The Virginia Department of Transportation said today it has started notifying about 600 employees that their jobs will be eliminated as part of the agency’s cost-cutting to save $2.6 billion.
VDOT announced last year it would cut 1,000 full-time positions and 450 part-time staff to reduce the agency to 7,500 full-time staff by July 1, 2010.
The job cuts will affect all nine of VDOT’s highway districts in Virginia. About 70 positions are being cut in its Richmond district operations, which covers 14 counties. Two of the seven equipment shops in the district are being closed. Another 82 jobs are being cut at the agency’s central office in Richmond.
The cuts are part of an effort to reduce costs and match VDOT’s staffing with an expected 36 percent decline in construction programs over the next six years. The cuts primarily affect construction and project development in the department, VDOT Commissioner David S. Ekern said today in a conference call with reporters.
"The decision we made was a business decision that we need to downscale the workforce that would have been actively engaged in delivering a construction program that we no longer have," he said.
But Ekern estimated that only about 290 of the 600 employees receiving notices will ultimately lose their jobs, because the agency is helping affected employees find other, vacant positions within VDOT, or with other state agencies.
"We do have current vacancies across the department that have been held for this eventuality," Ekern said. "We are also ensuring that these emloyees have first right to any job within the department on our maintenance and operations side."
Job cuts will take effect on Sept. 9 if employees opt not to receive placement services, and Oct. 24 if they choose placement services but cannot be placed in another job.
VDOT also has mothballed 18 of the state’s highway rest areas, as the agency deals with a recession-driven shortfall in revenue.
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