Engineer John Doody, a 35-year DOT employee, counters that Rell’s formula to split the agency will create additional bureaucracy and planning inefficiencies, requiring “lots of overpaid consultants.”

“Inter-modal — working together to solve transportation problems by integration of rails, ships, highways and airports — is the best mode to work in,” Doody said.

The union’s plan, according to the report, includes:

• Reforming DOT’s policy of contracting public transportation projects, including a requirement that the state perform a cost-benefit analysis before contracting projects to private contractors.

• Hiring to fill critical DOT staffing shortages that affect public safety in the wake of the loss of 1,000 workers in the past 12 years.

• Recruiting new engineers for DOT’s workforce and establishing policies to retain highly skilled employees.

• Easing the agency’s restrictive overtime cap for engineers, inspectors and safety planners. The argument is that by empowering employees to work additional hours when needed, public safety will be prioritized.

• Creating greater flexibility in DOT work schedules, which now restrict some to a 35-hour week. Establishment of a voluntary 40-hour workweek to help retain staff and attract greater diversity.