County Auditor releases report on the Major Streets Transportation Program

Washington County Auditor Kristine Adams-Wannberg issued her audit on the County’s Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP). This unique program has provided about $1.1 billion over almost 40 years to improve transportation safety and reduce congestion. The audit identified perceptions of the risks for MSTIP in accomplishing its objectives. The report reviewed the connections between these risks and related audit findings and whether those could potentially be mitigated.

Adams-Wannberg said, “The MSTIP’s most significant program risks are financial in nature. The top ones are inflation impacts, adequate funding, and the cost of time delays. These have big impacts in getting transportation projects completed.”

The audit found issues related to these and other risks areas. The audit findings fall into three areas: lack of codification, need for methods to plan for unexpected costs, and the 2017 Bicycle Facilities Policy.

The audit provides recommendations for including the MSTIP in the county code and developing new policies to give it a stronger structure in which to operate in the future. The audit also makes recommendations to improve budget practices and to streamline some processes to make them more efficient and cost less.