JUNE 2019
CITY OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE PUBLIC WAY FOLLOW-UP INQUIRY
JOSEPH M FERGUSON INSPECTOR GENERAL
CITY OF CHICAGO
All 10: OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
740 NORTH SEDGWICK STREET, SUITE 200 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60654 TELEPHONE (773)478-7799 FAX (773) 478-3949
JUNE 11,2019
TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY CLERK, CITY TREASURER, AND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
The City of Chicago Office of inspector General (OIG) has completed a follow-up to its January 2018 audit ofthe Chicago Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Management of Construction in the Public Way. Based on the Department's responses, OIG concludes that CDOT has implemented some corrective actions, while others are still in progress, only partially implemented, or not implemented at all.
The purpose of the 2018 audit was to determine whether CDOT maximized public way project coordination opportunities, thereby protecting City infrastructure and minimizing disruptions, and whetherthe Department ensured that permittees restored street surfaces in accordance with its rules and regulations. OIG found that CDOT's project coordination efforts saved the City at least $18.1 million in 2016 and reduced unnecessary roadwork, though we identified further opportunities to improve coordination. We also found that CDOT did not consistently hold public way opening permittees accountable for poor-quality restoration work.
Based on the results ofthe audit, OIG recommended that CDOT,
improve its coordination program by increasing information sharing among stakeholder agencies regarding their long-term capital improvement plans;
improve project coordination with the City's Department of Water Management (DWM) and ensure that DWM provides a five-year capital plan;
involve the Public Building Commission (PBC) and Department of Planning and Development (DPD) in project coordination efforts;
assume full responsibility for core infras...
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