Creating an Innovative and Productive Environment for the 21st Century

About the report:

On September 26, 1986, the Virginia General Assembly passed Joint Resolution No. 7 (SJR-7) during the Special Session called to address the Commonwealth's transportation needs and funding. Part of that resolution directs the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to develop a plan for reducing expenditures for administration and maintenance by 5% as compared to FY 1987-88 appropriations and to continue these into the future. The plan is to achieve these purposes through improved efficiency and productivity in Department operations. In addition, the Department is requested to compare the costs of maintenance and other major non-construction activities with comparable activities of other states; examine bidding procedures, procurement policies and the process of obtaining rights-of-way; examine ways to accelerate the road building process; consider the most appropriate cost ceiling on projects to be built by state forces; and make recommendations to the 1987 regular session of the General Assembly regarding these considerations. This report, prepared in response to SJR-7, parallels the subject areas set for in the Resolution and is viewed by the Department as an opportunity to communicate specific aspects of its commitment to a long-run, continuing focus on efficiency, as well as a means whereby to bring to the attention of the General Assembly issues which may be important to the efficient maintenance and construction of the transportation system as the Commonwealth approaches the 21st century. This report provides a status of the current innovative environment in VDOT, focuses on productivity improvement plans to cut unit costs, and describes processes and programs the VDOT has instituted which will foster a continuing effort of improvements in productivity over the long term.

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