JONESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) started full-time facility and staffing reductions in June, due to a sharp decline in state revenue and the uncertainty of future federal funding. Included among the cuts is the Jonesville Residency.

The transportation agency was urged to reduce its Six-Year Improvement Program by $2.6 billion, and to “downsize” services, programs and staffing by another $600 million.

In addition to addressing the $2 billion shortfall from 2008, VDOT is now working to address an additional $900 million shortfall in revenue projections over the next several years.

VDOT commissioner David S. Ekern spoke about the issue in a recent press release.

“It is very difficult to make these types of decisions that impact our employees, and we do not take them lightly,” explained Ekern. “However, we have no choice but to alter our staffing based upon major revenue reductions and long-term changes to the transportation industry.”

The VDOT cuts are just the latest in a string of reductions that have spanned over the last seven years. From 2002 through 2008, the agency has cut almost 2,000 positions and closed 89 area headquarters throughout the state of Virginia.

Over the next year, classified employment in VDOT will be reduced by another 11.5 percent, which will leave another 1,000 people jobless and reduce the number of employees to 7,500. Of that slimmed amount, restricted positions at VDOT headquarters will be cut by nearly 23 percent and field positions will decrease approximately 9.4 percent.

VDOT residencies will also be reduced from 44 to 29, and one transportation operations center will shut down within the next year. The agency will close more than half of the state’s equipment shops, due to less equipment needed and improvements in maintenance practices. VDOT will also reduce all available state funds, and will eliminate state formula allowances for unpaved roads, and primary, secondary and urban systems.

Moreover, the reductions in staff and facilities will force major changes in VDOT’s construction and maintenance services. Construction will now focus primarily on safety, pavements and bridges. Certain maintenance services — such as mowing and litter removal — will either be cut, or completely eliminated.

“Smaller counties like Lee and Scott County should not see a change in snow removal services, or a change in the emergency services that VDOT provides,” stated Michelle Earl, Public Affairs Manager for VDOT’s Bristol District. “However, they will see and have already seen a difference in the mowing schedule for roadways in their area. Additionally, by June 2009, the Jonesville Residency office was consolidated and services, such as human resources services for employees for Lee and Scott Counties, will be performed from the Wise Residency.”

In the twelve county Bristol District, there were ten hourly people laid off in the month of June and 75 salaried individuals received lay off notices in August. Placement opportunities are available to some individuals who received lay off notices and the job placement process is currently underway. The process will conclude in October.

At the last Lee County Board of Supervisors meeting, held August 18, Chairman Carl Bailey addressed community members about the lack of VDOT support in Lee County.

“I guess the thing that puzzles me more than anything is that I don’t see anybody from Bristol fighting for VDOT,” stated Bailey. “I don’t understand why there is not a fight. We had nobody from the Bristol area down here representing any of these counties ... I hope they got a good plan there not telling us about, but I doubt it.”

Adam Young is a staff writer for The Daily News. He can be contacted by e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com