MnDOT project selection process too opaque, legislative auditor says

A report released Monday recommends that the Department of Transportation be more transparent in how it decides which highway projects to complete.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor evaluation, presented to a joint hearing of the House and Senate transportation committees, found MnDOT’s selection process overemphasizes projects that can get underway quickly and doesn't provide enough information comparing those projects that are tapped for completion and those that are not.

MnDOT is expected to spend around $18 billion over the next two decades on the state’s trunk highway system, the report notes; but the way it evaluates and chooses the projects often isn’t clear to those affected by their decisions.

“There's a lack of clarity, if you will, about projects on the bubble, and those they get selected and those that don't,” said David Kirchner, evaluation manager with legislative auditor’s office.

Other key findings and recommendations include:

• MnDOT should modify its selection process for Corridors of Commerce — a program targeted at making highway improvements along critical stretches of Greater Minnesota highway — to increase objectivity and transparency, and should be required to report detailed information about the selection process;
• the department should track local government spending on trunk highway improvements; and
• MnDOT should develop a planning process that enables it to prepare for projects that create new highway infrastructure.

Commissioner Charlie Zelle told lawmakers that the department recognizes the issues laid out in the report and largely agrees with the recommendations.

“We embrace bringing more transparency — more of a spotlight — on these programs,” Zelle said.

MORE Read the full report

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