Audit Audit of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority

This audit of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority examines the maintenance of its fleet vehicles, the use of non-revenue-producing vehicles, and reporting of financial information. The audit examined the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017.

Organization:	Office of the State Auditor
Date published:	July 23, 2018

Executive Summary

In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) for the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. In this performance audit, we assessed certain aspects of LRTA’s preventive maintenance activities related to its fleet of vehicles, including equipment and vehicles for transporting passengers with disabilities under the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. We also examined LRTA’s use of its non-revenue-producing vehicles, as well as its compliance with the General Laws regarding providing its financial records to the Secretary of Administration and Finance for public disclosure.

Below is a summary of our findings and recommendations, with links to each page listed.

Finding 1	LRTA did not submit required financial information to the Commonwealth to be made available to the public on a searchable website.
Recommendations	LRTA should develop formal policies and procedures for submitting this required information to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. LRTA should establish monitoring controls to ensure that the staff members assigned to this task adhere to these policies and procedures.
Finding 2	LRTA did not properly document the use of its non-revenue-producing vehicles by its employees.
Recommendations	LRTA should establish policies and procedures, consistent with those established by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, for its non-revenue-producing vehicles that require a log that documents the following: a. the name and driver’s license expiration date of the employee who used the vehicle b. the date and time the vehicle was picked up c. the date and time the vehicle was returned d. the vehicle’s license plate number e. the vehicle description f. the intended destination and purpose g. the beginning odometer reading h. the condition of the vehicle before and after use i. any damage j. any maintenance issues identified during use LRTA should ensure that these policies and procedures include monitoring controls to ensure that they are adhered to.

A PDF copy of the audit of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority is available here.

Abbreviations

EOAF	Executive Office for Administration and Finance
FTA	Federal Transit Administration
MassDOT	Massachusetts Department of Transportation
MBTA	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
LRTA	Lowell Regional Transit Authority
RTA	regional transit authority
RTAI	Ron Turley Associates, Inc.
RTD	Rail and Transit Division

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