Transportation

The Performance Audit of Transit examined six general areas: financial and capital planning including analysis of trolley replacement options and fare strategies; bus service development; bus operator and transit police staffing; Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit; vehicle maintenance; and ridership data and customer communications during emergencies. This audit focuses on providing information that will result in cost savings and analyses that decision-makers can utilize when making policy decisions. Presented to the Government, Accountability & Oversight Committee September 15, 2009.

Summary Report  (1,578 KB)
Technical Report A - Financial & Capital Planning  (227 KB)
Technical Report B - Service Development  (141 KB)
Technical Report C - Staffing  (795 KB)
Technical Report D - Paratransit  (283 KB)
Technical Report E - Vehicle Maintenance  (100 KB)
Technical Report F - Ridership Data & Emergency Communication  (103 KB)
One-Page Summary  (32 KB)

Roads Concurrency Follow-Up Study (2007)
Larry Brubaker, Mirai Transportation Planning and Engineering

This study follows up the 2006 Roads Concurrency Study that found the concurrency program complex and lacking transparency, and reviews the modeling that was conducted in support of the 2007 Concurrency Ordinance. Presented May 22, 2007.Report in pdf Format (810 KB) Report Summary (17 KB)

County Vehicle Replacement Performance Audit (2007)
Rob McGowan, Larry Brubaker, Allan Thompson, Ron Perry

The County Vehicle Replacement Performance Audit evaluates the county’s management of its vehicle replacement programs. The audit examines whether the county uses lifecycle cost analysis to determine the most cost-effective replacement schedule for county vehicles and whether the county manages its cost recovery process to ensure viability of the vehicle replacement program. The audit also assesses whether the county manages its fleet to ensure the most efficient utilization of vehicles.

Report in pdf Format (1.19 MB)            Report Summary (25 KB)

Follow up on Performance Audit of Transit Capital Planning and Management (2007)
Rob McGowan, Bob Thomas

The management letter provides results of our follow-up of our 2005 Performance Audit of the Department of Transportation Transit Division (Transit) Capital Planning and Management. Transit has partially implemented our begun implementing several of our recommendations to improve capital planning. Issued January 16, 2007.

Management Letter (147 KB)

Report on King County Concurrency Modeling Review (2006)
Larry Brubaker, Mirai Transportation Planning & Engineering

The study assessed the validity of the transportation modeling practices used by the Roads Services Division for the program, and assessed the impact of policy changes to the program adopted by the County Council in 2004.

Report in pdf Format (2,596 KB)            Report Summary (20 KB)

Follow-up on Implementation of Recommendations from
2004 Performance Audit of the Roads Services Division
Capital Planning (2006)
Rob McGowan, Bob Thomas

The management letter provides the results of our follow-up review of our 2004 Roads Services Division Capital Planning performance audit. Issued January 6, 2006.

Management Letter (52 KB)

Transit Capital Planning and Management (2005)
Rob McGowan, Bob Thomas

The primary objective of the audit was to assess the extent to which the Department of Transportation Transit Division's practices are consistent with industry best practices for capital planning and management. Presented September 13, 2005.

Report in pdf Format (929 KB)            Report Summary (31 KB)

Roads Services Division Capital Planning (2004)
Valerie Whitener, Rob McGowan

The performance audit reviewed the county's planning, prioritization, and management of road and road-related infrastructure capital improvement projects. Presented on September 14, 2004.

Report in pdf Format (356 KB)

Transit Pass Employee Benefit Tax Issue (2003)
Bert Golla

Monitored development of Employee Transit Pass policies and procedures to ensure the benefit is within federal payroll tax guidelines and that it minimizes costs and liability for the county and its employees. Issued February 25, 2003.

Management Letter in PDF Format (66 KB)

Vanpool Replacement and Surplus Practices (2001)
Bert Golla, Susan Baugh

The audit reviewed the vanpool program to determine the reasonableness of van replacement and surplusing practices. Presented August 28, 2001.

Report in PDF Format (1.19 MB)            Report Summary

Metro Transit Vehicle Maintenance Operations (1999)
Susan Baugh

The audit reviewed and evaluated transit vehicle maintenance procedures and practices. Issued September 28, 1999.

 Report in PDF Format (466KB)            Report Summary

Transit Management Audit (Consultant) (1999)
John T. Doolittle & Associates, Inc.
Porter & Associates, Inc.

in association with
Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
Roskin Consulting
McCollom Management Consulting, Inc.
Kilpatrick Consulting Group

The audit evaluated the integration of the Transit Division into the structure of the county including policy-making structure; evaluated the division’s implementation of county policies; evaluated the performance of management operations; identified potential efficiencies affecting Transit Division operations; and evaluated the Transit Division’s financial policies and plans, and the effectiveness of its management controls. Presented September 22, 1999.

Executive Response in PDF Format (1,067KB)            Report in PDF Format (535KB)

Roads/Transit Consolidation Opportunities (1999)
Susan Baugh

The study reviewed operations and identified similar functions performed by the Roads and Transit Divisions, determined how the functions are tracked in the Department of Transportation’s accounting system, and determined whether there are opportunities for performing these functions more efficiently. Issued July 22, 1999.

Report in PDF Format (30KB)            Report Summary

Traffic Volume Forecast Model (1999)
Bobby Buyco

The study reviewed the reasonableness of the model used to forecast road traffic volumes related to development. Presented July 13, 1999.

 Report in PDF Format (1,213KB)            Report Summary

Road Maintenance Contracts (1998)
Makoto (Mac) Fletcher

The audit reviewed the county road maintenance contracts with cities, determine the amount of work being done, and assess whether reimbursement rates are appropriate. Presented February 9, 1999.

Report Summary

Metro Tunnel Rail Installation Process (1998)
Susan Baugh, Risa Sandler

The audit determined the reason that the rail located in the tunnel needs to be replaced for light rail to be able to use the tunnel. Presented September 29, 1998.

Report Summary

Motor Pool (1997)
Bobby Buyco

The study reviewed and evaluated motor pool costs and charges with those of other public jurisdictions performing similar services. Also determine the adequacy of motor pool fund replacement reserves. Issued November 17, 1997.

Report Summary

Road Construction Fund and Capital Improvement Program (1996)
Susan Baugh, Dan Eder

The audit reviewed and evaluated the growth in the size of the Road Fund and why spending on projects has not kept pace with annual revenues. Issued November 15, 1996.

Report Summary