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VDOT says they’re ready for winter despite $10M decrease in snow removal budget

Posted at 4:20 PM, Oct 28, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-29 10:27:08-04

Last year, Hampton Roads was hit by 14 budget-busting snowstorms. This year, VDOT says they're ready.

This year's state budget for snow removal is $145.5 million. That's a decrease of more than $10 million from last year.

VDOT actually spent $350 million on snow removal state-wide last year.

The Hampton Roads budget actually did go up this year, to more than $6 million. But again, last year VDOT spent more than $14 million on snow removal locally.  Hampton Roads has an overall district budget of $92 million for VDOT to handle all road maintenance.

So what's the plan if this winter comes even close to last winter?

"If we go over budget, we will make adjustments to our service schedule and do more in house and use less contractors. We can change schedules and use less contractors for some of the services," says VDOT's Hampton Roads administrator James Utterback.

VDOT says public safety has no price tag. If they need resources for snow removal, they'll find them.