Program - Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of ...

HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT PROGRAMSIN PROGRESSFTA Oversight of Major Transit Projectsin New York CityOIG is conducting audits of four transit projects inNew York City, totaling approximately $7 billion inFederal funding: (1) the Fulton Street Transit Center,(2) the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Terminal,(3) the Second Avenue Subway, and (4) the EastSide Access projects. OIG is evaluating the effectivenessof FTA’s oversight of each project andassessing whether ARRA goals and requirementsare being met, if applicable.FTA Oversight of the Dulles CorridorMetrorail ProjectOIG is conducting an audit of FTA’s oversight ofPhase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project inthe Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. This infrastructureproject involves a Federal investmentof $900 million through FTA’s New Starts program,including $77.3 million in ARRA funds. Our auditobjectives are to (1) evaluate the effectiveness ofFTA’s oversight of the Dulles Corridor MetrorailProject and (2) assess safety concerns.Oversight Challenges Associated withTransit Safety ProgramsOIG is reviewing challenges associated withenhancing federal oversight authority for transitsafety programs. Our audit objective is to highlightchallenges and risks related to increasing Federaloversight of transit safety and actions the Departmentcan take to enhance its effectiveness.NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOIG is reviewing actions taken by NHTSA’s Officeof Defects Investigation (ODI) with regard to Toyotarecalls and the overall process for identifyingand investigating safety defects. Our audit objectivesare to (1) examine NHTSA’s efforts to ensureODI has the appropriate information systemsand processes in place to promptly identify andtake action to address potential safety defects asintended by the Transportation Recall Enhancement,Accountability, and Documentation Act;(2) assess NHTSA’s procedures and processes forensuring companies provide timely notification ofpotential safety defects; and (3) examine lessonslearned from the Toyota recalls to identify neededimprovements to current policies and procedures.NHTSA Ethics PoliciesAt the request of the Chairmen of the SenateCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportationand its Subcommittee on ConsumerProtection, Product Safety, and Insurance, OIG isreviewing NHTSA’s ethics policies and practices.We are assessing whether (1) NHTSA’s ethicspolicies, procedures, and training are adequateto prevent pre- and post-employment ethicsviolations or appearances of impropriety and (2)Work Planned and in Progress • 50