Re: Past head of VDOT advocates downsizing 50%

"Larry Gross" <gross.larry@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>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.

Since the contractor, not the state, furnishes the traffic safety
devices (barrels, cones, signs, etc) on the majority of projects, the
state will not allow the project to begin or continue if there are not
enough of them available.

>>>
>> 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.

No, that's what the press told you. Every time I've spoken to the
press, I was asked follow up questions when I gave a short answer for
more detail. Inevitably it was the short answer that was printed.

>>
>> 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.

Constantly updating a website and giving someone a phone explanation
of what's holding up a project are two very different situations.

>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.

Whatever. You've convinced yourself there's a simple solution to this
problem, so there's no point discussing it further with you.
Apparently you consider DOT personnel to be dumber than you on this
issue, because you see the solution when they obviously do not.

John Lansford, PE
--
Coming Soon!
John's Shop of Wood
.

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