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Committee forwards six papers: library greening grant, historic-preservation agreement and four VDOT sidewalk/bike applications
Summary
The committee forwarded six items to council with recommendations to approve, including a $154,917 James River Association grant for green infrastructure at the Ginter Park library, a programmatic Section 106 agreement and four VDOT Transportation Alternatives grant applications for sidewalks, crossings and protected bike lanes.
The Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee voted to forward six papers to full council with recommendations to approve, including a library green-infrastructure grant, a state historic-preservation programmatic agreement and four VDOT Transportation Alternatives (TA) applications to seek federal funds for sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and protected bike lanes.
What the committee forwarded
- Ordinance 2025‑125 (Item 1): A city grant contract to the James River Association of $154,917 to implement green stormwater infrastructure at the Ginter Park branch library as part of the Greening Richmond Public Libraries initiative. Jen Clark of the Department of Public Utilities said the work includes permeable pavers and bioretention basins, and that the project advances the RVA Clean Water Plan goals. The committee voted to forward the ordinance to council with a recommendation to approve.
- Ordinance 2025‑126 (Item 2): A programmatic agreement with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to allow city staff to conduct Section 106 reviews for HUD-funded projects under 36 C.F.R. part 800. Kevin J. Vaughn, director of planning and development review, said the agreement shortens review time by 30–60 days for many projects. The committee forwarded the ordinance with a recommendation to approve.
- Resolution 2025 R‑24 (Item 3): Support for a VDOT TA application to construct a 5-foot sidewalk on westbound German School Road (about 600 feet) and an infill on Glenway Drive; estimated total project cost about $1,400,000 with a requested federal share of $1,000,000 and a required 20% city match ($250,000) plus about $162,000 additional local contribution to improve competitiveness. The committee forwarded the resolution with a recommendation to approve.
- Resolution 2025 R‑25 (Item 4): Support for a VDOT TA application to install a 5-foot sidewalk along Carnation Street from Hyox Road (High Oaks Road in transcript) to Warwick Road (about 0.5 mile). Staff said this corridor has received TA funding and implementation work in previous cycles; the committee forwarded the resolution with a recommendation to approve.
- Resolution 2025 R‑26 (Item 5): Support for a VDOT TA application for pedestrian crossing improvements on Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills Boulevard and Taylor Avenue including rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs), ADA ramps, curb extensions and channelized islands. Estimated total cost about $1,400,000 with a requested $1,000,000 federal share and $250,000 city match plus an additional $206,000 local contribution for competitiveness. The committee forwarded the resolution with a recommendation to approve.
- Resolution 2025 R‑29 (Item 6): Support for a VDOT TA application to install protected bike lanes on Franklin Street from Belvidere Street to Lombardy Street using a road diet and concrete barrier separation. Estimated total project cost about $2,000,000 with a requested $1,000,000 federal share and $250,000 city match; staff proposed an additional $750,000 local contribution to improve statewide competitiveness. The committee forwarded the resolution with a recommendation to approve. Brantley Bridal, director of Blackhawk RVA at SportsPackers, spoke in support of the Franklin Street protected bike lane.
Voting and procedure
For each paper the public hearing was opened and no public opposition was recorded. Committee motions to forward the ordinances and resolutions to council with recommendations to approve were adopted by recorded "Aye" votes from the presiding vice chair and chair (Vice Chair Robertson and Chair Jones). Where specific movers and seconders were not named in the transcript the motion and second were recorded but not attributed to a specific speaker.
Why it matters: The grants and TA applications seek federal funding for infrastructure that affects pedestrian safety, stormwater management and multimodal connectivity across neighborhoods; they require local matching funds if awarded.
Ending: The committee forwarded all six items to full council with recommendations to approve; project-specific funding and match requests will be addressed in future CIP or budget actions if the grants are awarded.
