Virginia Dept. of Transportation lays off 678 workers

The Virginia Department of Transportation began issuing 678 more pink slips Monday, reducing VDOT's payroll to 7,500 employees as the agency faces a projected six-year revenue shortfall of $4.6 billion.

The additional layoffs had been expected under VDOT's three-stage plan to cut staffing by July 1. So far, 135 employees in Northern Virginia have received layoff notices, but some might be allowed to fill other vacancies in the agency as their jobs are eliminated.

"This final stage of staffing reductions has forced the agency to make challenging personnel decisions, but does fulfill its requirement to reduce staffing levels to 7,500 positions," VDOT Commissioner David Ekern said in a statement. "VDOT will be a stronger, more focused, more efficient agency as we progress into the next decade."

The first statewide layoffs came in June, when 450 hourly wage positions were eliminated. Last fall, more than 500 full-time jobs were cut.