SCDOT is one of the nation's leaders

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Steven Yates: CAFTA and FTAA: regional integration, not free trade (04/19/05) • Elizabeth S. Mabry: SCDOT is one of the nation's leaders (04/19/05) • Edwin Leap: Bonding over video games when not chased by Orcs (04/18/05) • Joseph J. Fins, M.D.: Politicians cause trouble when they play physician (04/17/05) • David Shi: We all need something worth dying for (04/16/05) More details Elizabeth S. Mabry is executive director for the S.C. Department of Transportation.

Undoubtedly a review will show that some situations could have been handled differently and that improvements can be made. This would be the result in a review of any agency, business or home operation. With 5,000 employees, many of whom have been delegated authority, there will be actions that occurred that should not have happened, or could have been accomplished differently. We will promptly and effectively address any issue of concern that we have not already addressed. However, these issues will be very minor compared to the tremendous efforts and accomplishments by the employees throughout the state.

The review will show that SCDOT has been extremely effective, efficient and responsive in performing a large fast-moving mission involving extremely complex financial transactions. Examples: We have the fourth-largest state maintained highway system in the nation operating at the second-lowest administrative cost per mile in the nation, and with the fewest number of employees per mile of any DOT in the nation. SCDOT is funded at the lowest amount per mile in the nation, yet in the last five years we have managed to triple the amount of highway improvement work being accomplished without increasing the number of employees. This is being accomplished through the innovations and creativity of our employees in leveraging dollars, and using new project delivery strategies. The review will show that we have never lost a single federal dollar in the past nine years.

New strategies involve operating "out of the box" and taking calculated risks. Business is not conducted under the former "pay as you go" and "by the book" method. This has resulted in our accomplishing in seven years work that would normally have taken 27 years. Our employees are trained and empowered to seek solutions to community problems. The Commission and staff embrace the philosophy of giving citizens transportation choices through strategies such as: (1) our "traffic calming" policy; (2) designing improvements to meet community needs instead of using standard design drawings; (3) including bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on highway projects, and; (4) a heightened focus on mass transit. By necessity, new ideas and strategies result in a change in policy and procedures, and in the roles of employees. Employee training is increased to achieve adjustments in department culture, attitudes and operations.

I sincerely hope that the objectives of Chairman Tee Hooper, the governor's appointee to the commission, are not politically directed toward trying to discredit SCDOT, its leadership and the work accomplished by the employees. That motive is not beneficial to the public, has the potential of negatively impacting state and federal transportation funding and is simply not responsible, professional or ethical.

If the review looks overall at the work that has been accomplished and the improvements made in customer service, effectiveness, efficiency, safety initiatives and employee development, it will show that SCDOT is one of the nation's leaders. If the purpose of the review identifies areas where we can be more efficient and effective, it will be valuable to SCDOT and the public.