The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) completed 73% of its construction contracts and 82% of its maintenance projects within budget according to the agency's latest report card. The report card shows VDOT's performance through the second quarter of FY 2004.
"VDOT is making steady and sustainable progress with delivering projects within budget," said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet. "We continue to make further progress through improved cost estimating and cost management. Strong financial management is becoming a clear cornerstone of our everyday business, but we still have challenges before us."
While the quarterly report shows progress with staying within budget, it also shows that VDOT's top challenge continues to be meeting deadlines. In the second quarter, 29% of construction contracts and 38% of maintenance projects were completed on time. In the quarterly reports, VDOT defines "on time" in the narrowest sense: original contract completion date, with no exceptions.
"Through better project management, improved business practices and a focused mission on delivering projects on time and on budget, VDOT will make greater progress toward meeting deadlines," said Shucet. "This will take time, but it will happen. Deadlines are the top priority for each of VDOT's nine district administrators in 2004."
The quarterly report is a result of Gov. Mark Warner's initiatives to make government business transparent to the public. VDOT's first true business report was presented to the Commonwealth Transportation Board a year ago.
