Following recent audits and investigations regarding systemic weaknesses at the Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation (LADOT), City Controller Wendy Greuel this afternoon released a comprehensive management review of the department, and the tone was uplifting.
“After all of the turnover at LADOT in recent years, I am pleased to see department managers taking my audit recommendations seriously as a blueprint towards creating a world-class transportation system in our City,” said Ms. Greuel. “We are at a crucial period in the creation of the next generation of transportation infrastructure. We need effective and accountable leadership at the department to keep Los Angeles moving in the right direction.”
The 218-page review, conducted by a consulting team in conjunction with Mayor Villaraigosa’s office, recommends a series of reforms to improve performance and enhance accountability, calling for major structural changes endorsed by the department’s new leadership.
“The DOT is charting a new path, thanks to the hard work of General Manager Jaime de la Vega and other managers and employees at the department who have all embraced changes to improve this key agency,” said Mr. Villaraigosa. “I appreciate the Controller's recognition of these efforts.”
Ms. Greuel’s review includes 26 specific action plans to reorganize most aspects of LADOT’s internal functions, all focused on achieving a long-term vision of a Los Angeles with a world-class transportation system. Some plans include:
• A top to bottom reorganization of LADOT’s management, emphasizing managerial development for top officials and a more clearly defined organizational hierarchy.
• A plan to get LADOT’s fiscal house in order by simplifying revenue collections, improving internal controls over budget, and streamlining the process for contract awards.
• Making parking enforcement and traffic control more efficient by improving overtime practices and fully contracting out meter revenue collection.
“As chair of the Transportation Committee,” said City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, “I am determined to help free Los Angeles of its choking gridlock by building mass transit, promoting alternative forms of transportation, implementing cutting-edge traffic management technologies, and making this a friendlier city for cyclists and pedestrians.
“To do that, we need a lean, smart, and well-managed department of Transportation. Controller Greuel's report shows DOT is making progress.”
To identify needed change, this management review involved many stakeholders:
• 30 LADOT staff and 22 external stakeholders were interviewed;
• 919 LADOT employees were surveyed, and
• 80 LADOT employees helped develop 26 new action plans that cluster around six areas for improving LADOT ranging from advanced planning to innovation and technology to improving parking enforcement and traffic control.
Previous Greuel-ing reports criticized the department’s parking scofflaw enforcement, parking meter collections, and parking citation process. Controller Greuel launched her top-to-bottom review last June to address structural failures of the old management system.
Ms. Greuel has conducted more than 50 audits and uncovered nearly $125 million that the city has lost to wasteful spending, fraudulent activity and abuse of City resources.
To view the complete report log on to http://controller.lacity.org/index.htm
