Bill Overview
Title: Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act
Description: This bill directs the inspector general of the Department of Transportation to conduct an audit of public transportation coronavirus relief spending and report to Congress.
Sponsors: Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Target Audience
Population: Public transportation users
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill involves auditing public transportation coronavirus relief spending, so it directly concerns public transportation authorities that received such funding.
- Transit agencies across the world received coronavirus relief funds to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on public transportation services.
- Many citizens rely on public transportation, so increased accountability and transparency could impact the quality and availability of public transportation services globally.
- Greater transparency in spending could lead to better allocation and use of funds, impacting commuters who depend on these services.
Reasoning
- The population most affected by the policy are public transportation users, particularly in urban areas where reliance on public transit is higher.
- Budget constraints suggest that the policy will not result in tangible infrastructure changes but may improve governance and allocation of existing resources.
- Individuals relying on public transport for daily commuting or critical errands may experience a change in service efficiency over time.
- Consideration of demographic diversity, including age, occupation, and location, is essential in assessing how the policy impacts different users.
- The policy's effects will be indirect, potentially influencing perceptions of service quality and trust in transit authorities.
- Not all public transportation users will observe the impact of the policy immediately; awareness and perception may vary.
- Long-term effects may manifest more significantly in metropolitan areas with large transit networks than in rural areas.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (New York City, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think transparency in public spending is important.
- If this leads to better services, I'm all for it.
- There have been times when the subway is just too unreliable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Audit reports could help expose misuse of funds.
- Increased accountability can lead to improved transit services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Freelancer (Rural Ohio)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't use public transit much, so it probably won't affect me.
- Transparency is always nice to have, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having clarity on where funds go will help prioritize future investments.
- Hopefully, this leads to better management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial that our transportation funds are used properly.
- An audit seems like a constructive step.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Accountant (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm skeptical but hopeful this will enhance service delivery.
- If we see improvements, it will justify the audit costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Graphic Designer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Making transit authorities transparent is long overdue.
- I hope this shifts the focus toward user needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If it leads to more efficient routes, that would be great.
- I am wary of government audits not translating into improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Chef (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accountability could help improve service reliability.
- Past experiences make me doubtful regarding actual changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Civil Servant (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regular audits should be a standard practice.
- I support initiatives that promote transparency and efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3500000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The audit focuses on past spending of coronavirus relief funds and not current expenditures.
- The bill relies on existing resources within the Department of Transportation, limiting any need for additional appropriations.
- Timing and efficiency of conducting the audit are crucial to ensure findings remain relevant to influence future spending.