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VDOT cuts come under fire VDOT MUM

Culpeper-area officials, residents complain about proposed VDOT cutbacks

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

Date published: 3/20/2009

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

While local government officials worry about the various ways proposed Virginia Department of Transportation reductions would adversely affect their constituents, Blair Williamson said there is one cut that will hit home to everyone.

"You'll finally get the people's attention if you close the bathrooms," Williamson said.

The Charlottesville woman, one of only two private citizens to speak at a VDOT public meeting in Culpeper last night, was referring to the transportation department's plan to cut 25 of its 41 rest areas around the state to save an estimated $12 million. Interstate 95 rest stops at Ladysmith and Dale City are among those targeted for closing.

Williamson called the VDOT proposal a "cost-shifting" measure and criticized the six-point plan to save $50 million in a weak economy.

While Williamson was worried about bathrooms, officials from Culpeper, Orange, Louisa, Madison, Fauquier and Albemarle counties were most concerned last night with VDOT's proposed plan to shift most of its attention to major roads.

"Fifty percent of our students live in rural areas," explained Josh Davis, director of transportation for Albemarle County schools. "Eleven percent live on unpaved roads."

Madison County Supervisor James Arrington said safety would be compromised if VDOT neglects back roads in his rural locality.

"We strongly oppose this level of service reduction," Arrington said, reading from a recently passed board of supervisors resolution.

Further, he called the cutback plan "a thinly veiled attempt to coerce local governments" to fund more highway maintenance.

Del. Ed Scott, R-Culpeper; Culpeper County Planner John Egerston; and Culpeper Town Manager Jeff Muzzy urged VDOT Commissioner David Ekern not to close the Culpeper residency office.

Louisa Supervisor Willie Gentry took a stronger tack, blasting the transportation department for its plan to close its Louisa office.

"This has become a political issue, and it should have been a public-service issue," Gentry said.

He added that VDOT was "playing around with numbers" and, like Arrington, said the proposed closing was "part of some type of master plan" to make local governments dig deeper into their taxpayers' pockets.

Although a number of affected Virginia Department of Transportation employees were in the audience at last night's public meeting, none spoke. About half a dozen said after the meeting that they had been told by VDOT officials not to speak. VDOT Commissioner David Ekern denied that any such directive was made, but he said there are ways for employees to voice opinions and concerns within the department. Responding to a similar complaint made to The Free Lance-Star before the meeting, VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter said, "VDOT Culpeper District Administrator James Utterback has encouraged all employees to attend the public meeting and to share their thoughts and opinions."

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Date published: 3/20/2009

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