VDOT achieves goals despite budget cost-cutting

Despite drastic cost cutting measures that hit the agency over the summer, the Virginia Department of Transporta-tion met all of its budget and performance goals this year.

In a report released Friday, the state's highway transportation agency said 82 percent of all construction and maintenance contracts were completed on time and on budget. VDOT had hoped to complete 77 percent of their projects both on time and on budget this year.

Additionally, the agency touted its 92.5 percent quality compliance score -- a detailed review of how highways are constructed -- up this year a full percentage point over last.

"These numbers are a reflection of VDOT and private sector (consultants and contractors) hard work and dedication to the citizens of the commonwealth," stated VDOT Commissioner David S. Eckern in a press release. "Even in these uncertain times when we must reduce services and make cuts, we are still committed to deliver good value for taxpayer investments in transportation and to provide citizens with the safest possible transportation system."

In June, VDOT eliminated 1,000 full-time jobs and cut 450 part-time positions.

The most publicized cuts came a month later, when VDOT moved to close 42 highway rest areas and state welcome centers. Two of those rest stops were in Dale City and a state welcome center was closed outside of Manassas.

During a visit to the News & Messenger on Wednesday, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Robert F. McDonnell urged Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to reopen the rest areas by using non-violent jail force labor to maintain the facilities, to allow businesses to adopt rest areas similar to the state's "adopt a highway" pro-gram and to tell Virginia Transportation Secretary Peirce R. Homer to "change your vote."

"The reason the rest stops closed is that there was a tie vote and [Kaine's] secretary of transportation broke the tie vote and had the rest stops closed," said McDonnell.

The rest stop closures are estimated to save the commonwealth $9 million annually.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.