Sound Transit performance audit awarded to TKW

The State Auditor's Office has selected Talbot, Korvola & Warwick, LLP (TKW), in conjunction with Delcan Corporation to conduct the performance audit of Sound Transit.

In its proposal, the company says its approach will include the following scope of questions:

1. Has Sound Transit implemented the State Auditor’s recommendations from the prior performance audit in time to benefit Sound Transit 2, which was approved by voters on November 4, 2008? If not, how was ST2 affected?

2. Considering the decline in local tax revenues, how effective has Sound Transit been at meeting the promises made in its ST2 ballot measure in 2008?

a. Were Sound Transit’s adjustments to its original ST2 plan sufficient and       appropriate given the subsequent changes in circumstances? Could Sound Transit have anticipated those changes (by building contingencies, for example)? If so, how? If not, why?

b. Did Sound Transit effectively manage its capital program to enable it to complete the promised ST2 plan on time and on budget? If not, how can it improve its capital program?

3. How accurate are the underlying assumptions driving the ridership model for Link Light Rail, Sounder Commuter Rail and the ST Express Bus? If not, how can Sound Transit improve their reliability?

The audit will cost $322,775 and it should be complete by August. TKW's full proposal can be found here.