The Virginian-Pilot
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Most local Virginia Department of Transportation offices will lock their doors to the public starting Monday as a result of cost-cutting and staff reductions.
The move will mainly affect residents in outlying areas of Hampton Roads.
In the metro area, VDOT has responsibility for only the interstates. However, it maintains most roads in the local counties - including Isle of Wight and Southampton on the south side, as well as York County and James City County on the Peninsula.
It's been a common practice for county residents to walk into their local VDOT office and report a drainage issue, request that a ditch get cleaned or ask for a sign replacement.
Starting Monday, all VDOT offices except the district office in Suffolk will close to the public.
Requests for assistance will have to be made through a Salem-based call center at (800) 367-7623 or online at www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp.
"This is a big change for people who are used to face-to-face interaction and immediate access," said VDOT spokeswoman Lauren Hansen.
Hansen said highway officials hope the new centralized reporting system will be more streamlined and efficient.
"It should eliminate a lot of the frustration some people feel when dealing with VDOT," she said.
The agency has cut its budget by $4.6 billion over nearly two years because of declining revenues.
As a result, 1,318 full-time and 450 part-time jobs were eliminated. In Hampton Roads, 114 full-time and 10 part-time positions were cut.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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Freeloaders.
Everyone claims to have seen 9 workers out of ten leaning on a shovel.
Everyone claims poor service, inefficient methods.
Everyone is ignorant.
Very few areas even have 10 workers- haven't been that many in most places for YEARS. Almost everything has been done under very expensive contracts for years. What you see is mostly contract workers.
Methods, and systems used by VDOT are mandated by Virginia law, and the General assembly.
Multiple audits have turned up NONE of these instances of lazy, inefficient workers that"everyone" claims.
"Everyone" should publish proof.
The truth can be found by reading the Audits from the past two decades.
Cheapskate freeloaders blame everyone but themselves for the problems thy've created.
Always heard you should be careful what you wish for as you may very well get your wish.
Well, in about a month you'll find your wishes were granted.
Enjoy, "everyone".
With today's internet
With today's internet capabilities, why does a brick and mortar need to be open to the public? Work requests can be sent via email. I understand older patrons may not have internet, but a centralized call taking center can also handle work requests.
VDOT
I didn't think it was possible for VDOT to get worse in the public, which they serve,to get any worse.....boy was I wrong! Now they just won't face you. I guess they were over-run with complaints....and well deserved. I still think all managers, supervisors should be fired!
interesting
Closed to the public BUT NOT closed~guess privacy is a concern.
Whine, Whine Whine.
Virginians have refused to fund VDOT for 25 years, Since 1991 VDOT has shed almost 50 percent of her employees, 1500 since last March, as the politicians shrink the agency down to their 3400 people goal.
Only in Virginia, where politicians have promised citizens they can have it all for free, with no tax increases, would someone post complaining about their transportation offices closing because there are too few people to man the offices.
You want to freeload, that's fine, But don't whine when you find that due to costs your free steak dinner is now a plian cheese sandwich.
You get what you pay for, and 69% of Virginians said they'd rather drive on crappy roads than raise taxes - the same 69 percent that said they wanted new roads and better maintained roads.
VDOT earned its reputation for inefficiency and mismanagement.
VDOT earned its well deserved reputation for inefficiency and mismanagement. We all have seen 10 VDOT employees on a job with 9 leaning on the shovel talking and smoking while one is actually working.
I agree. It took many years
I agree. It took many years of waste and inefficiency to get where the public has had it with them. Yet they are good folks.. They were just like city workers, a few carrying the load/most watching. Like most govt, there was no sense of urgency to a project because their funding was not dependent on efficiency. The waste was incredible. Now a tight-fisted state is even more reluctant to trust them with more money or raise taxes. I think they've gotten better, but are reaping the whirlwind for past years.
Unbelievable??
R U telling us that VDOT HAVE hoverboards(back 2 the future)that VDOT state issued hummvees 4 there employees do not see or feel or care about the beat'in we feel everyday?? WE GOT 2 get some of those state issued shocks!! LOL
Do What??
Can you repeat this in English we can understand.
Feel the pain.
No, robochicken, VDOT does feel your pain, but there is little they can do.
B-R-O-K-E. There is no money - a $6 Billion dollar shortfall. Layoffs, elimination of offices, autioning equipment, selling the office sites.
VDOT, as a public service entitiy is T-O-A-S-T!
Know how wonderful you feel after getting hung up in Dominion Power's phone tree? Or Verizon's phone tree? Well, VDOT's 1-800-call centers are modeled on those two templates.
Enjoy.