Legislative Oversight Mechanisms

Ongoing oversight by one or more legislative committees; interim charges; legislative program reviews or performance audits; legislative review of non-legislative program reviews or performance audits; reporting requirements; legislative requests for information. Statute requires the Office of Financial Management to submit a report every two years on the progress of state transportation agencies toward policy goals and objectives prescribed by statute, appropriation and governor directive.

Legislative Program Evaluation Office

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. Both this committee and the state auditor (a separately elected official) periodically conduct audits-including performance audits-of WSDOT programs and activities. The interim Joint Transportation Committee also conducts a number of studies and evaluations of WSDOT expenditures and activities. The 2003 and 2005 funding packages included performance audits of state transportation agencies and other accountability measures. In addition, from 2003 to 2006, the state had a legislatively created, separate transportation audit unit, the Transportation Performance Audit Board (repealed by 2006 Wash. Laws, Chap. 334).

Sunset Review

The state conducts sunset reviews, but not of WSDOT.