Richmond Daily Headlines: Cashless Tolls Start Today, Housing Push, Week-Ahead Roadwork
Richmond, VA – February 28, 2026 – New cashless tolling starts today, the city outlines $40M+ for affordable housing, and roadwork alerts roll out.
Top local headlines for Saturday
It is a transportation-heavy morning in Richmond: a major tolling change begins today, and the next week of roadwork is already on the calendar. Meanwhile, City Hall is signaling another big push on affordability as the next budget takes shape.
1) Cashless tolling begins on key routes
Starting today, drivers on the Powhite Parkway, the Boulevard Bridge, and connected ramps should expect all-electronic tolling. E-ZPass users will be charged automatically; drivers without E-ZPass will be billed using license-plate reads. The Downtown Expressway keeps a limited daytime cash option for now, with electronic-only periods outside those hours.
- Do not stop at toll booths or try to hand over cash on routes that have gone cashless.
- If you rarely use the expressway, watch your mail for a pay-by-plate statement.
- If you commute often, setting up E-ZPass can help keep trips smoother and typically cheaper.
2) Affordable housing investment highlighted ahead of the new budget
City leaders are previewing a more than $40 million affordable-housing investment expected to be part of the upcoming budget proposal. The plan points to a mix of tools: dedicated trust-fund dollars, performance-style grants aimed at production and preservation, and additional work tied to public housing redevelopment planning. The message from City Hall is that the goal is predictable funding that helps residents stay put as the city grows.
3) Week-ahead travel alert: lane closures and mobile work zones
Road crews are also gearing up for the February 28 to March 6 work window. The regional traffic advisory lists overnight and daytime impacts on major corridors, including scheduled mobile lane closures on I-195 for pavement marking and work that can bring rolling closures on parts of I-295 and I-64. If you are driving early or late, checking real-time conditions before you roll can save a lot of frustration.
Sources
- https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/rmta-all-electronic-tolling-feb-26-2026
- https://www.rmtaonline.org/all-electronic-tolling/
- https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/02/27/richmond-invest-more-than-40-million-affordable-housing/
- https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/news-and-events/news/richmond/2026/Richmond-District-Weekly-Traffic-Alert-February-28-March-6%2C-2026_acc.pdf
