RTD Faces Penalty for Absenteeism : Transit Commission Says District Figures Aren’t Accurate

Already struggling to avoid a $9.5-million deficit--and a fare hike--in the coming year, the RTD faces a possible penalty for failing to adequately control bus driver absenteeism that could double the transit agency’s budget woes.

Independent auditors told the members of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission Monday that the RTD is not meeting targets for reducing driver absences, which last year were 45% worse than the average of several other large transit systems across the country.

An outside audit last year found that each day 13% of Southern California Rapid Transit District bus drivers were away from their jobs on unscheduled absences, costing $18.6 million a year.

In an updated report Monday, one that contrasted sharply with the extremely favorable picture on absenteeism painted in recent reports by RTD General Manager John Dyer, auditors said the transit district is falling short of a goal of curbing driver absenteeism by 3.2% this fiscal year. The auditors calculated that for the first 10 months of the fiscal year, driver absenteeism was reduced 1.8%.

The difference is significant because, under an agreement last year, about $12 million in funds the RTD has budgeted could be withdrawn by the commission if the higher target is not reached. The commission controls much of the RTD’s revenue and is charged under state law with encouraging transit agencies to operate more efficiently.

Transportation Commissioner Jacki Bacharach said the panel would have to further analyze the RTD’s progress on controlling driver absenteeism before deciding whether to withhold the money. A decision may not be made until later this summer.

The RTD and the commission, longtime rivals, are already at war over whether the commission should provide $9.5 million needed to balance the proposed 1987-88 budget of $889 million. The commission’s finance committee recommended Monday that the RTD’s request be rejected. The 85-cent basic fare might have to be increased to as much as $1 if the funds are not forthcoming or if spending cuts are not made, RTD officials say.

In the new analysis of absenteeism, the commission staff and its auditors calculated progress on absenteeism differently than the RTD. Doug Carter, a consultant with Price Waterhouse who prepared the study, said the RTD’s more rosy calculations do not give a complete picture of driver absenteeism because they do not count a major category of absences that has increased: long-term leaves.

Carter said the intent of the commission has been to reduce overall absence rates.

Dyer said including long-term leaves is “inappropriate” because district managers have little control over the length of time drivers stay off work when they are injured or disabled. He also suggested that long-term leaves are increasing because more drivers are entering drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

Dyer said the more accurate figures, excluding long-term leaves, show a 7.2% reduction in driver absences. He also said the RTD did not agree to include long-term leaves in the targets set for funding purposes.

Citing an estimated $4.2-million savings calculated in the audit for a variety of management improvements--including a 12% reduction in absenteeism among bus maintenance employees--Dyer said he is pleased with the overall findings. “I’m delighted with the results,” he said.