Testimony

The Inspector General testified before the House Transportation-Treasury Appropriations Subcommittee regarding cost drivers on Federal-aid highway projects and the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) oversight of Federal highway funds. He testified that to obtain better value for the Federal investment additional action is needed in eight areas: (1) preparing reliable cost estimates; (2) implementing more cost-effective engineering alternatives; (3) managing project schedules to minimize costly delays; (4) recovering overpayments from contractors and promptly resolving construction claims to control costs; (5) preparing finance plans to identify project cost, schedule, funding, and risks; (6) ensuring that statewide plans properly represent how funds will be spent; (7) strengthening efforts to prevent and detect fraud; and (8) refocusing FHWA efforts on project management and financial oversight. FHWA Administrator Mary Peters also testified.