Another in a series of audits of Virginia’s transportation department has found what some have suspected for a long time: the agency has no priorities, and it’s largely because of political meddling.

The latest audit, conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) finds that VDOT did, for a brief time, have objective criteria for determining which road projects to undertake.  Page 31 of the JLARC report has a handy flow chart showing how VDOT’s planning office decided which projects to put first in line.  At the top of the list: “Provide a transportation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods”…or what you and I might call congestion relief. Safety came next, then economic development, “quality of life” and lastly, efficient management.