Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
DOT staffing vacancies and their impact on operations
3:17:14
ยท
3 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers inquires about DOT's current vacancy rate and its impact on operations. Commissioner Rodriguez and Paul Ochoa provide information on staffing levels and recent improvements.
- DOT currently has 624 vacant positions, a 10.7% vacancy rate
- The vacancy rate is now equal to pre-COVID pandemic levels
- DOT has a successful internship program that helps fill positions
- The agency works with OMB and City Hall to prioritize filling vacancies
- Recent initiatives, including remote work options, have helped with recruitment and retention
- There has been a 21% decrease in employee separations since June 2023
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
3:17:14
Vacancies.
3:17:15
At the fiscal twenty twenty five executive budget hearing in May 2024, commissioner you emphasized to the council's committee on transportation infrastructure and the committee on finance that the department can quote unquote do more with more.
3:17:31
DOT currently has 624 positions that are vacant, a 10.7% vacancy rate.
3:17:39
The PMMR shows a decrease in pothole repairs and roads resurfacing lane miles thus far for fiscal twenty five.
3:17:49
Does the department require more staffing and if so, how many more positions are needed?
Ydanis Rodriguez
3:17:55
Definitely, our agency been budget for that numbers and we have the vacancy which is equal to the pre COVID pandemic.
3:18:07
So and we are happy, you know, with how under mayor administration led by mayor Eric Adams, we've been getting the support that we need.
3:18:17
And and I gotta say that not only the agency is able to fulfill the numbers of vacancy that we have and the numbers now is equal to pre pandemic.
3:18:32
One, we do it because a lot of people want to work at DOT.
3:18:36
Second, because we have a great internship program.
3:18:39
But this time I can tell you there's gonna be hundreds of young people, most of them from college, that they will come starting doing internship.
3:18:48
You know, we had beautiful story from Carlos Bernintas who do our NWBE to Margaret Fujoni who started doing an internship at DOT.
3:18:59
Today, in her case, she led the six operation unit that we have a front hour, bridges, roadways, sidewalks, signal, ferry, and others.
3:19:09
So I you know, Paul can take you into some detail, but definitely, you know, we everyday do the best to fulfill any vacancy that we have in DOT.
3:19:19
But we as I said before, as much money we have is much better for us.
Paul Ochoa
3:19:26
Yes.
3:19:27
Thanks, Chair.
3:19:28
I think you mentioned resurfacing.
3:19:30
I believe the PMMR numbers are just it's it's a kink of just when the PMMR gets released and the way our resurfacing schedule works.
3:19:38
Our resurfacing is over a calendar year.
3:19:40
The PMMR looks at fiscal year, so we usually catch up at the second half of the of the calendar year.
3:19:46
I'm sure Margaret can can add on that.
3:19:49
On on the vacancy point, listen, we work with OMB and City Hall to bring in our priority vacancies.
3:19:55
The seasonal workforce that helps the resurfacing program is an excellent case.
3:19:59
We were just approved for Monday's resurfacing start ahead of Monday's resurfacing season starting about six hundred part time individuals who come in during resurfacing season.
3:20:11
So we do work with OMB and city hall to make sure that we're at the appropriate levels of staffing.
3:20:16
I would also I should also mention the mayor just yesterday announced the expansion of the pilot program that allows some office workers to keep working remotely a couple days a week.
3:20:28
That has been incredibly helpful in terms of recruitment and retention.
3:20:33
We were running some numbers on retention.
3:20:35
And from November 2021 to May 2023, our average monthly separation was about 48.
3:20:43
And from June 2023 to today, our average monthly separations fell 38.
3:20:50
So that's actually about a 21% decrease in people leaving the agency in part because commissioner mentions just an incredible place to work, but also the facilities that the administration has implemented both in terms of salary increases and also the ability to work remotely.