 |
|
3/2/2026
|
Rep. Stewart, Sen. Zurier bill would require an efficiency and performance audit of RIDOT
|
STATE HOUSE — Rep. Jennifer A. Stewart (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket) and Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence) have introduced legislation (2026-H 7499, 2026-S 2124) calling for the Department of Administration to commission an efficiency and performance audit of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
The agency has come under close scrutiny after a forensic audit suggested that transportation officials overlooked problems with the Washington Bridge before the structure had to be closed.
“We’ve heard conflicting reports and statements from RIDOT officials over what they knew and didn’t know about the state of the Washington Bridge,” said Representative Stewart. “We’ve had difficulty in getting any information about the entire procedure. It’s time for a fresh pair of eyes to take a close look at the inner workings of the agency so we can have some assurances that it’s operating at an acceptable level of efficiency.”
Representative Stewart also pointed to the possibility that an efficiency audit could conceivably find money that could be freed up and redirected to better fund the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority as well as general road maintenance.
“This is a need that is especially pressing given the service cuts made a few months ago,” said Representative Stewart. “Also, recent severe weather has created treacherous holes and other hazardous road conditions. The RIPTA cuts also meant it wasn’t a viable alternative for people getting around when they might have still had snowed-in side streets.”
Under the legislation, the audit would be performed by an entity with demonstrated expertise in transportation systems, infrastructure finance, and public-sector performance benchmarking. It would be completed and delivered to the governor and the General Assembly on or before Jan. 1, 2027.
The audit would identify between five and 10 similar states to compare the agency’s performance, including cost metrics, performance metrics, including paving, bridge condition, snow and ice response, and safety outcomes. It would also assess workforce capacity, as well as maintenance and operations efficiency.
Senator Zurier also pointed to the Nov. 13, 2025, joint House and Senate Oversight hearing as a motivation for the audit.
“During the hearing, RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. could not answer whether any of the bridge inspection contractors who the state is suing over the Washington Bridge failure were still doing work for the department,” said Senator Zurier. “According to a Providence Journal report in December, these contractors had performed 886 inspections over the previous two years. This made me wonder if it was prudent to continue hiring these contractors and whether RIDOT is spending the rest of the ‘billion dollars a year in construction activities’ the director mentioned efficiently.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
|
|