GAO Releases Inland Waterways Report

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued its latest report on the domestic inland waterways.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintains the nation's inland waterways, including locks and dams. Its inland waterways construction projects have often seen delays and cost overruns. The USACE reports and academic studies say that the agency faces higher costs and delays because it receives funding for only a part of a project each year, so it must contract for projects in pieces.

USACE officials estimate that this inefficient approach will add $229 million to the cost of one project alone. The report recommends that the USACE seek ways to use construction funds more efficiently. GAO-19-20 (11/7/18) [https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/695255.pdf].