Re: Past head of VDOT advocates downsizing 50%


John Lansford wrote:
> "Larry Gross" <gross.larry@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>
> A DOT's website isn't where they need to make apologies or
> explanations for delays. Construction schedule websites use shorthand
> to describe problems because no one wants to type paragraphs or pages
> of words any more often then they have to.

the DOT - as a business practice - owes it's customers status
information on it's projects. There are lots of ways to do it -
the web is one. Excuses for NOT doing so - are just that -
excuses.
>
was late was
> >that they could not find enough traffic barrels.
> >
> >That statement says reams about VDOT's attitude with respect to public
> >accountability of their work.
>
> So, what do you think they should have done about the lack of traffic
> barrels? Use fewer ones? How about just spray paint some logs orange
> and set them out there? Or big concrete blocks pained orange?

I think the public expects the DOT to plan and organize for their
projects.
Barrels are not just-in-time commodities but they are also not an
acceptable
reason why a project is months behind.

To even mention the barrels in the context of a months-long delay is
insulting to most folks who are expecting a reasonable explanation.
>
>>
> While it sounds like a ludicrous reason to delay a project (and I note
> that the report says the lack of barrels is "one of the reasons"; how
> many other problems existed?), safety is a very, very important part
> of a construction site and the contractor would be foolish to try and
> build a road without the proper amount of safety equipment he is
> supposed to have on hand.

I think that is the point. The public and local officials expected some
reasonable explanation - and what they got was not.
>
>
> So you want...what? A website where every VDOT project, no matter how
> minor, is tracked daily during construction, showing what is
> progressing and what is holding it up?
>
> Do you want construction engineers to worry about making sure a
> project is built correctly, close to the budget and safely, or do you
> want them to constantly be updating some progress website?

They owe the public a reasonable acounting of their progress. I'll
bet you a dollar than internally when the DOT boss asks why a
project is behind that he/she gets the answer pronto.

This is not rocket science. The public does understand that not
all projects proceed without complications. This is basically
keeping in touch with your customers - demonstrating a willingness
to keep them informed on progress - and on things that have
fallen behind. It is simple customer relations that most businesses
know is a vital part of their business. The DOTs are a business -
but they do not recognize it sometimes. They think of themselves
as having a job to do and to be left alone to do it. That's a recipe
for trouble when the public becomes dissatisfied. In fact, it is
the reason the public becomes dissasisfied sometimes because
they don't know .. and no one will tell them.

.

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