Caltrans reports mixed results on project delivery; 29 construction projects flagged at risk

Caltrans presented its fiscal‑year 2014–15 third‑quarter project delivery report to the California Transportation Commission, summarizing delivery performance, risks and recent changes to reporting.

Steven opened the item and Jim Davis, the COS program manager, reviewed the third‑quarter report. Caltrans reported it had delivered about 44% of the projects and 22% of the funds for the fiscal year as of the third quarter; the department said it expected delivery progress in the fourth quarter. The department also reported 608 projects worth about $11 billion under construction. Of those, 29 projects (roughly 4.7%) were identified as at risk in construction and nine were at risk in pre‑construction; 12 of the 29 construction projects were described as completed or nearly complete.

Davis said Caltrans has delivered 2,389 of 2,408 committed projects (99%) over the past nine years and that the current contract‑for‑delivery portfolio includes 343 projects with about $2.6 billion; 18 of those were identified as at risk (about 5%). He highlighted two projects: the Route 50 supplemental allocation just approved at this meeting and another project likely to appear at the August meeting as a first support‑cost increase under the statute referenced in the transcript. The report added trend indicators and a watch list and included performance measures where four measures were at risk and five were on track.

Caltrans also presented a closeout report showing that, for 36 completed STIP projects to date, $548 million was expended against a budget of $575 million (95%), and for 32 SHOP projects $948 million was expended against a budget of about $1.0 billion (93%). Commissioners asked for clarifications on the watch list and specific at‑risk projects; Caltrans said managers continuously monitor projects to resolve issues affecting budget, scope and schedule.