Audit: Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility & Infrastructure needs to improve record-keeping, communication

An audit released Thursday by Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb criticized the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure’s record-keeping and communication efforts, but praised several department programs, including efforts to slow down drivers on city streets.

DOMI was created in 2017 to streamline the city’s transportation issues.

“What we found (was) that it was kind of a haphazard implementation,” Lamb said, noting that his office couldn’t find any written records detailing the creation of the department.

Lamb said he hopes moving forward that DOMI will keep better records and improve communication with City Council on its plans.

Lamb also said that DOMI, like all city departments, is struggling with staffing shortages.

When asked if that affected bridge inspection work, Lamb said such work is done largely by PennDOT, not the city. While the audit was done before the collapse of Fern Hollow Bridge, he urged the city to focus more policy on its bridges.

“This city needs to have a long-term plan for the bridges,” Lamb said.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey launched a bridge funding program in May in response to the Fern Hollow collapse.

Gainey press secretary Maria Montaño said the mayor’s office is in the process of reviewing the audit and looks forward to learning more about the recommendations, but has no further comment at this time.

The controller’s audit also showed that DOMI adjusted well during the pandemic by providing restaurants, bars and small businesses expedited permitting to open up sidewalk cafes and on-street space to do business.

Lamb’s office also highlighted several department projects and initiatives — including the Slow Streets plan, scheduled street paving and the controversial Mon-Oakland Connector — that Lamb said had varying degrees of success.

Slow streets

Over the past few years, DOMI has been redesigning streets and adding infrastructure such as speed bumps, traffic circles and raised crosswalks in an effort to slow drivers down and increase road safety.

Lamb said the efforts have come to dozens of streets and have been largely successful.

“That is certainly good news for road safety in the community,” he said.

Mon-Oakland Connector

The controversial project proposed creating new infrastructure between Oakland and Hazelwood, including the addition of shuttles, possibly autonomous, to carry passengers in between the two neighborhoods.

Gainey scrapped the shuttle part of the project soon after he took office. The audit supported that decision.

But Lamb said there is still concern over the outstanding funding still allocated to the project, about $7 million.

Lamb said there needs to be more assurance that the allocation is going to continue to go to efforts to increase pedestrian safety in the corridor and to address stormwater runoff in Greenfield’s Four Mile Run.

Road paving

Originally under the Department of Public Works, street paving responsibilities moved to DOMI upon its creation.

Lamb said paving is among the most important city functions, and he recommended modifying the city’s paving operation by expanding staff, adding a degradation fee to utilities operating on city streets, and ensuring paving investments are happening equitably.

He said paving operations should also be consolidated, instead of dividing them into the nine city council districts.

Lamb said the city faces paving challenges, particularly from inflation. The cost of asphalt has increased 30% since 2019, according to the controller’s office.

“Council is probably going to have to look at additional allocations to reach those paving goals,” Lamb said.