Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Progress Report: FDOT Adopts Some OPPAGA Recommendations to Improve Construction and Maintenance Programs

Report 01-44, September 2001

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Report Summary

The Florida Department of Transportation has implemented several of our 1999 report's recommendations for improving the Highway Construction and Engineering and Transportation System Maintenance Programs. The department has

  • expanded its use of alternative construction contracting techniques, which has helped to reduce time and cost overruns, and
  • begun to phase out its central warehouse and implemented a "just-in-time" system for obtaining supplies. The department reports it eliminated four central warehouse positions to date. The salaries and benefits associated with these positions totaled $150,000. The department plans to fully close the central warehouse by December 2002.
However, some of our recommendations have not been implemented. The department has not changed its annual goal for resurfacing roads to prevent further growth in the backlog of deficient lane miles. It also did not revise its standard construction specifications to discourage contractors from unbalanced bidding. Also, the Legislature has not amended the law to allow revenue-producing projects to be advanced as part of the department's Local Government Advance-Reimbursement Program.

Related Reports
  1. Highway Construction and Engineering and Transportation System Maintenance Programs
    Report 99-29 January 2000
  2. PB2 Performance Report for the Florida Department of Transportation's Programs' Performance for Fiscal Year 1997-98
    Report 98-60 February 1999
  3. PB2 Performance Report for the Transportation System Maintenance Program
    Report 98-59 February 1999
  4. PB2 Performance Report for the Highway Construction and Engineering Program
    Report 98-58 February 1999
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
transportation, highway safety, highways, potholes, traffic, safety, construction, maintenance, transportation, bids, outsourcing,unbalanced bidding, public private partnerships, warehouses, resurfacing, paving, life-cycle costs, innovative contracting