The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host 11 public meetings across the commonwealth in March and early April to collect public input on a comprehensive plan to address long-term funding reductions.
During these meetings, VDOT will provide a brief presentation regarding the proposed changes that will impact drivers in each area including planned reductions to rest areas, Safety Service Patrols, mowing/roadside maintenance, ferry services and the closure of VDOT residency offices. Officials will also collect feedback from registered speakers.
“Federal and state revenue sources continue to steeply decline, forcing the VDOT to adjust its construction program, services and organization,” said David S. Ekern, VDOT Commissioner. “We are committed to discussing any changes that will impact our customers prior to finalizing our decisions, so we will host these meetings to gather public feedback on our proposed plans.”
These service changes support the three-part Blueprint for the Future.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board implemented the first phase of the blueprint – reductions in the number of new projects that will be built – when it adopted a revised Fiscal Years 2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement Program on Feb. 13. The revised program cut $2 billion in funding, delaying or eliminating 808 projects statewide.
The second phase of the blueprint involves VDOT staffing changes and organizational restructuring. VDOT announced that it will cut 1,000 full-time and 450 part-time staff in its construction development program, field operations and administrative functions, and will close 15 residency offices and 36 equipment repair facilities around the commonwealth in the next 18 months.
The third phase of the blueprint focuses on reducing spending for VDOT programs and services. These include reducing motorist amenities and maintenance contracts for services not affecting driver safety. These proposals include:
- Reducing Rest Areas and Welcome Centers
- Reducing Ferry Services
- Reducing Safety Service Patrols
- Reducing Interstate Maintenance Services
- Reducing Vegetation Management
Public meetings will be held as follows. All meetings begin at 6 p.m.
March 10, 2009 – Salem District
Northside Middle School
6810 Northside High School Road
Roanoke, VA 24019
March 11, 2009 – Lynchburg District
Central Virginia Community Center
3506 Wards Road
Lynchburg, VA 24502
March 12, 2009 – Staunton District
Augusta County Government Center
18 Government Center Lane
Verona, VA 24482
March 16, 2009 – Hampton Roads District
(general meeting)
Willoughby Elementary School
9500 4th View Street, Norfolk, VA 23503
March 17, 2009 – Hampton Roads District
(Jamesotwn-Scotland Ferry-focused meeting)
Luther Porter Jackson Middle School
4255 New Design Road
Dendron, VA 23839
March 19, 2009 – Culpeper District
Daniel Technology Center
18121 Technology Drive
Culpeper, VA 22701
March 25, 2009 – Bristol District
Southwest Virginia Community College
Charles King Community center (Building 295)
724 Community College Road
Cedar Bluff, VA 24609
March 26, 2009 – Richmond District
VDOT Central Office Auditorium
1121 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
March 30, 2009 – Fredericksburg District
(general meeting)
Caroline County Community Center
17202 Richmond Turnpike
Milford, VA 22514
March 31, 2009 – Fredericksburg District
(Sunnybank and Merry Point ferry focus)
Lancaster Public Library
235 School Street
Kilmarnock, VA 22482
April 1, 2009 – Northern Virginia District
Fairfax City Hall
Room 111
10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Citizens may also submit comments via e-mail to “vdotinfo @ vdot.virginia.gov” (remove quotes and spaces) by April 15, 2009.
For more information about proposed service impacts or changes to VDOT operations, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/news/blueprint_meetings.asp
[...] series of public meetings were held over the past weeks to listen to what the public had to say about these cuts. In most [...]
VDOT should cut back it’s construction activities and maintain it’s staff and roads. From David Ekern’s statement he would need $30m +-. That’s not much to cut in construction. You need to maintain people with experience. The Feds already say we do not have the qualified people to review proposals and oversee work. Some say to hire outsiders to do the work but I would say that if you compared what is being paid for the work to be done now by outsiders versus the cost for it being done previously by employees you will find the cost is much higher. Remember that outsiders are paid benefits too. Money is being wasted that could be used to maintain the system. This is not to say that contractors and consultants are not needed in many cases.
Cutting out services area will present problems. It was noted that it might increase travel time by one hour. In many areas it takes over an hour to get someone there. This means it will be at least two hours.
If you look around the state you will see many areas where maintinance is needed. Our system is becoming a potential problem for the traveling public. We need to maintain what we have. In some cases you can not see signs because of brush. In other cases the pavement being installed looks like it will flood or it will not last very long.
In this day and time it is not a good idea to cut staff. It is a time for training and pulling together for the public. You can not buy a new house when times are tough. You maintain the old one until times improve.
[...] the public is invited to comment on the VDOT proposals this month, few Virginians might think to comment on truck-driving safety. [...]
I don’t think most of the rest stops along I-81 should be closed. I drive to Northern Va. and to Md. and Pa. from the NRV to visit family fairly often. We are both in wheelchairs and can’t always find restrooms that are accessible other than the rest stops. From our home to the areas we travel to is about a six hour trip. No rest stop along the way will not be at all good for us. That is a long way without stops for everyone.
For Motorists & Truckers alike, closing Rest Areas is a Public Safety Hazard.
The Nature of the Trucking Industry, not drivers themselves, forces them to drive the maximum ability that they can. This cannot change unless the entire “Just in Time” Freight Logistics Supply Chain changes to accomadate Virginia.
Federal Laws Prohibit Truckers from moving their Trucks past the allotted daily “Hours of Service”.
By closing Truck Parking areas in a State that already had little parking creates a hazard to all motorists.
By 5pm. this evening on I-81 the Truck Stops were nearly full.
It is now 8PM and there are only 2 spots left at the Virginia Rest Area I am parked at right now.
Forcing sleepy truckers to scour the few Truck Plazas for adequate parking when stops are far & few between is another black eye to the Men & Women Truckers who risk life & limb in all weather conditions to deliver food, clothing & other conveniences.
Additionally this will encourage more parking on offramps & onramps which is an another potential hazard to vehicles entering & exiting the highways.
Falling asleep happens suddenly & you may never get a second chance to realize its time to stop.
Virginia is asking many motorists to risk their lives by closing these parking areas. Driving in this State has its own particular challenges even with the rest areas open & good weather conditions.
Truckers who have few parking choices in the first place & may very well be violating Federal Laws will be forced to continue to drive when they should not.
I hope Virginians can see eliminating appropriate Truck Parking is not in their best interest in the overall scheme to save money.
One life isn’t worth the pricetag.
Thanks for your comment, Desiree…I agree that sometimes these budget cuts don’t take into account the problems they generate because those problems aren’t always that apparent. I’ll see about passing your comment along for one of the public comment sessions if possible. Thanks!