The Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) has launched two public surveys to gather community input on how to improve safety at intersections across the city. The initiative aims to address a significant issue, as intersections have accounted for 82 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes in Richmond since 2017.
The first survey seeks feedback on using “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” (LQC) strategies to test and refine intersection safety improvements. These approaches use low-cost materials such as paint, flexible posts, signs, and temporary curb elements that can be adjusted over time based on performance and public response.
The second survey focuses on more than 400 quick-build intersection projects throughout Richmond. Planned safety enhancements include left-turn hardening at 85 intersections, low-cost improvements at 275 locations, and high-visibility crosswalks at 58 sites. Left-turn hardening uses modular curbs and striping to slow down turning vehicles and reduce conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists.
“LQC approaches are often used to test and refine safety concepts, while quick-build projects apply proven designs to deliver improvements at scale. Together, these strategies allow Richmond to improve street safety faster, more affordably, and with greater community input,” according to the DPW.
Both surveys are open now, with responses due by January 16, 2026. The DPW says community feedback will help them improve safety for all road users, prioritize locations with the greatest needs, and deliver benefits quickly and equitably.
DPW is one of only 225 accredited public works agencies in the United States. Its responsibilities include maintaining streets, sidewalks, alleys; managing trash collection; enforcing parking regulations; urban forestry; traffic signals; pavement markings; civil engineering; issuing permits for work in city rights-of-way; managing Main Street Station; and overseeing the RVA Bike Share program. The department’s mission is “to provide a clean, safe, and healthy environment.”
“The LQC program is a key initiative in the city’s efforts to promote transportation equity, improve public safety, and foster community engagement in urban planning. As the first phase of the Richmond Connects implementation process, LQC aims to address pressing safety concerns and provide more immediate solutions while longer-term, permanent infrastructure changes are being developed. Although LQC projects are not intended to replace permanent infrastructure, they provide essential, timely improvements to make streets safer and more accessible in the interim,” according to information from DPW.
For more details about DPW services or the LQC program visit https://rva.gov/public-works/lqc or call 3-1-1.
