Legislative Audit Finds Causeway Bridge Management in Compliance with State Laws and Best Practices

                A performance audit of the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission by the Office of the Legislative Auditor found the commission and management of the bridge in compliance with state laws and applicable best practices, according to GNOEC General Manager Carlton Dufrechou.

Said Dufrechou, “We are very pleased with the findings of the audit.  We always knew we were compliant with state laws and best practices, but it is gratifying to have confirmation from a respected state agency.  The few recommendations to further strengthen our ongoing policies will likely be implemented by this agency.”

In a letter to the Legislative Auditor, Chairman of he Commission Frank Levy wrote, “The GNOEC thanks you for the positive audit report, which we believe will give confidence to the general public.”  Levy added, “The GNOEC is proud of its stellar safety record, one of the best in the world, resulting from the agency’s safety programs.  There has not been a traffic fatality in more than two years on the Causeway Bridge.”

The audit suggested that some of the GNOEC’s current procedures and policies be formally adopted into the commission’s existing policies and procedures manual.  Because the GNOEC is not a state agency, it is not required to adhere to state policies andpractices, but still complies full with the state’s Open Meetings Laws and Public Bid Laws.  The only recommendation by the auditor that did not meet with approval from the commission was the auditor’s mileage criteria measurement to deem a car essential versus the Causeway’s safety measure to deem a care essential.

“Safety of Causeway motorists is our top priority.  Most GNOEC vehicles are used for first-responses on the 48 miles of two-lane bridge that has no shoulders.  In my opinion, maintaining public safety is always more important than mileage in justification of a vehicle,” added Dufrechou.

The audit was conducted in response to House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) No. 126 of the First Extraordinary Legislative Session of 2008.  The resolution directed the legislative auditor to conduct a performance audit of the GNOEC.  In early April 2009, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor declared that tolls on the Causeway were collected properly and are … “effectively controlled.”  In the fiscal year ending October 31, 2008, more than $17 million in tolls were collected with “no material discrepancies,” noted Dufrechou.