WILLIAM MARBACK INTERIM INSPECTOR GENERAL
CITY OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 740 NORTH SEDGWICK STREET, SUITE 200 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60654 TELEPHONE: (773) 478-7799 FAX: (773) 478-3949
MARCH 9, 2022
TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY CLERK, CITY TREASURER, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has completed a follow-up to its June 2020 audit of the Chicago Department of Transportation's (CDOT) traffic signal planning practices. Based on the Department's responses, OIG concludes that CDOT has fully implemented one of three corrective actions related to the audit finding, substantially implemented another, and partially implemented the third.
The purpose ofthe 2020 audit was to determine whether CDOT's traffic signal planning met industry best practices as defined by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Our audit found that CDOT did not have a traffic signal management plan, objectives, or performance measures connecting its traffic signal management program to broader Department goals and City plans.
Based on the results ofthe audit, OIG recommended that CDOT develop a traffic signal management plan aligned with FHWA recommendations, including clear goals and objectives, performance measures, and a strategy to transition toward more proactive signal maintenance and retiming work. OIG also recommended that the Department conduct an analysis to determine its staffing needs related to traffic signals and work with the Office of Budget and Management to meet those needs. In its response to the audit, CDOT described corrective actions it would take.
In December 2021, OIG inquired about corrective actions taken by CDOT in response to the audit. Based on CDOT's follow-up response, OIG concludes that CDOT has substantially implemented one corrective action, fully implemented another, and partially implemented the third. Specifically, CDOT has drafted a traffic signal management plan—with assistance from each of its relevant divisions—but the plan lacks recommended elements, such as targets, and has not yet been published. Finally, CDOT has not yet performed a staffing analysis, but plans to do so in 2022.
Once fully implemented, OIG believes the corrective actions reported by CDOT may reasonably be expected to resolve the finding noted in the audit. We urge the Department to publish its traffic signal management plan and complete its staffing analysis for the traffic signal program. Below, we summarize our audit finding and recommendations, as well as the Department's response to our follow-up.
IGCHICAGO.ORG | OIG TIPLINE: (866) 448-4754 | TTY: (773) 478-2066
OIG FILE #21-2195
CDOT TRAFFIC SIGNAL PLANNING AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
We thank the staff and leadership of CDOT for their cooperation during the audit and responsiveness to our follow-up inquiries.
Respectfully,
William Marback Interim Inspector General City of Chicago
OIG FILE #21-2195
CDOT TRAFFIC SIGNAL PLANNING AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
FOLLOW UP-RESULTS
In December 2021, OIG followed up on its June 2020 Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Traffic Signal Planning audit.1 CDOT responded by describing the corrective actions it has taken and providing supporting documentation. Below, we summarize OIG's finding, the associated recommendations, and the status of CDOT's corrective actions. Our follow-up did not observe or test implementation of the new procedures; thus, we make no determination as to their effectiveness, which would require a new audit with full testing.
Without a traffic signal management plan, CDOT . cannot ensure that traffic signals are optimized to promote traffic safety, reduce congestion, and minimize air pollution.
OIG Recommendation 1:
OIG recommended that CDOT develop and publish a traffic signal management plan that aligns with FHWA recommendations. The plan should include,
clear goals and objectives, including analysis of how traffic signal management fits into broader CDOT goals and City plans;
performance measures related to each objective;
a set of actions to help meet the plan's goals and objectives; and
definitions of staff responsibilities and descriptions of staffers' expected roles in achieving the goals and objectives.
Status of Corrective Action: Substantially Implemented
CDOT has developed a traffic signal management plan and is currently reviewing the plan with senior staff. The Department has not published the plan yet, but intends to do so in 2022. The plan includes goals and objectives, describes actions to meet those objectives, and defines division staffers' roles and responsibilities.
While the plan identifies goals, there remains an opportunity to more specifically define targets related to performance measures. For example, the targets in the plan do not mention current performance levels, the related numeric expectations, or the time period for measurements (such as defining whether the targets are per week, month, or year). The lack of
1 City of Chicago Office of Inspector General "Chicago Department of Transportation Traffic Signal Planning Audit," June 17, 2020, https//igchicago.orR/2020/06/17/chicago-department-of-transportation-traffic-sifinal-planning-audit/.
PAGE 3
OIG FILE #21-2195
CDOT TRAFFIC SIGNAL PLANNING AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
these elements could make it more difficult for CDOT to assess progress toward its goals.
OIG Recommendation 2:
OIG recommended that CDOT ensure that each of its divisions involved in managing traffic signals help develop the traffic signal management plan.
Status of Corrective Action: Fully Implemented
CDOT stated that the Traffic Safety, Electrical Operations, and Engineering divisions participated in developing the plan. Each division contributed to the initial draft and participated in four workshops in June and July 2021 to discuss and finalize the plan. CDOT also stated that relevant staff from each division were given the opportunity to provide additional input on the draft plan.
OIG Recommendation 3:
OIG recommended that CDOT, using FHWA staffing guidance, conduct an analysis to determine its staffing needs related to traffic signals, then work with the Office of Budget and Management to meet those needs.
Status of Corrective Action: Partially Implemented
CDOT stated that it has not yet performed a formal staffing analysis, but intends to do so on a yearly basis starting in 2022. The Department did, however, perform a limited staffing review in 2021. Based on the review, CDOT added four new positions in the 2022 budget and immediately filled a supervisor position in the Traffic Safety division that had been vacant for more than four years.
PAGE 4
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent, nonpartisan oversight agency whose mission is to promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity in the administration of programs and operations of City government. OIG achieves this mission through,
administrative and criminal investigations by its Investigations section;
performance audits of City programs and operations by its Audit and Program Review section;
inspections, evaluations and reviews of City police and police accountability programs, operations, and policies by its Public Safety section; and
compliance audit and monitoring of City hiring and human resources activities by its Compliance section.
From these activities, OIG issues reports of findings and disciplinary or other recommendations to assure that City officials, employees, and vendors are held accountable for violations of laws and policies; to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of government operations; and to prevent, identify, and eliminate waste, misconduct, fraud, corruption, and abuse of public authority and resources.
• OIG's authority to produce reports of its findings and recommendations is established in the City of Chicago Municipal Code §§ 2-56-030(d), -035(c), -110, -230, and -240.
PROJECT TEAM
Sam IMaik, Senior Performance Analyst Kathleen O'Donovan, Chief Performance Analyst
PUBLIC INQUIRIES
Communications: (773) 478-8417 | communications@igchicago.org
TO SUGGEST WAYS TO IMPROVE CITY GOVERNMENT
Visit: igchicago.org/contact-us/help-improve-city-government
TO REPORT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN CITY PROGRAMS
Call OIG's toll-free hotline: (866) 448-4754 / TTY: (773) 478-2066 Or visit: igchicago.org/contact-us/report-fraud-waste-abuse/
Cover image courtesy of OIG.
Alternate formats available upon request.