Need to request a city service?

On Wednesday, City Hall launched an upgraded version of the RVA311 system that allows people to request everything from pothole fixes to tree pruning and sidewalk repairs.

The new version can be accessed by dialing 311, or by downloading the free RVA311 mobile app from the App Store or Google Play, or by accessing the RVA311.com website via computer.

“RVA311 serves as the eyes and ears of the city, telling us what residents prioritize and where service provision can improve,” Mayor Levar M. Stoney stated in announcing the upgrade. “The new features will make it easier for residents to request support and for the administration to provide it.

Among other things, the new system will allow residents to post requests and also see and support requests for service that have been posted for their neighborhood, their City Council district or citywide. Included are maps that identify the locations of service requests.

A team led by Pete Breil, director of Citizen Service and Re- sponse, spent a year on developing the upgrade with the owner of RVA 311, Tina Marie Haney of Performance Coaching.

“The new self-service options for non-emergency requests incorporate citizen feedback and focus group input,” Mr. Breil stated.

He noted that the mapping feature offers insight into the range of service requests being made citywide or within a smaller area of the city. The feature also can be turned off.

A video demonstration of the mobile app and the new user portal is available at RVAStrong.org/rva311.