RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host 11 public meetings across the commonwealth in March and early April to collect public input on a comprehensive plan to address long-term funding reductions.

During these meetings, VDOT will provide a brief presentation regarding the proposed changes that will impact drivers in each area including planned reductions to:

• Rest areas
• Safety Service Patrols
• Mowing/roadside maintenance
• Ferry services
• VDOT residency offices

Officials will also collect feedback from registered speakers.

“Federal and state revenue sources continue to steeply decline, forcing the VDOT to adjust its construction program, services and organization,” said David S. Ekern, VDOT Commissioner. “We are committed to discussing any changes that will impact our customers prior to finalizing our decisions, so we will host these meetings to gather public feedback on our proposed plans.”

These service changes support the three-part Blueprint for the Future.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board implemented the first phase of the blueprint — reductions in the number of new projects that will be built — when it adopted a revised Fiscal Years 2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement Program on Feb. 13.

The revised program cut $2 billion in funding, delaying or eliminating 808 projects statewide.

The second phase of the blueprint involves VDOT staffing changes and organizational restructuring.

VDOT announced that it will cut 1,000 full-time and 450 part-time staff in its construction development program, field operations and administrative functions, and will close 15 residency offices and 36 equipment repair facilities around the commonwealth in the next 18 months.

The third phase of the blueprint focuses on reducing spending for VDOT programs and services. These include reducing motorist amenities and maintenance contracts for services not affecting driver safety.

These proposals include reducing:

• Rest areas and welcome centers
• Ferry services
• Safety Service Patrols
• Interstate maintenance services
• Vegetation management

Public meetings will be held as follows. All begin at 6 p.m.

March 10, 2009, Salem District
Northside Middle School
6810 Northside High School Road
Roanoke 24019

March 11, 2009 Lynchburg District
Central Virginia Community College
3506 Wards Road
Lynchburg 24502

March 12, 2009 Staunton District
Augusta County Government Center
18 Government Center Lane,
Verona 24482

March 16, 2009 Hampton Roads District (general meeting)
Willoughby Elementary School
9500 4th View St.
Norfolk 23503

March 17, 2009 Hampton Roads (Jamestown-Scotland Ferry meeting)
Luther Porter Jackson Middle School
4255 New Design Road
Dendron 23839

March 19, 2009 Culpeper District (including Hatton Ferry)
Daniel Technology Center
18121 Technology Drive
Culpeper 22701

March 25, 2009 Bristol District
Southwest Virginia Community College
Charles R. King Community Center (Building 295)
724 Community College Road
Cedar Bluff 24609

March 26, 2009 Richmond District
Central Office Auditorium
1201 E. Broad St.
Richmond 23219

March 30, 2009 Fredericksburg District (general meeting)
Caroline County Community Center
17202 Richmond Turnpike
Milford 22514

March 31, 2009 Fredericksburg (ferries)
Lancaster Public Library
235 School Street
Kilmarnock 22482

April 1, 2009 Northern Virginia District
Fairfax City Hall
Room 111
10455 Armstrong St.
Fairfax 22030

Citizens may also submit comments via e-mail to vdotinfo@vdot.virginia.gov by April 15, 2009.

For more information about proposed service impacts or changes to VDOT operations, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/news/blueprint_meetings.asp.

(END)

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.

Page last modified: March 31, 2009