The Metro Auditor's Office released an audit on February 3 on Metro's ability to evaluate transportation project outcomes. Auditors were unable to determine if transportation investments over a five-year period were moving the region toward desired outcomes in Metro's 2040 growth management plan.
The purpose of this audit was to determine if transportation projects completed between Federal Fiscal Years 2004 and 2008 were compatible with the goals in the 2040 Plan. The audit found that Metro's project-tracking processes were set up to comply with federal and state planning requirements rather than assessing progress toward the region's growth management plan.
"Metro only tracked projects for which it directly allocated federal funds" Metro Auditor Suzanne Flynn said. "Of the $722 million in federal funds in the time period we studied, Metro allocated $108 million, or 15 percent of the total."
Auditor Flynn noted that auditors were able to determine that the projects selected by Metro to receive federal funds were compatible with the 2040 Plan. A determination could not be made about the majority of the funds because of incomplete data. The audit recommends that Metro assign responsibility for evaluating 2040 Plan outcomes and commit the appropriate resources to improve data management. Auditor Flynn stated that Metro concurred with audit recommendations and recognized that there were gaps in the available information.
Copies of the audit can also be obtained by calling the Office of the Metro Auditor at 503-797-1892.