Report 2009-106 Recommendation 2 Responses

Report 2009-106: High-Speed Rail Authority: It Risks Delays or an Incomplete System Because of Inadequate Planning, Weak Oversight, and Lax Contract Management (Release Date: April 2010)

Recommendation #2 To: High-Speed Rail Authority, California

In order to respond effectively to circumstances that could significantly delay or halt the program, the Authority should ensure that it implements planned actions related to managing risk.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2012

In August 2012, the Authority appointed a dedicated risk manager. He served as a risk manager on a significant public works mega-project for the last six years and has over 28 years of transportation experience, including contract management, design, maintenance, and mega-project construction. The Authority's risk manager will manage and coordinate all aspects of the Authority's comprehensive risk management program. The Authority's risk management plan is being updated to encompass the risk manager's roles, responsibilities, and accountability. The risk manager will attend risk management meetings and workshops. The risk manager along with staff, project management and the project management oversight, will continue to focus on refining and enhancing the Authority's risk management program and ensure that risks and opportunities are promptly and prudently managed. Additionally, the Authority's internal audit office hired a senior management auditor with 16 years of transportation related audit experience, expanding the audit office's ability to identify organization and program risks and provide recommendations for risk mitigation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2009-106

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.