Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation's (DOT) changing role as its programs place greater reliance on state and local governments and the private sector to operate transportation systems, in order to: (1) assess DOT management; (2) analyze its problems; and (3) recommend improvements.
GAO found that: (1) DOT has made transportation safety one of its highest and most visible priorities, but needs a more systematic approach for measuring progress; (2) since grantees now have greater control over funds and more flexibility to select projects, DOT needs to resolve issues concerning program accountability; (3) to prevent loss of services due to budget reductions, DOT needs to modernize its financial, information resource management, and procurement systems; (4) DOT needs to improve its management of human resources to cope with changes caused by deregulation and the emphasis on deficit reduction; and (5) DOT needs to implement a strategic research and development (R&D) policy by linking R&D investment resources to DOT priorities and industry needs.
