disclaimer that it may have limited information due to space constraint, and that there may be more information related to the petition and city ordinance on restricted parking, but that all the information on it is accurate to the best of their knowledge.
New Proposal for Parking Decals
Oregon Hill is the only neighborhood in VCU’s perimeter to not have a parking decal program. A previous proposal for one experienced much controversy and was abandoned.
Now, Laurel Street neighbor William Cabell has come forward with a new proposal for a smaller portion of the neighborhood.
Attention Oregon Hill Neighbors: please see the attached proposal for a parking plan for a portion of our neighborhood. We will hold a community meeting to discuss the particulars of this proposal on February 15th at 9AM in St. Andrews.
My aim is to build a plan that includes the concerns of businesses and churches in our community as well as respect the needs of residents. Once this conversation takes place, I will ask OHNA permission to proceed with petitioning the residents of the affected area.
Renters will be entitled to a vote on the petition and will be able to purchase parking passes with a valid lease in hand. I need 60% agreement to proceed. The city will then survey the highlighted area and determine if parking restrictions are necessary. Each address is entitled to 2 year long passes at $25 a piece. Homeowners are able to purchase a year long guest pass for $35.
Church events, dinner parties, or gatherings in the neighborhood within the times of 7AM-9PM (M-F) that require parking for more than 2 hours can contact the city and declare the event. This will void parking restrictions for the allotted time.
If you have any comments or concerns please direct them to the email provided. I know this issue is a sensitive one and not everyone agrees or will agree but think we can find a mutually beneficial solution to a long running problem. This is something I believe needs to be addressed and hope I have your support.
Your Neighbor,
William
Car Takes Out Street Sign And Fence On Laurel Street
Photo courtesy of Julia Brown
There was a car accident midday today and a car hit a street sign and went through a house fence.
Be Prepared For Marathon Traffic
Are you ready for the marathon?
One neighbor pointed to one thing in particular:
I’m hoping this Waze map of Marathon road closures is wrong (because this makes no sense to me) but it is showing the exit from the Downtown Expressway onto the roundabout at Idlewood as being closed. I didn’t see this on the other road closures map, so just an FYI in case this is, in fact, accurate. The Waze map is linked on the Marathon website so it should be legit.
From police:
The 2019 VCU Health Richmond Marathon is just days away! Thousands of runners will take to city streets on Saturday, Nov. 16. There will be numerous “No Parking” zones and street closures will be in effect as a result.
The Richmond Police Department is asking motorists to be patient and on the lookout for runners along the routes. Maps of the courses are attached.
Please be aware of signs restricting parking and detours throughout the city starting at 8 a.m. Friday Nov. 15 and continuing through 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 10.
The following streets will be closed or modified during the designated times:
· Tredegar Street between S. 7th Street and Brown’s Island/2nd Street Connector will be closed from 10 a.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday.
· South 5th Street between Bragg and Tredegar Streets will be closed from 10 a.m. Friday until 5p.m. Saturday.
· South 5th Street between Byrd and Bragg Streets will be closed from 5 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday.
· Tredegar Street between Dominion Resources and Brown’s Island Way/2nd Street connector will be closed from 3 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m. Saturday
· Broad Street between Arthur Ashe Boulevard and N. 10th Streets will be closed from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Saturday.
· Hermitage Road (northbound) between North Laburnum and Pope Avenue will be closed from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m. Saturday.
· North Mulberry Street between W. Broad and W. Grace Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· North 3rd Street between E. Broad and Main Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Cowardin Avenue (One/Southbound Lane) between Semmes Avenue and Lee Bridge from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Longview Drive between Scottview Dr. and Wallow Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Huguenot Road between Huguenot Bridge and Cherokee Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Windsorview Drive between Wallowa Road and Forest Hill Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Riverside Drive between Huguenot Bridge and Scottview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· River Road/Cary Street Road between Maple/Libbie Avenue and Three Chopt Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Lee Bridge (2/Southbound Lanes) between Belvidere and Cowardin Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Brook Road (southbound) between Fauquier Avenue and North Lombardy Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Fauquier Avenue (North and Southbound sides) between Crestwood and Brook Roads from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Westmoreland Street between Monument and Grove Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Forest Hill Avenue (westbound) between Windsorview Drive and Semmes Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Pope Avenue between Hermitage and Crestwood Roads from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m.
· Scottview Drive between Riverside Drive and Longview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Belvidere (1/Southbound Lane) between Lee Bride and West Main Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Wallowa Road between Longview and Windsorview Drive from 4 a.m. Saturday until noon
· Grove Avenue (westbound) between Westmoreland Avenue and Maple Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Monument Avenue (westbound) between N. Mulberry Avenue and Chantilly Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
· Semmes Avenue (westbound) between Cowardin Avenue and Forest Hill Avenue/Roanoke Ave from 4 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m.
· Bellevue Avenue between Hermitage Road and Bryan Park from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· North Lombardy Street between Brook Road and W. Grace Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Brookland Parkway (both sides) between Hermitage Road and Loxley Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· East Franklin Street between N. 2nd and N. 6th Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Grace Street between N. Allen Avenue and N. 4th Street from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· West Grace Street between Arthur Ashe Boulevard and N. Allen Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m.
· West Main Street between Belvidere and Arthur Ashe Boulevard from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 p.m.
· 5th Street between East Grace and Bragg Streets from 4 a.m. Saturday until 5 p.m.
· Arthur Ashe Boulevard (northbound) between West Cary Street and Hermitage Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m.
· Arthur Ashe Boulevard (southbound) between W. Broad Street and Monument Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m.
· Crestwood Road between Pope Avenue and Fauquier Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday until 11 a.m.
· Maple Avenue between Grove Avenue and River/Cary Street Road from 4 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m.
CSX Closing Belle Island Parking Lot
CSX which owns the property beneath the trestles has blocked off access, thus eliminating approximately half the available parking.
The paved lot is still accessible but parking is no longer allowed in the gravel lot as you see here in an old Google Maps screenshot.
We reached out to Park Superintendent Bryce Wilk about the situation and there wasn’t much more information to share, “The parking area is under CSX ownership and is closed until further notice.” Wilk did also state that Venture Richmond, PRCF (Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities) and CSX are working together to find some solution. Details of the possible solution aren’t available at this time.
For Oregon Hill residents, this is very troubling. It’s not so much about the parking, since residents mostly walk down to the riverfront. For years neighborhood leaders have brought up more mass transit and shuttles to alleviate parking crowding at the Belle Island parking lot.
There is the concern that the City or Venture Richmond will try to force parking closer to Oregon Hill. In the past there have been suggestions that the portion of the North Bank Trail directly south of Oregon Hill be turned into parking. Regardless, residents expect more park visitors to park near the Overlook in order to use the park.
Even more worrisome is the possibility of losing public access. For generations, Oregon Hill residents have been able to walk more or less straight down to the James River, with little regard for railroad interference. Certainly, current Oregon Hill residents want to keep that ability.
Utility Street Work On Laurel Street
DPU (Department of Public Utilities) spokesperson sent this notice out today:
New Stop Signs
NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN!!! Once again, we have new stop signs popping up around the neighborhood. While neighbors knew that new all-way stops had been approved by City Council, many were surprised by their sudden implementation.
Laurel and Albemarle intersection is now an all way stop, new Spring and Pine Street intersection is too. Please alert neighbors and other drivers.
Sewer Repair
New Stop Signs In Consideration
Oregon Hill is once again looking at possibly changing traffic patters as a new proposal is being weighed at City Council’s Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee.
Ordinance 2019-147 reads:
To erect all-way stop signs at the intersections of Spring Street and South Pine Street, Spring Street and South Laurel Street, Albemarle Street and South Laurel Street, and Albemarle Street and South Cherry Street, with a painted stop line at each intersection.
This follows neighbors’ discussion with City Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s office in regard to continued concerns about traffic safety. To quickly recap, neighbors originally requested all-way stop signs at Spring and Laurel and Spring and Pine, but agreed to try changing more intersections’ stop sign direction, now that concerns have continued, all-stops are being reconsidered.