Preliminary Audit Deems the Port Authority a "Dysfunctional Organization"

A preliminary audit commissioned by the board of the Port Authority has found that the institution is "a challenged and dysfunctional organization suffering from a lack of consistent leadership, a siloed underlying bureaucracy, poorly coordinated capital planning process, insufficient cost controls and a lack of transparent and effective oversight of the World Trade Center."

As costs for construction at the World Trade Center continue to rise, the Port Authority finds itself under increasing scrutiny. The audit also found that the PA suffers from inadequate cost-controlling methods, and often awards its employees excessive or unnecessary benefits.

The dual-state organization oversees many of New York and New Jersey's communication hubs, including its ports (fancy that), PATH transit, six tunnels and bridges between New York and New Jersey, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and the World Trade Center -- including the WTC rebuilding effort, which is projected to cost nearly $15 billion by the time it is completed.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie originally called for the audit in August, when the Port Authority announced a plan to nearly double its bridge-and-tunnel tolls. Neither governor has issued a commented on the results of this initial report.

There will be a second phase of the audit completed later this year. In the meantime, looks like PA already has a lot on its plate to deal with.

[keyana.stevens | @keyanastevens]

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