VDOT and CDOT work well together

Posted August 12, 2026 at 10:46 AM, Filed Under: All News, Front Page, Meetings

By Greg Pearson

Despite having among the largest responsibilities for a state department of transportation in the United States, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) recently retired assistant district engineer for planning, programming and project development assured members of the Brandermill Region Men’s Club that VDOT and CDOT (Chesterfield’s Department of Transportation) work well together. That was the assessment of Mark Riblett, who retired on August 1 having worked for CDOT for 13 years before serving 27 years with VDOT. VDOT has overall responsibility for maintaining Chesterfield’s roads, including designing, building and maintaining them. Where required by the county, CDOT recommends proffers on developers to help pay for new construction in and adjacent to the developers’ new commercial and residential projects.

Riblett urged BRMC members to weigh in with their questions and concerns when VDOT is seeking community input on new road projects. “It can make a difference,” he said, citing a roundabout that was proposed near Cosby High School. After evaluating citizen comments, VDOT put in four stop signs instead.

But generally, Riblett said, roundabouts are more acceptable to Chesterfield residents today than when they were first introduced more than ten years ago. “Citizens have gotten used to them,” he added.

VDOT uses cameras to monitor traffic but doesn’t face the criticism from citizens that law enforcement does from Flock cameras. VDOT doesn’t save the data but rather uses them to provide drivers with timely, useful information to avoid traffic congestion, vehicle accidents or road construction.

Much of VDOT’s road funding is derived from taxes on gasoline totaling 42.2 cents per gallon. That includes an excise tax of 32.6 cents per gallon plus a statewide motor vehicle fuel tax of 9.6 cents per gallon. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.