The Virginia Department of Transportation is ceding responsibility for maintaining roads in the City of Suffolk — and turning over $4 million a quarter to pay for it.
I cannot comment upon the significance of this development, as the Virginian-Pilot article describes the turn-over without explaining why it is happening. But the shift does seem to be consistent with a devolution of responsibility for local roads from VDOT to local governments that is taking place in other localities across the Commonwealth. The key points in the agreement, according to the Pilot:
– The city will begin handling all permitting and licensing procedures that were previously handled by VDOT, such a reviewing subdivision street plans and overweight-hauling approvals.
– The city will handle all grass, ditch and stormwater issues. The city has contracted with a private company to handle mowing along all the city’s primary roadways, beginning July 1.
– VDOT will allocate urban-construction funds to the city based on population. That agency will continue to oversee all new construction, although the city can request to handle special projects, Nielsen said.
– VDOT will retain all ownership for the portions of Interstate 664 and Route 164 in Suffolk. Also, the truck scales on U.S. 58 will remain state property.