Frustrated over a lack of external audits for the Virginia Department of Transportation, state Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) has launched a website called “Expose VDOT Waste” that invites citizens to report wasteful spending by the department. The site also has a companion Facebook group with more than 400 members.
The site is partly in response to VDOT’s announcement that they are planning to close several interstate rest stops and make other service cuts to address a $2.6 billion shortfall, according to a story on WHVS Channel 3 News website.
From the article:
“We’ll look into every tip sent our way,” says Obenshain. “And where there’s waste, we’ll publicize it and hold VDOT’s feet to the fire.”
The article goes on to quote a VDOT spokesman saying that the department welcomes the scrutiny. The spokesman said also said that they are spending taxpayer dollars as best as possible.
Obenshain disagrees, for example he said keeping rest stops open should take priorty over a recently announced pilot program to provide rail service from Lynchburg to Washington D.C.
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I just love it when these politicians want to “investigate” something they know absolutely nothing about. With the state of the economy in Virginia you would think they could find more productive ways to spend their time. Instead of pointing the finger he should be working with other state Senators to get Virginia moving again. I’m sure glad I don’t live in Harrisonburg.
I find myself not nearly as concerned about VDOT waste as about the tone in politics these days! For example, why is it waste that VDOT determines that launching improved light rail service is more important than keeping some rest areas open? It may be, it may not be, but that is a business decision made by VDOT for whatever reason. If I don’t like their decision, I should make my views known. I should proffer an alternative that I believe makes better sense and then convince people why my way is the better one. But it isn’t waste – the waste is the time we spend building web sites and attempting to “hold their feet to the fire” when what we probably should be doing is talking, convincing and then moving on when the decision didn’t go our way. So that means that I am concerned about waste, but it’s the waste of yet another misguided, headline-seeking delegate who is more interested in his own name recognition than in doing his job.
Vdot Waste 1. Contracting 2. Mancon 3. Swam vender list 4. Paying for jobs not done.
“Obenshain disagrees, for example he said keeping rest stops open should take priorty over a recently announced pilot program to provide rail service from Lynchburg to Washington D.C.”
The pilot program to provide rail service from Lynchburg to DC is a program by the DRPT (department of rail and public transportation) – not VDOT.
I know alot about VDOT waste I worked for them 10 yrs
The biggest waste Inside VDOT is Mancon, they charge us twice the price for tools & parts the old way was a lot better half the time they don’t have it then it takes week some time to get a simple chain saw chain & then it’s the wrong chain. Then SWAM most of the SWAM dealer charge more than most places take more time to get what you need. VDOT MEGA PROJECT ad buying air time on radio & tv telling of large project up coming that a big waste getting news time would be cheaper. Equipment Rental charges each piece of equipment used on a project has a rental charge for each Hour on the site be used or not, why pay rent on equipment we already own which means to me money is be charge but who is getting it .
Vdot workers are being layed off Thanks to Former Gov Mark Warner and his BS Ex Order 33 Swam , desovling Iventory Mangment , lying that the state was 50 billion in the hole to get 0.5% sale increase then the day after him signing it to law we some how had a 50 billion surplus!