The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority overseeing construction of the $6 billion Dulles Metro rail project issued contracts without proper approval and racked up inappropriate expenses for board members, according to a report released Tuesday by a federal investigator.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General’s Office reported that members of the airports authority ran up a dinner tab of $4,800 for three meals in Hawaii, including two bottles of wine that cost $238.
Board members also issued several contracts worth more than $200,000 each without seeking competitive bids, the investigation found.
The findings are part of an investigation launched after federal, state and local officials raised concerns about the authority’s handling of the Dulles Metro rail project. Virginia officials accused the board of ignoring local concerns about the cost of the project.
