Public Transportation: Better Data Needed to Assess Length of New Starts Process, and Options Exist to Expedite Project Development

In 2009, GAO reported that the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) had recently taken action to streamline the New Starts project development process. GAO contacted project sponsors, transit consultants and others who identified a number of options to further streamline and expedite this process. Although each of these options could streamline the process, each option has advantages and disadvantages to consider. In addition, FTA must also strike the appropriate balance between expediting project development and maintaining the rigor and accountability of the New Starts program. Therefore, GAO recommended that FTA analyze streamlining options and determine which to implement or seek legislative approval of, as necessary. In response, FTA considered various streamlining options and determined which to implement to streamline New Starts project development process. FTA officials indicated that in September 2009, the agency published policy guidance taking some immediate steps to extend pre-award authority for activities such as utility relocation and procuring real estate and vehicles, so project sponsors could decide to take these steps before final FTA approval, possibly eliminating some delay. In addition, FTA published a Notice of Proposed rulemaking in January 2012; this rulemaking has, as one of its broad goals, streamlining the New Starts and Small Starts project development process. As a result, the length of New Starts Process should serve as less of a deterrent and encourage more communities to turn to transit to solve their transportation challenges.