Project Overview 

The Exposition Light Rail Project – Phase 1 involved the design and construction of a light rail transit line connecting downtown Los Angeles with communities to the west. Delivered under a design-build contract structure, the program required coordination among the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Expo), the City of Los Angeles, and the joint-venture design-build contractor. 

Spire served as capital program specialist supporting a Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) performance audit of selected City compliance activities under the Master Cooperative Agreement (MCA) and design-build change orders. 

Client Challenge 

Expo required an independent assessment to determine whether: 

  • The City of Los Angeles complied with selected MCA terms and submittal requirements 
  • Design and construction support services were performed efficiently and in accordance with contractual obligations 
  • Change orders were technically justified and supported by appropriate levels of effort 
  • Labor utilization, timekeeping, and management control systems were adequate and reasonable 

Given the scale of the program and its public funding visibility, Expo needed defensible findings grounded in documentation, technical analysis, and industry standards. 

Spire’s Role & Approach 

Spire supported the overall audit effort through a structured, two-phase methodology consisting of a survey/planning phase and a detailed audit phase, in alignment with Government Auditing Standards. 
As technical lead for specific audit components, Spire: 

  • Conducted detailed reviews of five selected change orders, including drawings, specifications, cost estimates, schedules, and supporting documentation 
  • Evaluated resource utilization, labor distribution practices, and timekeeping controls 
  • Assessed the adequacy of technical effort associated with change order development and review 
  • Reviewed City submittal response processes and staffing allocations 
  • Identified procedural redundancies, inefficiencies, and areas of risk exposure 
  • Developed findings supported by documented criteria, condition, cause, and effect analysis 

Spire participated in iterative findings reviews with Expo and relevant stakeholders to ensure factual accuracy and clarity prior to report finalization. 

Results & Impact 

The audit provided Expo with a structured, evidence-based evaluation of both compliance and technical performance. Key outcomes included: 

  • Identification of process improvement opportunities within submittal review and change order procedures 
  • Enhanced transparency into labor utilization and management control practices 
  • Improved oversight mechanisms to mitigate future cost and schedule risks 
  • Strengthened internal controls aligned with public accountability requirements 

By combining technical construction expertise with audit rigor, Spire helped reinforce governance and risk management practices on a high-profile public transit program. 

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