When you call the DOT....

[MCRoads]

What happened? Did you get lucky with a road geek? Or did you get someone who doesn't know what your saying?

I've called the DOT a couple of times, asking about random stuff.

In OklAHoMa, I called ODOT to ask about a traffic barrel, but they kept putting me on hold while looking for someone who knew where a barrel might be. 1/2 hour and 4 departments later, I was finally told to call a contractor of ODOT.

I now live in Colorado, and I called CDOT to ask if they were doing active traffic management like in Seattle, and he talked for five minutes about ramp meters! Ok, that is kind of what I meant, but still... not really.

Not saying they were bad experiences, just funny ones. Do you have any funny stories?

Please, no berating DOTs on costumer service, that isnt the intent. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

Well, I can't say I have ever called ArDOT, but I have quite the email history with them!

I email the right people, so I get the response I am looking for. If I don't know who to email, then I email the District Engineer and wait for a response.


iPhone

[US71]

I usually get a response, but not always the one I'm looking for, though it was me who flagged their exit number screw ups along I-540 when they upgraded the exit signage.  Half the numbers were going N-S, half were going S-N.

[slorydn1]

As part of my job I call NCDOT on almost a daily basis. My conversations are really quite boring though. I am always passing on reports of signs that have been knocked down, or traffic lights that aren't working, or roads that are impassable due to flooding/snow/ice (etc). That said they are really great people to deal with, except for the joking "Oh Lord, what now?" they give me when I identify myself (I am never the bearer of good news).

[abefroman329]

When I call the DOT what?

[froggie]

Most of us don't call the DOT just for the sake of calling the DOT, or calling about "random stuff".  There's usually a reason behind it...not unlike what slorydn1 does for his job.

If I need information on something (usually project or roadway-specific), I mostly email these days instead of call.  There are a couple C.E.'s at MnDOT whom I know who I will still call on rare occasion, though.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

I usually get a response, but not always the one I'm looking for, though it was me who flagged their exit number screw ups along I-540 when they upgraded the exit signage.  Half the numbers were going N-S, half were going S-N.

I don't know why they would be salty over their mistake... Damn it, Get it right! I understand what you mean.

They should accept it, correct it, and move on!

[MCRoads]

I would email, though I don't have it.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

I would email, though I don't have it.

Go to the DOT's website, search for your District/Region and BAM!

Oh, and make sure you have an email!


iPhone

[Max Rockatansky]

I asked an ADOT representative once why the loop highways around Phoenix had X0X designations instead of applying for 3d Interstate routes.  Basically the rep didn't know and actually went out of her way to see if she could find an answer.  I did hear back eventually via email, apparently nobody in ADOT really knows the reason.  I suspect it has a lot to do with the loop routes not being part of the Federal Highway funding for the original run of Interstates.

[jeffandnicole]

Please, no berating DOTs on costumer service, that isnt the intent. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything.

Wait a minute...you list 2 examples berating DOTs...then post this? WTF?

Honestly...Most Transportation departments are huge agencies. If you call with a random, generic question, they may take a while to figure out what you're trying to ask.  Call any company with a generic question, and you'll lieky get the same response.

And Damn...don't give examples of bad experiences then tell us not to give those same examples because "that isn't the intent".  What is the point of this post then?

[MCRoads]

Please, no berating DOTs on costumer service, that isnt the intent. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything.

Wait a minute...you list 2 examples berating DOTs...then post this? WTF?

Honestly...Most Transportation departments are huge agencies. If you call with a random, generic question, they may take a while to figure out what you're trying to ask.  Call any company with a generic question, and you'll lieky get the same response.

And Damn...don't give examples of bad experiences then tell us not to give those same examples because "that isn't the intent".  What is the point of this post then?

Never said it was a bad experience, just kind of interesting/humorous. (Edit: I actually said this right before said statement!) Thet were very nice people, not rude or anything... I think I may have been to vague about this.

[oscar]

I asked an ADOT representative once why the loop highways around Phoenix had X0X designations instead of applying for 3d Interstate routes.  Basically the rep didn't know and actually went out of her way to see if she could find an answer.  I did hear back eventually via email, apparently nobody in ADOT really knows the reason.  I suspect it has a lot to do with the loop routes not being part of the Federal Highway funding for the original run of Interstates.

Too bad they couldn't refer you to Richard Moeur, a familiar figure on the Usenet newsgroup misc.transport.road, who once was with ADOT but apparently left to form his own consulting firm. He delivered a classic rant on m.t.r. about roadgeek suggestions to Interstate-ize Phoenix's freeway loops.

I couldn't dredge up his rant in what Google has from m.t.r., but IIRC a key point was that ADOT avoided a lot of paperwork hassles by building those freeways with only state and local funding, and seeking Interstate designation would require ADOT to go through costly bureaucratic hoops it had previously avoided. My recollection is imperfect, and I don't know if anything changed in the meantime that might modify his conclusions (such as the current funding for the freeway loops), or whether ADOT still agrees with Moeur's views.

[froggie]

^ This might be the Richard Moeur post in question.  Doesn't specify why ADOT didn't pursue non-chargeable Interstate designation, but points out the funding stream (Maricopa County sales tax) and that not using Federal funding reduced the environmental/"bureaucratic" process.

[hbelkins]

^ This might be the Richard Moeur post in question.  Doesn't specify why ADOT didn't pursue non-chargeable Interstate designation, but points out the funding stream (Maricopa County sales tax) and that not using Federal funding reduced the environmental/"bureaucratic" process.

This is how Tennessee built much of its portion of US 23 south of Johnson City. John Lansford was a very vocal critic of that practice.

[rickmastfan67]

^ This might be the Richard Moeur post in question.  Doesn't specify why ADOT didn't pursue non-chargeable Interstate designation, but points out the funding stream (Maricopa County sales tax) and that not using Federal funding reduced the environmental/"bureaucratic" process.

This is how Tennessee built much of its portion of US 23 south of Johnson City. John Lansford was a very vocal critic of that practice.

I think TN did the same with TN-840 before recently requesting it become I-840 and getting it approved as such.

[froggie]

They did, but there's a difference between the two routes.  TN 840 was built to Interstate standard....not quite the case for US 23.

[hbelkins]

Been awhile since I have been down that way. Has Tennessee gotten rid of that ridiculously-low 50 MPH speed limit near the state line at Sams Gap?

North Carolina originally signed its new portion at 55 mph but at some point increased it to 65 mph.

[oscar]

^ This might be the Richard Moeur post in question.  Doesn't specify why ADOT didn't pursue non-chargeable Interstate designation, but points out the funding stream (Maricopa County sales tax) and that not using Federal funding reduced the environmental/"bureaucratic" process.

I came across that post, but it's not the one I was looking for. The post I tried to find quoted a suggestion to make the Phoenix loops 3dis, then Kurumi's response "are you trying to get us all killed?", both followed by a lengthy explanation of ADOT/Moeur's deep hostility to the 3di suggestion.

One difference between the Tennessee and Arizona situations, that might explain Tennessee's greater willingness to incur the costs of seeking Interstate designations: Tennessee seems to be one of those states that thinks it needs more economic growth, and that new Interstate designations would help with that. Arizona is a high-growth state (at least in urban areas), and needs to keep up with the growth it already has rather than to stimulate more growth.

[Beltway]

^ This might be the Richard Moeur post in question.  Doesn't specify why ADOT didn't pursue non-chargeable Interstate designation, but points out the funding stream (Maricopa County sales tax) and that not using Federal funding reduced the environmental/"bureaucratic" process.

This is how Tennessee built much of its portion of US 23 south of Johnson City. John Lansford was a very vocal critic of that practice.

Lansford claimed that but I questioned much of what he posted about a variety of issues.

That segment of TN US-23 won major FHWA design awards and the adjoining NC segment did not.  He was upset about that.  He also thought that NC flatulence was noiseless and odorless.

[Scott5114]

Please, no berating DOTs on costumer service, that isnt the intent. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything.

Wait a minute...you list 2 examples berating DOTs...then post this? WTF?

Honestly...Most Transportation departments are huge agencies. If you call with a random, generic question, they may take a while to figure out what you're trying to ask.  Call any company with a generic question, and you'll lieky get the same response.

And Damn...don't give examples of bad experiences then tell us not to give those same examples because "that isn't the intent".  What is the point of this post then?

Never said it was a bad experience, just kind of interesting/humorous. (Edit: I actually said this right before said statement!) Thet were very nice people, not rude or anything... I think I may have been to vague about this.

Not to mention that DOTs are not companies, so you can't really choose to be a "customer" of another DOT (without moving). They are part of your government, paid for with your tax money. If they suck, call them up and give them hell. Politely, of course–the guy on the phone probably isn't the one responsible for whatever issue you have. Same goes for the DOT as it does for your senator, congressman, governor, or whatever.

[hbelkins]

Not to mention that DOTs are not companies, so you can't really choose to be a "customer" of another DOT (without moving). They are part of your government, paid for with your tax money. If they suck, call them up and give them hell. Politely, of course–the guy on the phone probably isn't the one responsible for whatever issue you have. Same goes for the DOT as it does for your senator, congressman, governor, or whatever.

Most problems called into the DOT are maintenance issues. The secretary who answers the phone has no clue what to do about the problem, and she probably doesn't even know where the problem location is. She can't do anything about it. Neither can the public information officer who gets a disproportionate number of those calls forwarded to them because their name is on a press release or some constituent has seen them on TV or seen their name in the newspaper.

[abefroman329]

Not to mention that DOTs are not companies, so you can't really choose to be a "customer" of another DOT (without moving). They are part of your government, paid for with your tax money. If they suck, call them up and give them hell. Politely, of course–the guy on the phone probably isn't the one responsible for whatever issue you have. Same goes for the DOT as it does for your senator, congressman, governor, or whatever.

Most problems called into the DOT are maintenance issues. The secretary who answers the phone has no clue what to do about the problem, and she probably doesn't even know where the problem location is. She can't do anything about it. Neither can the public information officer who gets a disproportionate number of those calls forwarded to them because their name is on a press release or some constituent has seen them on TV or seen their name in the newspaper.

That's why I think sending an email in this situation is more effective than calling - they'll take the text of your query and send it on to whoever needs to see it.  No concerns about the message getting garbled by someone who's trying to relay it, but doesn't really understand it.

[Scott5114]

Not to mention that DOTs are not companies, so you can't really choose to be a "customer" of another DOT (without moving). They are part of your government, paid for with your tax money. If they suck, call them up and give them hell. Politely, of course–the guy on the phone probably isn't the one responsible for whatever issue you have. Same goes for the DOT as it does for your senator, congressman, governor, or whatever.

Most problems called into the DOT are maintenance issues. The secretary who answers the phone has no clue what to do about the problem, and she probably doesn't even know where the problem location is. She can't do anything about it. Neither can the public information officer who gets a disproportionate number of those calls forwarded to them because their name is on a press release or some constituent has seen them on TV or seen their name in the newspaper.

Right–being a jerk is never called for, and nobody wants to deal with that at their job. But the OP's "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything" isn't how we should treat a government agency–criticism is necessary to ensure that the government works for the people.

[Beltway]

Most problems called into the DOT are maintenance issues. The secretary who answers the phone has no clue what to do about the problem, and she probably doesn't even know where the problem location is. She can't do anything about it. Neither can the public information officer who gets a disproportionate number of those calls forwarded to them because their name is on a press release or some constituent has seen them on TV or seen their name in the newspaper.

Support staff should know where to route the call.  I worked in an IT Support Center the last 6 years of my career at VDOT, doing high-level support, and about 80% of the issues that are phoned or e-mailed to the support center involve sending the issue to an appropriate subject matter expert that is not part of ITSC.