RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) today announced final decisions for its ongoing efforts to streamline maintenance operations as part of its strategic business plan. VDOT will consolidate its 335 maintenance facilities into 248 locations by July 1, 2008. Most major changes in crew deployment will not begin until the spring to ensure uninterrupted snow-removal service this winter. This consolidation comes as VDOT also works to completely outsource interstate maintenance by July 1, 2009 as required by Virginia law.

VDOT announced its proposed consolidation plan Nov. 2 and hosted a series of 13 listening sessions around the commonwealth to gather feedback on the plan and to solicit additional factors the agency may have overlooked. VDOT’s field leadership and key VDOT staff considered these comments and discussed them with VDOT Commissioner David Ekern before the plan was finalized. Ekern presented the final decisions to the Commonwealth Transportation Board in its monthly meeting today.

The final plan meets VDOT’s goals of streamlining operations, providing sustained levels of customer service and retaining emergency response capability for all Virginians while reducing its overall number of facilities. It also reduces the number of administrative positions in VDOT’s maintenance organization, a move that allows VDOT to focus additional resources on actual road maintenance.

“VDOT is making sound business decisions that will ensure our ability to respond to citizen needs in routine and emergency situations while increasing our efficiency,” said Ekern. “We welcomed the public input we heard in November, as it confirms how much VDOT crews are valued in each community. We have considered the thoughtful suggestions and have made several strategic adjustments to our plan in response to valid business considerations raised during this review process.”

VDOT considered more than 300 written and verbal comments on its proposed plan. Many common themes were expressed:

• VDOT field staff who provide the day-to-day road maintenance are viewed as highly trained professionals who deliver a vital service to the residents of each community.
  
  
• Citizens regard VDOT as providers of important public safety services that are integral to economic vitality and safety for their communities, similar to services provided by fire and police departments.
  
  
• The public supports VDOT’s efforts to maximize the efficient use of available maintenance funding, but they are disappointed that this results in the consolidation of local facilities to stretch these available funds.

The new VDOT maintenance facility structure stems from a year-long effort to analyze administrative workload, population served, geographical and highway safety considerations for all areas serviced by VDOT maintenance facilities. Following this extensive review, VDOT determined that it can continue to provide sustained levels of service, retain emergency response capability and provide the safest highway network using fewer maintenance facilities.

“We will continue providing snow removal, emergency response and routine maintenance services for all Virginians. If you need VDOT, we will be there. We just might respond from a different location than we did in the past,” Ekern said. “In those areas where we have consolidated crews, we will stage appropriate equipment and people for inclement weather or other anticipated events. This is not a new practice, but one we will adopt consistently statewide to ensure our response times.”

VDOT will not immediately dispose of any property. Future decisions about the sale or lease of facilities that no longer support VDOT maintenance activities will be determined by business needs as the plan is implemented.

VDOT’s existing area headquarters structure was established in the 1930s and augmented during the 1950s and early 1960s with the construction of the interstate system. Since then, VDOT’s business has evolved while technology and better equipment have changed the way the department builds, maintains and operates Virginia’s highway system. VDOT is adapting its maintenance facility structure to keep pace with these changes.

The consolidation effort and VDOT’s legally required outsourcing of all interstate maintenance will affect approximately 600 VDOT positions across the commonwealth. Most of the employees working in VDOT’s consolidated maintenance facilities will be shifted to other locations. Work continues to minimize the number of employees who may be without positions following this consolidation.

“VDOT will continue to improve how we operate and deliver services to the public,” Ekern said. “This maintenance facility consolidation is but one step on this journey toward accountability, transparency and efficiency. We continue to review our program delivery, operations, planning and administrative programs to find other ways that we can streamline our business.”

For more information about VDOT and its structure, visit VirginiaDOT.org and click on “About VDOT.” To view maps and a list of the locations included in the final consolidation plan, click here.

(END)

Page last modified: Dec. 14, 2006