U S Government Accountability Office

Federal-Aid Highways U S Government Accountability Office

" FHWA provides funding to states to build and maintain the nation's roadways and bridges. States may then make federal funding available to a local public agency, such as a city or a county, to administer projects. FHWA estimates that 7,000 local public agencies administer such projects. FHWA has identified locally administered projects as an agency-wide, high-risk oversight area. GAO was asked to review FHWA's oversight of locally administered projects. GAO examined: (1) what is known about federal-aid projects local agencies administer; (2) what risks are presented by local agencies administering federal-aid projects and what is being done to mitigate risks; and (3) what challenges local agencies report in administering federal-aid projects. GAO conducted site visits to three states based on federal obligations and other factors. GAO analyzed FHWA obligation data, reviewed relevant documentation, and interviewed FHWA, state, and local agency officials. "