The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
State highway officials said Thursday that they plan to give pink slips to 450 hourly employees next month, in addition to already announced cuts of 1,000 full-time transportation positions.
The staff reductions are part of a larger plan by the Virginia Department of Transportation that also may include reduced services on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry and the roadside assistance program in Hampton Roads.
The cutbacks are a few of the changes being considered to offset the projected $2.6 billion shortfall in state transportation revenue over the next six years.
Other proposals state highway officials are considering include closing 25 of the state's 41 rest areas, changing mowing
standards for grassy highway medians and consolidating some regional transportation residencies and equipment shops.
The proposed job cuts and service changes were detailed at the Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting Thursday.
State transportation officials will present those and other ideas at a series of public meetings scheduled in the coming months.
The service cuts, if adopted, would likely take effect in July.
"Motorist safety and emergency response continue to be VDOT's top priorities," state transportation department Commissioner David S. Ekern said in a written statement. "However, VDOT will be smaller and focused solely on core services and commitments."
Dwindling money for roads and the growing cost of construction have brought the state highway department to a crossroads. In response, the agency is transforming itself.
It will still build new roads, though future projects may increasingly be accomplished with the help of private companies or require tolls.
VDOT officials said their current work force of about 9,000 employees will be cut to about 7,500 by July 1, 2010.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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JAMESTOWN SCOTLAND FERRY
Reducing services on the Ferry will be a disaster for the residents of James City county and Surry and those surrounding areas. As far as laying off hourly employees that too would be a mistake. The hourly employees on the ferry only work when a regular employs is off, taking their place and actually it saves the state money. By using an hourly employee to fill in for a regular employee who is going to be off, the state does not have to pay the overtime that is required by using another regular employee to fill the shift of the absent employee. The big wheels in Richmond however, might not be smart enough to figure that out.
Wonder if....
Wonder if this will halt the "light-rail" project. I'm not sure if that is City "tax" monies, or State "tax" monies? I feel its a waste of major dollars at this time. The HOV lanes are just now getting used to the fullest in years...with plenty of room to grow. I'd rather see less lay-offs in other areas of the VDOT than seeing the "light-rail" continue.
Reduction in services
The people who make the comments of not noticing a reduction in services will be the first to complain about a reduction in service.
reply to "they can start with the loafers"
A comment like that shows how little the public knows about roadway construction.
Do you think that everyone on a job site that wears a hard hat and a safety vest is a VDOT worker? Normally there is one VDOT employee that will oversee a contractor's crew of 5-10 people.
The Real Truth About Roadworkers
VDOT should be applauded for taking these cost saving measures at this time. The tired old comment of construction workers standing around doing nothing is so old and ill-informed. Road work requires hard labor and is extremely dangerous. Crews work in shifts so that work can be completed during limited non peak traffic windows. A supervisor, safety watchperson, and the guy taking a break are usually the ones you see "loafing". Let’s see some of you posters get out there and "work" in these conditions without passing out from exhaustion all the while keeping your eye out for the folks that disregard the work zone signs and safety of the highway workers. Lighten up and judge not people.
don't worry though
because with the redistribution plan signed by the President they'll be back to leaning on their shovels soon enough! I wish they would bail out all the small businesses instead of the big behemoth banks and financial institutions. The money may accumulate in big business but it circulates with the small companies creating jobs and the middle class spending their disposable income. Pelosi and Reid need to make sure OPEC and Hugo Chavez don't manipulate the world oil market anymore. Did you all notice the story on the pilotonline US and World news(R. Allen Stanford) possibly commiting fraud and a big supporter of democrats? His personal fortune alone is about 2.2 billion. I guess it's not just a big oil problem is it? At least big oil can prove what they had to pay for the crude oil and can justify the cost of gasoline. Oh well...it'll be ignored I'm sure.
Looks like they started early. . .
That disaster they made of Lynnhaven Parkway is horrendous. It's moving slow it ought to be a crime, as it's literally dangerous with holes, drop-offs and signs everywhere.
They can start with the loafers
They can start with the ones that you always see doing absolutely nothing every time you drive by a job site. It makes no sense to me how many guys they send out on a simple job that just end up standing around with nothing to do. It seems to me that they could cut the whole darn work force in half without a reduction in services if just hired a couple of guys to drive around to the work sites and supervise these guys better.
hhhmmmm
Wonder if anyone will even notice a reduction in services?