Amtrak OIG report details $47 billion repair backlog

State of good repair backlog issues remain central to a new Amtrak OIG report. The report says Amtrak has made focused progress since 2016. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

That progress covers work on billions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure assets. The goal is to bring them into a state of good repair. But governance and data problems still limit the effort.

The OIG press release says those shortcomings mean Amtrak cannot reasonably show how the federal funds it receives will reduce its state of good repair (SOGR) backlog. It also says Amtrak cannot reasonably show the timeline to eliminate it. The report ties those concerns to gaps in governance, policy communication and infrastructure asset data.

Why the state of good repair backlog remains difficult to reduce?

Infrastructure assets are in a state of good repair when they perform as designed. They also must not pose an unacceptable safety risk. Their maintenance must be up to date. In the official audit report, Amtrak estimated the value of those assets at about $47 billion. It also set a 2040 target for eliminating its SOGR backlog.

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The OIG credited Amtrak with developing a strategy, policy and plan for handling SOGR work. At the same time, it found significant shortcomings in each element. For example, the strategy does not include clear objectives or performance metrics. Without them, Amtrak cannot measure its overall progress in reducing the backlog. It also cannot assess whether the 2040 target is realistic. The report also says Amtrak risks extending its timeline to eliminate the backlog. It says the company has done so repeatedly since 2017.

Governance framework and infrastructure asset data gaps

In addition, the report said Amtrak has not effectively communicated its infrastructure asset management policy across the company. Some officials involved in SOGR work did not know the policy existed. The report also said the company has not explained how each department should support SOGR efforts. According to the OIG, those issues have contributed to poor coordination. They have also led to confusing decision-making processes between departments.

Data quality and repair priorities

Meanwhile, problems with infrastructure asset data have created further obstacles. Amtrak’s two primary asset-tracking systems do not align. Some assets appear in one system but not the other. The report also found cases where assets no longer in operation were still recorded. Other assets that remain in operation had not yet been entered. The OIG said incomplete or inaccurate data raises the risk of missed safety-related maintenance. It also raises the risk of maintenance on assets no longer in operation.

The OIG also credited Amtrak with collecting better data on the condition of infrastructure assets. That could help the company make more timely decisions on repairs or replacements. Still, that work is not yet complete. As a result, Amtrak still relies heavily on asset age. It also relies on the institutional knowledge of field staff when setting repair priorities. The report said that approach creates a risk. Older but functional assets could be prioritized ahead of newer assets in worse condition.

What the Amtrak OIG report recommends?

Separately, the OIG recommended that Amtrak fully establish a governance framework. It said that framework should include specific objectives and performance metrics. It also recommended that the company communicate its policy companywide. It also recommended that roles and responsibilities across departments be clarified. The OIG also said Amtrak should strengthen its SOGR data. It said the company should validate that infrastructure data are complete and accurate. In addition, it said the company should finish its infrastructure condition assessments. It said those assessments should inform SOGR activities.

Amtrak agreed with the recommendations. It also outlined the actions and plans it intends to take in response. The full report is available on Amtrak’s OIG website.

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