The Department of Transportation must improve how it chooses the winners of a popular grant program that has backed more than $4 billion in infrastructure projects since 2009, according to a federal watchdog.
In a report published this week, the General Accountability Office found that at times DOT did not specify why it favored lower-rated state projects over proposals with higher ratings for its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program. GAO also determined DOT had accepted applications after a deadline had expired, which the agency said was due to technical malfunctions.
Overall, GAO recommended DOT develop clear links between project performance measures and program goals to improve the program’s metrics. The agency indicated it would follow the report’s recommendations.
Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, had requested the GAO report after he claimed there was bias on the part of the Obama administration in selecting the projects.
In a statement to reporters, the senator said, “I’m pleased the Department of Transportation has agreed to make reforms.”
This month, DOT announced $600 million in grants for 72 projects in 46 states, including several aimed at rehabilitating deteriorating infrastructure.
