Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit Program

Audit scope: Compared cost estimates prepared under AB 1171 (Chapter 907, Statutes of 2001) and those supporting Department of Transportations' (Caltrans) August 2004 report and reviewed the methodology for estimating capital and support costs. Focused on the East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge because these projects accounted for 99 percent of the cost increases for specific bridges. Analyzed cost changes on these projects to determine where significant variances occurred and whether these cost factors were unforeseen at the time of AB 1171. Interviewed Caltrans staff and program managers and evaluated documentation to ascertain the reasons for the increases. Examined supporting documentation for Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation's (Bechtel) August 2004 cost review of the program. Compared program cost increases and their causes with those that occurred in similarly large projects managed by Caltrans for Bay Area Toll Authority's (BATA) measure 1 program. Compared Caltrans management of the program to project management best practices as described in the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance for major projects, and Caltrans' internal project management handbooks. Focused on management of risk, cost, and communications with external stakeholders.