County officials in Arlington are facing significant scrutiny following an audit highlighting shortcomings in the Specialized Transit for Arlington Residents (STAR) program, which provides vital transportation services to residents with disabilities.
The audit pointed out various operational deficiencies, including billing errors and inadequate oversight of driver manifests by WeDriveU, the contractor managing the paratransit service for the county.
According to the findings, both the contractor and Arlington County’s Transit Bureau have left taxpayers shortchanged due to ineffective controls over fare collection and operational oversight.
Wayne Scott, the internal auditor for Arlington County, presented these findings during a June 26 meeting of the Audit Committee, emphasizing issues related to operational oversight and data quality.
While the STAR program effectively provides basic transportation services to eligible residents, the audit suggested that significant operational and oversight deficiencies undermine its overall effectiveness.
John Vihstadt, a public representative on the Audit Committee and former County Board member, expressed serious concern, stating, “It paints a very troublesome picture. In fact, it’s the most negative audit I’ve seen since the inception of the office of the county auditor nearly 10 years ago.”
Despite the grim findings, both Vihstadt and current County Board members acknowledged that measures are being undertaken to refine the program based on the audit’s recommendations.
The STAR program operates as an essential component of Arlington Transit (ART) and is managed by the Transit Bureau within the Department of Environmental Services (DES).
It acts as a local counterpart to the regional MetroAccess service, providing essential transportation for those unable to use standard transit options.
Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis recognized the audit’s conclusions about areas needing improvement and affirmed ongoing efforts to rectify the identified issues.
“The Board remains confident in county staff’s ability to address these inefficiencies as timely as possible. We look forward to seeing these improvements and corrections realized,” Karantonis stated.
However, he also noted that implementing all the recommended changes won’t happen overnight.
“Some changes may mean STAR contracts will need to be modified and may take time to put into action,” Karantonis added.
During the calendar year 2024, the STAR program is projected to complete approximately 44,200 trips, transporting around 51,920 passengers.
As is typical with public transportation services, STAR requires subsidies to operate effectively.
For the fiscal year ending on June 30, STAR’s revenue was estimated at $1.2 million, while expenses stood at $3.7 million.
At the June 26 Audit Committee meeting, DES Director Greg Emanuel, accompanied by several staff members, committed to resolving the concerns highlighted in the audit.
“We are committed to addressing the recommendations outlined and to maintaining a transparent and accountable paratransit program,” said a staff response included in the report.
Two members of the County Board participate on the Audit Committee and were available for comment following the audit findings.
Maureen Coffey expressed Arlington County’s dedication to providing accessible transportation that meets community needs.
Wayne Scott’s collaboration with transportation staff has brought to light areas requiring improvement, and she noted that a plan is in place to address each finding from the audit.
“We are committed to continuing to improve to ensure that we are meeting our goals of equitable, accessible, high-quality service,” Coffey remarked.
Susan Cunningham praised the professionalism of the County Auditor’s Office under Wayne Scott’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of Board oversight and public transparency.
“This audit demonstrates the need for diligent oversight and clarity, allowing our staff to work towards enhancing service levels and cost efficiency for this essential service,” Cunningham commented.
Vihstadt also acknowledged the responsiveness of the DES in light of the audit’s findings.
“The good news is that senior county staff is ‘owning’ the issues both for itself and the contractor, has implemented certain reforms, and promised to take all necessary measures to correct various vulnerabilities and recover lost county funds,” said Vihstadt.
Wayne Scott informed committee members that a follow-up audit is planned for next summer to assess whether the recommendations from the initial audit have been satisfactorily addressed.
Appointed as auditor last fall, Scott is focused on addressing audit requests that had accumulated over time.
STAR service is specifically designed for those who find it difficult or impossible to utilize fixed-route public transit options.
All trips must either begin or end in Arlington, with fares set at $4.50 within county limits and incrementally higher for trips extending to surrounding areas, including Washington D.C. and parts of Virginia.
WeDriveU took over the transportation provision for the STAR program last December, following a contract change, while Transdev manages the call center and rider scheduling.
image source from：arlnow
