Sound Transit is accountable to the public. The agency’s commitment to openness and accountability is evident in its cost and project controls, its outside audits and oversight and with its clearly defined milestones that are updated every year.
External Oversight
“Sound Transit is now a strong, experienced, mature agency. We are confident in the management and leadership that are in place.”
COP report to Sound Transit Board, 2007
The 15-member volunteer Citizen Oversight Panel oversees and monitors the implementation of Sound Transit's voter-approved regional transit plan and provides ongoing review and oversight.
An independent 15-member Diversity Oversight Committee was established by the Sound Transit Board in 2006 to ensure that the agency complies with its guiding principles for employment and contracting.
Oversight also includes the U.S. Congress, which monitors the progress of Sound Transit projects that receive federal grant funding. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General conducted an in-depth two-year review of the Link light rail project.
Ongoing audits and reviews
Sound Transit is one of the most scrutinized public agencies in the state.
-
Sound Transit has received ten straight years of clean financial audits from the state of Washington.
-
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) conducts quarterly reviews of the agency.
-
Sound Transit contracts with a national accounting firm to conduct annual financial audits.
-
Peer reviews of project and financial controls are conducted on an ongoing basis.
-
A state performance audit, released in fall 2007, recognized the strides Sound Transit has made since its start in 1996.
-
Regular independent audits conducted by Lloyd’s Registry Quality Assurance ensure that the agency complies with the terms of its ISO 14001 certification, international recognition of how Sound Transit manages its environmental program.
In January of each year, Sound Transit unveils its major milestones for that year. The milestones are a valuable tool for charting the agency’s achievements and holding it accountable throughout that year.
Project controls
The agency aggressively tracks costs, schedule and financial issues. Sound Transit's project controls management system gives the Board of Directors, the agency's management team and the public a strong tool for tracking Sound Transit projects and their costs and budgets -- as well as trends that could lead to future costs.
Measures of success
-
High-quality projects are completed on time and within budget.
-
Services are well used with high customer satisfaction.
-
Checks and balances ensure accountability to the community.
-
Staff, consultants and contractors are accountable to the Sound Transit Board of Directors.
-
Projects are developed with the help of meaningful community involvement and participation.
-
Technical expertise is appropriate to implement the system.
-
A lean organization reflects the Sound Transit District's values and diversity.
-
Maximum local participation is sought in Sound Transit contracting, including Minority/Women/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms.
-
Projects include innovative design and operating features that benefit customers and attract new riders.
-
Partnerships leverage Sound Transit's investments and/or reduce project costs.