GAO Says DOT, Corps Not Adequately Prioritizing Transport Infrastructure Spending
Spending obligations for navigable waterways have decreased from over $3 billion in fiscal year 2009 to about $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2011, the Government Accountability Office said in a report. DOT does not specifically track formula funding used to maintain or improve ports or port connectors, GAO said, so officials were unable to provide GAO with the extent to which these funds were used for port improvements, although the officials said the number of port-specific projects was likely small.
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As a result, GAO recommended that DOT should: "(1) inform the development of the National Freight Strategic Plan with the Corps' planned investments in the nation's navigable waterways and (2) ensure the review and update of the National Strategy for the MTS [Marine Transportation System] to include accountability mechanisms for the Strategy's recommended actions." It said DOT agreed to consider the report's recommendations.
Aging MTS infrastructure, a growing backlog of projects, and the lack of an MTS system-wide prioritization strategy "represent key challenges" for the Army Corps of Engineers and DOT to maintain and improve MTS infrastructure, the GAO said. The Corps and DOT "have taken some steps to prioritize their individual funding decisions, but none of these efforts consider MTS infrastructure system-wide," GAO said.
GAO said the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act requires DOT to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan and to consult with appropriate transportation stakeholders, but DOT and the Corps "have historically had limited coordination involving system-wide MTS investments." It also said involving the Corps in the development of the National Freight Strategic Plan "is particularly important given the critical role navigable waterways play in freight movement." The Committee on the Marine Transportation System "has the opportunity to take further actions to help ensure that its 2008 National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System is reviewed and updated to reflect new and emerging challenges," GAO said.
Additional information: Lorelei St.James at 202512-2834 or stjamesl@gao.gov.