Norton Asks DDOT to Consider Alternatives to Suspending All Roadwork Ahead of MLK Weekend and Inauguration
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released her letter to District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif Dormsjo asking DDOT to consider alternatives to the current plan of suspending all construction activities on roadways and sidewalks from Friday, January 13, 2017 through Tuesday, January 24, 2017.
In her letter, Norton wrote, "For years, no such work stoppage before the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK Jr.) holiday and the presidential inauguration has proved necessary. I am not aware of any federal security issues, orders or directives for such an extreme cutback on work, causing serious economic harm to our city's economy and workers. Inasmuch as construction workers generally get paid only when they work, this stoppage gives no consideration to the substantial loss of pay they would incur."
Norton's full letter is below.
Leif Dormsjo
Director
District Department of Transportation
55 M Street SE, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20003
Dear Director Dormsjo:
I write out of concern about the District Department of Transportation's (DDOT) decision to suspend all construction activities on roadways and sidewalks from Friday, January 13, 2017, at noon through Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at noon. I am interested because of my work as Ranking Member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, which last Congress passed the first long-term surface transportation bill in a decade.
As I understand it, suspension of work will impact public and private construction. For years, no such work stoppage before the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK Jr.) holiday and the presidential inauguration has proved necessary. I am not aware of any federal security issues, orders or directives for such an extreme cutback on work, causing serious economic harm to our city's economy and workers. Inasmuch as construction workers generally get paid only when they work, this stoppage gives no consideration to the substantial loss of pay they would incur. An alternative that we believe would be adequate to protect all involved might be a work suspension that begins in preparation for the MLK Jr. holiday beginning Friday, January 13 at noon through Tuesday, January 17 at noon, the day after the holiday, and again in preparation and observance of the presidential inauguration from Thursday, January 19 at noon through Monday, January 23 at noon.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter with you further at a meeting.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton