​2019 Statistical Highlights

At the request of good government and transit advocacy groups, for the first time in over a decade, and with more detail than ever before, the OIG is reporting on its year-end statistical highlights, as detailed below.

2019 marked an impressive year for the OIG’s work in support of the MTA and its constituent agencies: MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), MTA Metro-North Railroad (MNR), MTA Bridges and Tunnels (B&T), MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus), and MTA Capital Construction Company (Capital Construction).¹

In 2019, OIG Intake staff processed 1,375 complaints, 101% more complaints over 2018, from individuals both inside and outside the MTA. This dramatic increase in complaints broke an all-time record for most complaints received by the OIG in a single year.

OIG ISSUED 39 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES AT THE MTA

• 33 Accepted
• 6 Awaiting Response
• 11 Confirmed as Implemented

OIG’S WORK RESULTED IN 15 DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

• 7 Time and Attendance
• 5 Dual Employment
• 3 Fraud and Abuse

OIG’S WORK LED TO 5 TERMINATED/RESIGNED EMPLOYEES

• 3 Time and Attendance Violations
• 1 Fraud and Abuse
• 1 Management Best Practice

OIG AUDIT UNIT

• 16 Audits Initiated
• 12 Audit Reports Issued
• • 6 Management Best Practices
  • 3 Safety
  • 2 Ridership
  • 1 Fraud and Abuse

OIG INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

• 232 Investigations and Inquiries Initiated
• 108 Investigations Closed
• 173 Investigations Currently Open
• 15 Letter Reports Issued

248 SITE INSPECTIONS

QUESTIONED COSTS/LOST REVENUE²: $275,552,831

MONEY RECOUPED IN 2019³: $7,317,480

MONEY SAVED ON OUTSIDE SANDY MONITORS TO DATE: $20,000,000

In response to a Federal Transit Administration requirement to provide monitors for the projects funded by the $4.8 billion Hurricane Sandy Recovery Grants, the MTA established a monitoring oversight committee, which includes the OIG. By having the OIG and other MTA agencies do this monitoring work, instead of third-party monitors, internal MTA estimates show the MTA saving $20 million for current construction projects, and up to $48 million for total construction projects.

² A cost/lost revenue is questioned by the OIG based on the possibility of: (1) an alleged violation of a provision of law, regulation, contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement or document governing the expenditure of funds; (2) a finding that, at the time of the audit, such cost is not supported by adequate documentation; (3) a finding that the expenditure of funds for the intended purpose is unnecessary or unreasonable; or (4) a finding that a lost revenue could be prevented or addressed in a more efficient or effective manner.

³ Includes civil, criminal, restitution, recoveries, settlements and forfeiture

INTAKE AND COMPLAINTS

In 2019, Intake staff processed 1,375 complaints, 101% more complaints over 2018, from individuals both inside and out of the MTA. This spike in complaints broke a 14-year record for most complaints received by the OIG in a single year. At the request of good government and transit advocacy groups, a breakdown of OIG’s complaint data is below.

INTAKE AND COMPLAINTS

COMPLAINT ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Of the 1,375 complaints received by the OIG in 2019, 580 complaints were from anonymous sources. With the exception of the 251 complaint matters referred to OIG operating divisions, identified complainants received acknowledgment in the majority of cases within 1 to 7 business days of receipt.

COMPLAINT DISPOSITION & ARESOLUTION

COMPLAINTS BY AGENCY INVOLVED

The OIG hotline and website facilitate the OIG’s approach to best serving the public by providing customers with fast, simple, and direct ways to communicate complaints and request information on an individualized basis. In 2019, the OIG website has remained the preferred method when reporting to the OIG.

COMPLAINTS BY METHOD OF REPORTING

COMPLAINTS BY SOURCE

COMPLAINTS BY ALLEGATION TYPE