April 2006

April 19, 2006

CONTACT: Tim Foster, Traffic Engineer

PHONE: 501-4397

In preparation for the upcoming Crown Royal 400 NASCAR event at Richmond International Raceway (RIR), the Henrico County Department of Public Works will modify traffic patterns on major routes to the raceway on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6. The temporary changes should help minimize traffic congestion during the races.

Motorists should expect extremely heavy traffic and delays all day Friday and Saturday in the raceway area, especially from 8 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. before the races and from 10:15 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. after the races.

The Henrico Division of Police will have officers on duty to direct traffic around the area before and after the races. WRXL 102.1 FM will broadcast traffic reports.

Motorists not attending the race should turn on their headlights while driving in the vicinity of RIR during the afternoon and early evening Saturday, May 6. This step will help police maintain a smooth flow of traffic through the area.

The following traffic patterns will be in effect May 6 during peak hours:

* Carolina Avenue between Laburnum and Azalea avenues will be one-way inbound before the race and one-way outbound after the race. Access to businesses along Carolina Avenue will be maintained from Laburnum Avenue.

* Meadowbridge Road between the Henrico/Hanover county line and Azalea Avenue will be one-way southbound beginning at approximately 9 a.m. and continuing until the race starts.

* Meadowbridge Road north of Azalea Avenue will close to northbound traffic; however, in Hanover County it will remain a two-way road at all times.

* Prior to the race, three lanes on Laburnum Avenue between Alma Avenue and RIR may be routed eastbound, one lane westbound.

* After the race, Laburnum Avenue between Carolina Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike will be one-way eastbound. Two-way traffic will be maintained westbound from Carolina Avenue.

* After the race, Laburnum Avenue between the raceway and North Avenue may have three lanes routed westbound and one lane eastbound.

* After the race, Meadowbridge Road north of Azalea Avenue will be one-way northbound between Azalea Avenue and Atlee Road, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. and continuing until race traffic is dispersed.

* After the race, three lanes on Azalea Avenue between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Henrico High School will be routed westbound and one lane eastbound. This change will require all median crossovers on Azalea Avenue between Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and Henrico High School to close at approximately 10 p.m. until race traffic is dispersed. Police will assist motorists turning from Azalea Avenue to Thrush Lane and Pony Farm Drive.

While these traffic patterns are in effect, median crossovers on Laburnum Avenue will be closed between North Avenue and Mechanicsville Turnpike, except at Pilots Lane and Austin Avenue. Only right turns will be permitted to and from Laburnum Avenue. Police will be positioned at these intersections before and after the race to assist motorists turning onto or crossing Laburnum Avenue.

On-street parking on major routes to RIR is prohibited each day. Additional parking will be available May 6 at the Richmond Coliseum parking deck on North Seventh Street, at a cost of $5. Free shuttle bus service to and from RIR will be provided beginning at 1 p.m.

The Henrico Division of Police has recommended the following routes for traffic approaching the raceway May 5-6:

* From the east (Hampton Roads area) - Follow Interstate 64 west to Interstate 295 north (Exit 200). Follow Interstate 295 north and exit onto Mechanicsville Turnpike west (Exit 37B). Follow Mechanicsville Turnpike to Laburnum Avenue. Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

* From the east (Route 360) - Approach Richmond on Route 360 west (Mechanicsville Turnpike), cross Interstate 295, and continue west to Laburnum Avenue. Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

* From the east (local traffic) - Follow Interstate 64 west and take the Laburnum Avenue exit (Exit 195). Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

* From the north - Follow Interstate 95 south to the Interstate 295 east interchange (marked "To Norfolk - Williamsburg"). Follow Interstate 295 east and exit onto Meadowbridge Road west (Exit 38B). Follow Meadowbridge Road (Richmond-Henrico Turnpike) and proceed to the raceway.

* From the north (local traffic) - Use Route 1 (Brook Road) to Azalea Avenue. Turn left onto Azalea Avenue and proceed to the raceway.

* From the west - Follow Interstate 64 east to the Interstate 295 south interchange (Exit 177). Follow Interstate 295 south and exit onto Meadowbridge Road west (Exit 38B). Follow Meadowbridge Road (Richmond-Henrico Turnpike) and proceed to the raceway.

* From the west (local traffic) - Follow Interstate 64 east to the Powhite Parkway/Laburnum Avenue exit. Take the Laburnum Avenue exit, turn left and proceed to the raceway.

* From the south - Follow Interstate 95 north to the interchange with Interstate 295 south of Petersburg. Follow Interstate 295 north and exit onto Mechanicsville Turnpike (Exit 37B). Follow Mechanicsville Turnpike to Laburnum Avenue. Turn right and proceed to the raceway.

* From the south (local traffic) - Follow Interstate 95 north to the Interstate 64 east interchange (Exit 75). Follow Interstate 64 to Route 360 east (Mechanicsville Turnpike). Follow Route 360 east to Laburnum Avenue. Turn left and proceed to the raceway.

April 10, 2006

CONTACT: Veta Herbaugh, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4208

The next town meeting of Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and Varina District Supervisor Jim Donati will take a closer look at the progress of capital projects approved by Henrico voters in 2000 and 2005. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 24, at the Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road.

"Your Tax Dollars at Work: An Update on Henrico County's 2000 and 2005 Bond Referenda" will include presentations by representatives from Henrico County Public Schools and the departments of Finance and General Services. The officials will join Donati for a question-and-answer period as well.

Varina town meetings are open to the public. Call 501-4208 for more information.

April 6, 2006

CONTACT: John Young, Manager, Community Development

PHONE: 501-7611

Henrico County will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed expansion of the county's Enterprise Zone at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at the Government Center Board Room, 4301 E. Parham Road.

Henrico plans to submit an application to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development seeking the expansion of the Enterprise Zone to include areas along Audubon Drive, Mechanicsville Turnpike, Laburnum Avenue and Staples Mill, Williamsburg and Nine Mile roads.

The Virginia Enterprise Zone Program is designed to stimulate business and industrial growth and promote neighborhood, commercial and economic revitalization. Incentives are made available to qualified businesses that locate within a designated Enterprise Zone. Virginia incentives include real property improvement grants and jobs grants. Henrico incentives include grants for commercial rehabilitation, fee waivers, accelerated development processing and exemption from real estate taxes.

To review maps of the proposed expansion, log on to www.co.henrico.va.us/revit. For more information, contact the Department of Community Revitalization at 501-7640.

April 6, 2006

CONTACT: Steve Yob, Chief, Solid Waste Division

PHONE: 727-8217

Area residents and businesses can celebrate Earth Day by recycling outdated electronic equipment and household chemicals at a special collection event on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, 2880 Mountain Road.

Held jointly by the Henrico County Department of Public Utilities' Solid Waste division and the Hanover County Public Works Department, the Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event will collect a variety of electronics as well as pesticides, paints and other household chemicals. There is no limit to the number of items participants may recycle.

Most electronic equipment will be accepted for free, although fees will be charged for computer monitors ($7), televisions ($10) and wood-encased console televisions ($20). Accepted items include computers and computer accessories; printers, scanners, copiers and fax machines; and cell phones, televisions, VCRs, camcorders and stereos.
Fees ranging from $3 to $16 will be charged for household hazardous waste. Accepted items include pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paints, spray paints, solvents, corrosive materials and mercury thermometers and switches.

For a complete listing of fees and recyclable items, as well as hazardous materials and products that cannot be accepted, log on to www.henricodpu.org.

In addition to consuming limited landfill space, electronic equipment may contain mercury, lead, chromium and other dangerous heavy metals. Proper disposal of these items and household chemicals prevents potential damage to the environment. For more information, call 727-8770.

April 5, 2006

CONTACT: Mikki Knight, Executive Assistant, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4208

The next constituent meeting of Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will provide a legislative update from the district's federal and state representatives. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 10 at Belmont Recreation Center, Ballroom A, 1600 Hilliard Road.

Lawmakers scheduled to speak at the meeting include U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, Delegate Donald McEachin and Delegate John O'Bannon. They will join Thornton for a question-and-answer period as well.

Fairfield constituent meetings are open to the public. Call 501-4208 for more information.

April 4, 2006

CONTACT: Barry Lawrence, Clerk, Board of Supervisors

PHONE: 501-4318

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors will begin its regularly scheduled meeting one hour early, at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, April 11, for a public hearing regarding the Operating and Capital Annual Fiscal Plans for Fiscal Year 2006-07.

The board regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public and are held in the Government Center Board Room, located at Parham and Hungary Spring roads. Call 501-4318 for more information.

April 4, 2006

CONTACT: Steve Knockemus, Senior Public Relations Specialist

PHONE: 501-4476

Nearly 150 high school seniors -- the largest group ever -- took the reins of Henrico County's general government and public schools administrations Thursday when they assumed the roles of elected officials and top administrators for the 49th annual Student Government Day.

Designed to give students a first-hand view of the operations of their local government, Student Government Day paired student leaders from nine Henrico high schools with key county officials, including the county manager, police and fire chiefs, Circuit Court judges and members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board.

"Student Government Day is a special day for the county staff," County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E. said. "We have the opportunity to give these outstanding young people a snapshot of something we're truly dedicated to--serving the residents of Henrico County."

Students shadowed their government counterparts throughout the day, gaining insight into the decision-making process and learning some of the details of local governance. Students also had the opportunity to make decisions, as they conducted a mock Board of Supervisors meeting in which they awarded a construction contract for a new fire station, debated traffic fines and traffic-calming measures and discussed ways to prevent development of gangs in county schools.

"We hope you've gotten a glimpse of what it takes to operate a county like Henrico," Board Chairman and Brookland District Supervisor Richard W. Glover told the students. "We know the future is well in hand when we get the opportunity to work with students like you."

Student Government Day is sponsored by the Kiwanis clubs of North Richmond, Tuckahoe and West Henrico.

Henrico County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E., right, and his student counterpart, Molly Donohue of Freeman High School, confer before leading a meeting as part of Student Government Day activities Thursday at the Henrico Government Center.

Before taking the reins of local government, students took the oath of office. Sworn in as members of the Board of Supervisors were, from left, Andy Cruickshanks of Freeman High School; John Thorpe of Deep Run High School; Sharita Downey of Henrico High School; Matthew Mawyer of Highland Springs High School; and Logan Kirkland of Hermitage High School. Circuit Court Chief Judge Catherine C. Hammond, far right, administered the oaths.

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