http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=20 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site related to Highways en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=20 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2578 At the request of U.S. Senator Christopher S. Bond, we will review the performance of the Department of Transportation (Department) and the Denali Commission in using Federalaid highway funds to improve Alaskas surface and maritime transportation infrastructure. Our objectives are to (1) assess the Denali Commissions use of Federalaid highway funds and (2) evaluate the Departments oversight of the Denali Commission and state transportation agencies. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2578 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2563 The Office of Inspector General will conduct an audit to evaluate the effectiveness of the Federal Highway Administrations National Review Team in conducting national oversight of highway funds and mitigating risks posed by the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2563 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2559 The Office of Inspector General is initiating an audit of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State DOT oversight of projects administered by Local Public Agencies (LPAs). We will review projects using both American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and nonARRA Federalaid highway funds. The audit objective is to assess the effectiveness of FHWAs process to improve State oversight of LPA projects. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2559 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2527 The Office of Inspector General plans to audit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program (CARS). In August 2009, legislation added $2 billion to the original $1 billion program. The legislation requires us to review NHTSAs administration of CARS. Further, at the request of Senator Charles Grassley, we will focus on NHTSAs implementation of the program. The objective of this audit is to assess whether NHTSAs oversight and management controls ensure that CARS transactions (1) meet Federal requirements; (2) use data that are accurate and reliable; and (3) are protected against fraud, waste, and abuse. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2527 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2530 On August 17, we issued our report on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations (FMCSA) implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) crossborder trucking provisions. This report is required under Section 350(c) of the FY 2002 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act. We found that FMCSA continually took actions to address our August 2007 recommendations for improving the border safety program, but needed to enhance the consistency of information reported to the Mexican Conviction Database (MCDB) and its capacity to perform safe and efficient bus inspections at border crossings. FMCSA concurred with all five of the reports recommendations for improvement and provided appropriate planned actions and target completion dates. Note: As directed in the committee report accompanying the annual appropriations act for the Department of Transportation, OIG reports requested by the House or Senate Committees on Appropriations must be withheld from public distribution for a period of 15 days. In compliance with this requirement, the report was made available on our Web site on September 2, 2009. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2530 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2519 On July 30, 2009, we issued our report on the audit of the Data Integrity of the Commercial Drivers License Information System (CDLIS), as required by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA−LU). This audit addressed the validity of CDLIS data and security issues. We assessed: (1) whether convictions received from the courts were recorded in a timely manner, (2) whether CDLIS and state department of motor vehicles (DMV) systems were adequately secured, and (3) the adequacy of contingency plans to ensure continued CDLIS service to DMVs following a disaster or other emergency. FMCSA has taken measures to strengthen the CDL program, but additional action is necessary to increase the safety of the Nations highways. First, DMVs are still experiencing delays in posting convictions to their driver history records for CDLIS users access. Second, deficiencies in security controls persist. Specifically, system certification and accreditation reviews have not been completed, and states lag in developing and implementing comprehensive security policies and procedures to better protect DMV systems. Third, enhanced contingency planning and testing of both CDLISAccess and state DMV systems has not fully occurred. We made specific recommendations to address these weaknesses. The Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concurred with our findings and recommendations, and has provided plans to take specific actions to implement them. Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2519 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2496 On June 24, we issued a results of our review related to the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, conducted at the request of Senator Judd Gregg, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee. As requested, our objectives were to evaluate: (1) the basis for the Departments projection of the magnitude and timing of a Highway Account cash shortfall; (2) how that projection would vary under different assumptions; and (3) the triggers the Department uses to decide that the risk of insolvency for the Highway Account requires action by the Administration and Congress.We found that the Department used a reasonable methodology to project the magnitude and timing of a cash shortfall. However, some of its assumptions were outdated, as the Department did not use actual yeartodate data to adjust total revenue or outlay estimates. This could yield a margin of error in those projections of up to $1 billion in magnitude and 2 weeks in timing. We also found that the Departments cash balance forecasts vary largely due to factors outside the Departments control. While the accuracy of the Departments projections could be incrementally improved, the range of defensible values for the factors influencing those projections makes it difficult to estimate precisely either the magnitude or timing of the cash shortfall. Finally, we found that the Department relies on cash balance forecasts to trigger formal notification to Congress and the States of a potential insolvency in the Highway Account. While the Department greatly increased the amount of data publicly available regarding the balance of the Highway Account, until recently it has lacked a consistent and easily understood message regarding the timing and magnitude of a cash shortfall. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2496 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2440 On March 11, 2009, we issued our report on RITAs Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office (JPO). We assessed whether the JPO is effectively managing and overseeing the ITS program by (a) tracking project results and outcomes, (b) managing the ITS budget and overseeing contracts, and (c) providing direction and crossmodal coordination. While ITS initiatives have achieved DOTwide support, we found weaknesses in how the JPO measures project results, executes budget and contract procedures, and manages ITS research projects. Specifically, the JPO has not ensured that its contractors assessments of ITS projects have been useful, timely, or complete. In addition, contractors were producing costly, duplicative work. We also found the JPO was operating without documented budget procedures. As a result, ITS financial reports were not consistently reconciled in 2008, and nearly $20 million in unneeded funds was left on old contracts and agreements. Furthermore, we found the JPO lacked uniform project management standards and project benefitcost analyses; such procedures might have mitigated cost overruns and delays experienced by several ITS initiatives. Finally, we found that the JPO needs to address conflicts of interest, such as allowing the Volpe Center to both oversee and administer the Safe Trip21 project.Our recommendations to JPO focus on: (1) strengthening the ITS assessment program, (2) restructuring support contractor services, (3) documenting budget procedures, (4) coordinating with FHWA to deobligate nearly $20 million in unneeded funds on old contracts and agreements, and (5) strengthening project management by requiring uniform procedures and benefitcost analyses. We also recommend that RITA transfer oversight of the Safe Trip21 project from Volpe to the JPO to avoid conflicts of interest and to comply with DOT Order 2300.8. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2440 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2426 On February 6, 2009, we issued a status report on the NAFTA CrossBorder Trucking Demonstration Project, in keeping with legislation enacted in May 2007. By law, we are required to issue a final report 60 days after the conclusion of the project, which was initiated on September 6, 2007. This report describes the status of the project at the conclusion of the first year. It also responds to a question for the record from our March 2008 testimony before the Senate on the withdrawal of Trinity Industries de Mexico from the project. Our report found that after the first year, FMCSA has not demonstrated that the number of Mexican carriers participating in the demonstration project is adequate to yield statistically valid results, and that in some respects, the participants are not representative of all applicants for longhaul authority in terms of some business characteristics and outofservice rates. The panel that the Department established to provide an independent evaluation of the demonstration project completed its report on the first year of the demonstration project but will not continue in that capacity during the remainder of the project. FMCSA will continue to monitor the participants and conduct an internal evaluation of any effects of the project on motor carrier safety in the United States. While FMCSA implemented Federal and state monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and checks are occurring at the border, a key quality control measure designed to provide assurance that all trucks are checked is not adequate because it relies on incomplete data. Finally, Trinity Industries de Mexico voluntarily withdrew from the project to avoid business disruptions, and its prior safety history showed that outofservice rates were lower that those of United States carriers. We recommended that FMCSA demonstrate that the project meets congressional requirements to yield statistically valid results by (a) determining the minimum number of Mexican carriers that must participate, (b) developing a plan to attain a sufficient number of carriers if they have not met this threshold, and (c) providing this information to the OIG and appropriate congressional committees. We also recommended that FMCSA develop and implement a new quality control plan to provide assurance that every Mexican truck is checked upon every entry to the United States, and that FMCSA conduct a cost/benefit analysis to determine if renewing GPS services will provide benefits that outweigh the costs. Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2426 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2415 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is initiating a review of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) fiscal year (FY) 2008 Drug Control Obligation Summary and Performance Summary Reports. The review will be conducted in accordance with the attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2415