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Friday, June 19, 2009
State Computer Fix Revives Road Funds
By Colleen Heild
Journal Staff Writer
Three years and $2.5 million later, the state's SHARE computer system is finally ready to submit billing information to the federal government for highway projects.
The state Department of Transportation said this week that a long-awaited "update" to the system has been tested and will be launched this weekend.
Since the state switched to SHARE in July 2006, DOT employees have had to manually generate information for federal reimbursements because the new automated system lacked the capability.
The Federal Highway Administration temporarily halted payments to the state at least twice over the past few years because of the problem. Earlier this year, federal transportation officials gave the DOT until June 30 to correct computer deficiencies related to reimbursements or face sanctions.
Typically, the state pays upfront for federally subsidized transportation projects and seeks reimbursement from the Federal Highway Administration, which provides up to $300 million annually.
Earlier this month, federal transportation officials reviewed a test of the revamped system and gave the state the green light. The state has spent about $2.5 million on the fix, DOT spokesman S.U. Mahesh said.
"I am pleased to report that we have successfully demonstrated the system changes to FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) officials and received their approval to implement them," DOT Secretary Gary Girón said in the release.
All federal reimbursements to the state are current, the release added.
But more computer tweaking is needed to provide the federal government certain automated payroll, labor and right-of-way asset information. The DOT has until this fall to meet those deadlines.
The Legislature appropriated a total of $4 million in state money to pay for the improvements.
Combining more than 74 state government accounting, payroll and procurement processes into one system, SHARE has cost the state at least $38 million to date.
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