The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A scaled-back roadside assistance program for stranded motorists in Hampton Roads, a call for 19 of Virginia's 42 highway rest areas to be closed and less frequent mowing of grassy medians are among the latest savings strategies before state transportation officials.
Reductions for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry are avoided but plenty of other highway services provided by the state will be curtailed if the plan is adopted.
The recommendations were presented Wednesday to the Commonwealth Transportation Board as part of a plan by the state highway department to cut costs as the agency shrinks in scope and size.
The biggest impact in Hampton Roads would be the decrease in roadside assistance. The program dispatches vehicles to patrol interstates to aid people with disabled automobiles. At present, 113 miles are patrolled locally. The new coverage area would be cut to 48 miles. Adoption of the revised service plan is set for next month.
For months, state highway officials have grappled with ways to compensate for a projected $2.6 billion shortfall in transportation over the next six years. Earlier this year, $2 billion was cut from the state's long-term road construction plan, the equivalent of about 800 planned projects.
The agency plans to cut 1,200 jobs - roughly 230 are hourly positions - by July 2010.
Each change signals a shift in the way the Virginia Department of Transportation will operate.
Officials have said that the agency will increasingly use its limited resources to repair old roads as its financial ability to build new ones decreases.
No rest areas near Hampton Roads will be cut. Most of the closings will come in Northern Virginia.
Economic factors are to blame, VDOT Commissioner David S. Ekern said during a conference call Wednesday. He cited the recession "and the federal impacts of transportation funding and its uncertainty as we're moving forward."
Another complication is that two of Virginia's primary transportation revenue sources - taxes on fuel and on vehicle sales - have taken a hit in the economic downturn.
The service changes presented Wednesday came after a series of public meetings held around the state about an earlier proposal.
As a result of those forums, several of the initial ideas were modified. Six rest areas that were recommended for closing will remain open, and the operating hours of the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry won't be reduced.
Julian Walker, 804-697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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A great start!
Now let's do the rest of the cuts needed. Start with the lights along the interstate. There's no need for that many lights and the cost of maintaining and powering these lights is outrageous not to mention the cost of installing them. Then let's do away with the CAMERA NETWORK. The only use the cameras have is for the local media, if they want to pay for the operation and maintenance of the camera system fine, if not shut em down and sell em off. People have cell phones now days, if there is an accident or other emergency there will be plenty of 911 calls. Then there is the GUARD RAILS, if we plant shrubs in the place of guard rails we'd accomplish the same task without the cost and maintenance. Then there's the STUPID "SMART" SIGNS or "MESSAGE BOARDS", have you ever seen one posting something you didn't already know? Do away with them. Then there's the overabundance of signs! Some signs are needed but we have gone overboard with them. It seems there is a sign every two feet all the way down the interstate. Planting ground cover (ivy or some other low growing spreading plant) will save us from having to cut grass at all.
A great start!
Now let's do the rest of the cuts needed. Start with the lights along the interstate. There's no need for that many lights and the cost of maintaining and powering these lights is outrageous not to mention the cost of installing them. Then let's do away with the CAMERA NETWORK. The only use the cameras have is for the local media, if they want to pay for the operation and maintenance of the camera system fine, if not shut em down and sell em off. People have cell phones now days, if there is an accident or other emergency there will be plenty of 911 calls. Then there is the GUARD RAILS, if we plant shrubs in the place of guard rails we'd accomplish the same task without the cost and maintenance. Then there's the STUPID "SMART" SIGNS or "MESSAGE BOARDS", have you ever seen one posting something you didn't already know? Do away with them. Then there's the overabundance of signs! Some signs are needed but we have gone overboard with them. It seems there is a sign every two feet all the way down the interstate. Planting ground cover (ivy or some other low growing spreading plant) will save us from having to cut grass at all.
Roadside Asistance?
Roadside Assistance has got to be the biggest waste of money. Why is the state wasting money on repainting and maintaining out of commission state trooper cars? The drivers are retired state troopers and cops and although I am sure they are all nice men, they have no legal authority to clear traffic or re-route traffic. They still have to call current state troopers deal with an accident or break down. Plus, they have no capabilities for towing your car, so you would still have to call AAA to get your car removed.
VDOT could be using this money to repair holes in the roads and many other hazards that could potentially cause accidents.
Good, cut all funding for
Good, cut all funding for "roadside assistance" for all I care.
You're a fool if you're going to depend on roadside assistance to get you out of a jamb. I have AAA, it costs about the same as a tow for a year of service.
Herein lies an opportunity...
In many other urban areas, such roadside assistance is provided (or paid for) by advertisers - sometimes it's a local TV station, other times it's an auto dealer, repair shop, tire shop, or auto parts retailer.
Why shouldn't VDOT seek sponsors for the roadside assistance program? The response vehicles could be outfitted with advertising from the sponsor to pay for the whole thing!
The roadside assistance program is a good thing - who cares if the trucks are painted with an ad for "XYZ Auto Parts"?
Please cut all roadside
Please cut all roadside assistance and other nanny state programs.
Keep roadside assistance
The roadside assistance program is not trying to compete with private business. Yes, AAA is a good thing, but the idea behind roadside assistance is to help get the roadway clear as soon as possible. We all know what one car on the shoulder can to do slowing down traffic. Plus they assistanc the state police at accident scenes and so forth with traffic control. They are much needed asset. I dont see anywhere about the program being scaled back in RICHMOND, or northern Virginia. This area always gets the shaft when it comes to transportation.
America's new motto CUT & SPEND
Well yesterday's articles said how VDOT got stimulus money and was going to start some new projects in Virginia Beach. Today, they don't have enough money so they have to cut back on services.
Lets see, one hand is cutting and trying to save, while the other hand is spending.
Anybody see a problem here. Not just VDOT but every goverment entity across the country.
You have to stop spending money on new projects and take care of what you have.
This age has brought us the death of reason....
I agree with letting someone
I agree with letting someone lease out the rest areas and add on new businesses for travelers. The caveat needs to be that they keep the restrooms clean and free. If the state chooses to close them they better not ticket anyone for urinating on the side of the road! Or, well, maybe that's the alternative method of raising funds...
mowing cut back
A good way to save oil,twice a year will do ,mid summer and in the fall The reason the roadways look so bad everyone throws their trash out the windows . We are our own enemy