A Clean River
Cheers RVA!
Today will be a tad cooler with a high of 85. The afternoon scattered thunderstorms forecast continues, but this time with a 60% chance of rain.
the juice:
Richmond has received $50 million from the state to help improve the sewer system in hopes of cleaning up the James, from 12 on your side. 3rd District councilmember Ann-Frances Lambert noted:
We have a goal to be able to not have poop, as they say, go into the James River, so that’s our mandate, but it’s, as I said, we’re short $350 million.
Some of Richmond’s pipes are over 100 hundred years old, and nearly 2 billion gallons of sewage mixed with waste gets pushed out into the river each year.
I remember visiting the Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant on a field trip in high school. One of my friends even tasted the clean water that was being pumped back into the river. But that’s now how it works when the system overflows!
Areas like Shockoe Bottom, Chimborazo Park and Almond Creek specifically need pipes replaced and upgraded.
Here are our the current bacteria levels from James River Watch:
It’s a complex project to fix the combined sewage overflow system, but a necessary one.
River keeper with the James River Association Tom Dunlap notes:
The river still holds this intrinsic place sort of in our culture, in our infrastructure in the city. In fact, it’s the whole reason the city is where it is, because of the James River.
the pulp:
El Chido expands to Chesterfield, from Bizsense.
Henrico police, prosecutors grappling with 'exponential' rise in car thefts, from channel 6. The most common age of suspects is 16-17, and 30% of pursuits are stolen vehicles, which creates additional risk to the public.
Three people injured after cars exchanged gunfire on interstate 64 West in Henrico, from channel 8
the haps:
Maymont kicks off its outdoor music season with a two-day festival this weekend, via Richmond Magazine. Seven local acts will perform. Check out this beautiful photo from Aaron Saldivar:
the cycle:
The Virginia Mercury reports on what’s in Virginia’s transportation spending plan:
$144 million in additional funding for the Metro in Northern VA
$101 million for toll relief in Hampton Roads, to support drivers making less than $50k/yr
$70 million for widening Interstate 81, with language for up to $175 million over the next 3 years. According to VDOT nearly 50% of the value of state’s goods move through the corridor, and it has the highest per capita volume of trucks in Virginia. I was just on that highway last weekend and there were indeed a lot of trucks.
$7.5 million towards the construction of the Fall Line Trail. Yay!
the vibe:
Have a great day RVA!
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