San Diego MTS earns 'perfect' state performance audit

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System's (MTS) operations received a "perfect" performance audit from the state of California, agency officials announced earlier this week.

"A perfect performance audit is a testament to great work being done up and down the ranks at MTS," said MTS Chief Executive Officer Paul Jablonski in a press release.

The FY 2013-2015 Performance Audit was required so that the agency could continue to receive State Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds under the California Public Utilities Code. The TDA audit covered MTS operations for fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, the period from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015.

Administered by the San Diego Association of Governments and prepared by CH2M Hill, the audit included evaluations of compliance with pertinent sections of the Public Utilities Code; progress to implement prior performance audit recommendations; agency goals and objectives and performance monitoring systems; and systemwide and functional area performance trends.

Audit findings included that MTS had:

• continued installation of security cameras on buses and trolleys (more than 10,000 cameras are used throughout the system);

• completed a five-year, $660 million trolley renewal project to upgrade the MTS rail network;

• initiated Rapid,a high-frequency, limited-stop bus rapid transit service;

• continued progress on the $24 million East County bus maintenance and operations Facility;

• completed a $30 million South Bay maintenance and operations facility; and

• implemented improvements to a labor contract.

"These accomplishments position MTS well for expanded operations and continued responsible financial management in the future," the auditors said.