Bi-State Delaware Port Authority Begins Implementing Reforms

The Delaware River Port Authority is embarking on a series of reforms intended to professionalize the bi-state agency, which has been the subject of allegations of fiscal mismanagement, and avoid similar problems in the future.

The authority's board Wednesday approved numerous resolutions that officials anticipate will bring transparency and accountability to its operations.

The changes include ending the practice of funding economic development projects. Revenue will now be used solely to operate the DRPA's four tolled bridges and the PATCO mass-transit line.

"DRPA and PATCO have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on so-called 'economic development' projects, funds that could have been invested in the agencies' own assets," according to a summary statement of the 18 proposed resolutions.

The DRPA oversees four toll bridges that connect Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

It also manages the PATCO commuter-rail line that runs from southeastern New Jersey to Philadelphia. The authority has $1.4 billion of outstanding debt.

Last month, the DRPA's former public safety director resigned following reports that he gave an authority E-ZPass to his daughter.

The former director had an annual car allowance of $9,000 on top of a $180,000 salary, according to the agency's website.

The authority ended the practice of providing its employees with free bridge passes and car allowances earlier this month.

Board members approved additional audits for the agency.

New Jersey's comptroller as well as a permanent subcommittee chaired by Pennsylvania's auditor general will conduct performance, financial, and forensic audits of the DRPA. The auditor general sits on the agency's board.

The reports will "enable the authority to more quickly identify issues that require the attention of the board and/or management," according to a summary statement of the proposed resolutions.

The DRPA's most recent management audit, conducted by TransTech Management Inc. and released earlier this month, categorized the authority's effectiveness and efficiency as "acceptable."

The board also authorized establishing a compensation review committee to review officer and director salaries and compare those compensation amounts with similar private and public-sector positions.

Other changes include banning the hiring of family members of agency employees and prohibiting employees from soliciting or accepting gifts.

Employees that leave the authority to work for a potential DRPA contractor will be restricted from working directly with the agency for two years.

In addition, contracts must undergo a uniform review process and vendors will disclose their political contributions.

The board will meet again before Sept. 1 to address items tabled for further review, with a tentative date set for Aug. 25, according to DRPA spokesman Edward Kasuba.

Those items include initiatives to prohibit employees from engaging in political activities while performing their duties, the termination of two agency positions, and requiring full board approval for charitable contributions.

New Jersey Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco, R-Gloucester and Camden, and Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, announced bi-state legislation Wednesday to alter DRPA practices.

In order to alter the agency's federal charter, both states must enact identical legislation and the measure must gain federal approval.

The proposal from DiCicco and Vereb includes many of the same initiatives the DRPA approved Wednesday.

The lawmakers are also seeking annual budget audits, biannual performance audits, and a biannual review of all employee compensation.

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Transportation industry Pennsylvania
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