The Montgomery County Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report criticizing the county’s Transportation Management Districts (TMD) for failing to produce required reports on traffic and use of public transportation. The OIG noted these districts also were admonished for this same failure dating back to 2016.
According to the 18-page review of the county’s Transportation Management Districts, the OIG report “found varying degrees of participation” in reporting. This led to incomplete findings on the effectiveness of county traffic plans.
The OIG noted that failure to comply with these requirements “could negatively impact” the county’s ability to understand commuting behaviors. The lack of compliance potentially wasted taxpayer dollars and thwarted the county’s goals.
Transportation Management Districts were established in 1987 to encourage the use of public transportation. The objective was decreasing traffic congestion, reducing air and noise pollution and improving traffic safety. They are set up in the county’s six major business districts.
The reports are required by law, according to the OIG report.
During the previous fiscal year, the county Department of Transportation received $1.2 million from the six districts from parking fees, permits, citations and grants. During that time period, compliance rates in filing the necessary forms “were far below expectations,” according to the reports.
The most recently received reports were in 2014 from Silver Spring, Friendship Heights and Greater Shady Grove. North Bethesda Business District submitted its most recent report in 2020. Bethesda last filed in 2021. White Oak’s district was established in 2015 and has never filled out a report, according to the OIG report.
“Our findings are strikingly similar to those reported in a July 19, 2016, report by the Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight. They too found fault with, among other things, MCDOT’s failure to produce required reports, data collection efforts and enforcement of compliance with TMD plan requirements.”
The OIG staff recommends the transportation department develop and implement a plan to increase reporting and data collection.
Rick Madaleno, County Administrative Officer, responded to the report, noting he concurred with OIG’s recommendations and will follow up.
