VDOT News - Statewide

Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Virginia State Police today announced the release of the multi-agency after-action report initiated following the major Jan. 3 snowstorm to assess the Commonwealth’s response efforts.

An independent comprehensive review of the conditions, events, and actions was conducted by CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organization. CNA produced the after-action report following the gathering of situational and other relevant information through numerous interviews with staff and leadership of the three involved Commonwealth of Virginia agencies.

“VDOT’s top priority is and always will be the safety of the traveling public, and as we learn from each event, this report highlighted key areas for us to refine in our winter-weather operations,” said Virginia Commissioner of Highways Stephen Brich. “Our on-road messaging, snow-clearing resource staging and partner engagement are all areas in which we are exploring new approaches to improve our response. Above all, we remain committed to better executing our mission of keeping Virginia’s transportation system safe every day and in the face of future extreme weather events."

“VDEM has a strong commitment to providing resources needed to support our local and state partners,” said State Coordinator Shawn Talmadge. “We look forward to working with VDOT, VSP, and our localities to further identify and enhance processes that will better support their needs.”

“The collective insights and findings of this independent report are being thoroughly reviewed by VSP leadership,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, VSP Superintendent. “Having this external perspective of state police’s response and management of this significant incident greatly benefits our agency’s ability to adapt, adjust, and improve our services and mission to ensure a safe and secure Commonwealth.”

View the report here. 

Virginia Department of Transportation
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is responsible for building, maintaining and operating the state's roads, bridges and tunnels. Its mission is to plan, deliver, operate and maintain a transportation system that is safe, enables easy movement of people and goods, enhances the economy and improves our quality of life.

Virginia has the third-largest state-maintained highway system in the country, behind Texas and North Carolina.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management
VDEM’s mission is to lead Virginia’s prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts to save lives and protect all Virginians. From threats of terror to hurricanes, from cybersecurity breaches to flooding, today’s challenges are the focus at VDEM, in an agency that evolves to address them. While some threats strike with little to no warning, others provide time for VDEM to work jointly with federal and local partners to prepare, mitigate, and respond to the event.

VDEM continues to improve its readiness by planning for all hazards and improving our statewide response system. We accomplish this by providing training, equipping teams with the best technology, and exercising together as a team comprising local, state, and federal governments; private sector partners; and non-governmental organizations.

Virginia State Police
The Virginia Department of State Police (VSP) is Virginia's premiere and only statewide traffic and criminal investigative police force. Our mission is securing the Commonwealth through leadership, collaboration, and community engagement. VSP embraces inclusion and diversity in our workforce and in the protection of all people.

The Virginia State Police provides a vast array of public safety services to the Commonwealth, including highway patrol and criminal investigations, and maintenance and operation of the Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS), the Virginia Fusion Center, the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), the Sex Offender Registry (SOR), the Firearms Transaction Center, the Vehicle Inspection Program, the Motor Carrier Safety Program, and other critical public safety functions.

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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.