RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced his support to change the name of a highway that currently honors Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Stoney says he's proud to co-patron a resolution to change the name of Jefferson Davis Highway within city limits to Richmond Highway.
"This change is a long time coming," Stoney tweeted.
Today, I’m proud to co-patron a paper to change the name of Jefferson Davis Highway within city limits to Richmond Highway, as it’s known throughout much of the Commonwealth. This change is a long time coming. Historic Route 1 leads to Richmond. Let’s claim our due. #1RVA
— Levar M. Stoney (@LevarStoney) July 21, 2020
This comes after the Richmond branch of the NAACP proposed the name change in June.
VDOT tells CBS 6 only the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the Virginia General Assembly have the authority to name or rename roads.
A locality has to pass a resolution supporting the name change and agree to pay for the new signage but that would only affect the highway in their jurisdiction. There is no word on how much money that would cost.
To change the entire span of the Jeff Davis Highway, the General Assembly would have to pass a resolution.
Other localities in Northern Virginia have already changed the name: The road is called Richmond Highway in Fairfax and Arlington counties and in the city of Alexandria.
