This afternoon, the Federal Transit Administration — the federal agency that grants transportation agencies money and oversees how that money is spent — confirmed it is now actively looking into San Diego’s North County Transit District (NCTD).
inewsource has been reporting on problems, from security risks to contract failing to high employee turnover, in NCTD since February. Some of the problems have involved federal contracts and grant money, which the FTA is responsible for overseeing. NCTD has hundreds of millions of dollars tied up in state and federal projects.
Throughout our investigation, we’ve kept both state and federal transportation oversight agencies in the loop through emails and phone calls. We have wanted to make sure these agencies have seen our reporting and have had a chance to comment.
Some stories about safety concerns were brought to us by sources who risked their jobs in the process. Our investigation has produced 18 stories, yet the district’s board of directors has refused to comment on all but two.
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Brad Racino is a multimedia reporter for inewsource. To contact him with tips, suggestions or corrections, email bradracino@inewsource.org or call (619) 594-3569.
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These guys playing fast and loose with taxpayer money. Government should be responsible and accountable. Maybe this will happen soon with NCTD.
Reporting is not supposed to be a pat on the back enterprise. Your reporter would do best to present the information and let it speak for itself, without the sanctimonious grandstanding for attention in the 3rd paragraph.
Mr. Tana,
Thank you again for your comments.
Had we not included the information about why the FTA was looking into NCTD, it would seem a bit… disingenuous, don’t you think?