GSA’s plan also involves consolidating the U.S. Current Proposal Addresses Some Conditions That Led to the High Urgency Score, but Certain Operational and Security Concerns Would Remain

The current project proposal would address the judiciary’s need for more  space and alleviate some security concerns, but the operational and  security concerns related to a split court that contributed to the L.A.  Courthouse’s high urgency score would remain. For example, it addresses the judiciary’s  space constraints by providing additional courtrooms—sized to meet the  Design Guide standards—to accommodate the 47 current district and  magistrate judges and the 14 additional judges expected by 2011. According  to GSA officials, there is also room to build an additional district judge  courtroom in the new building and additional magistrate judge courtrooms  in the Roybal building to address the judiciary’s projected 30-year needs. For example, Marshals Service  officials said that a split court would require them to replicate much of  their security equipment and contract guards to operate the equipment and  protect each building. The L.A. As a result, we use the original methodology to  discuss the L.A. Courthouse’s urgency score in this report. Additional Construction and Operational Costs Beyond the Estimated $400 Million for the New Courthouse Are Likely

To meet the long-term judiciary and related needs in Los Angeles, the  federal government will likely incur additional construction and  operational costs beyond the estimated $400 million for the new  courthouse. Courthouse, to incur future escalation in construction costs. In addition to construction costs for the new courthouse, GSA has  indicated that additional funds will be needed for construction related to  the long-term space needs of the judiciary and other related agencies in Los  Angeles. Preliminary estimates from GSA show that these additional costs  may exceed $100 million. Once the District Court moves out of the Spring Street Courthouse and  into the new courthouse, GSA said that it will need to renovate the  Spring Street building to convert courtrooms into office space for U.S. Attorneys and other federal agencies. GSA estimates the costs associated with future expansion in the Roybal  building and the new courthouse needed to meet expected judiciary  space needs by 2031 to be $21 million. However, judiciary officials also acknowledge that a split court  would result in higher costs due to operational inefficiencies, including  additional travel time between buildings for movement of staff, evidence,  and prisoners. The U.S. District Court in Los Angeles is ranked as the  highest priority project in the judiciary’s 5-year construction  plan1 based on its high urgency score—a measure of a  court’s space, security, judges impacted, and operational  deficiencies. The Los Angeles courthouse project could be one of the  most expensive projects in the federal government’s multi- billion dollar courthouse construction program. Because of the project’s significance, GAO was asked: 1. To what extent does the current Los Angeles courthouse  project proposal address the underlying conditions that led  to Los Angeles’s high urgency score? What construction and other costs, if any, may be required  to meet judiciary and related needs in Los Angeles? On all courthouse construction projects, including Los  Angeles, there is a potential for future escalation in costs  due to design and planning changes during the construction  process. Although the current proposal addresses the judiciary’s  space needs, the security and operational concerns that led  to Los Angeles’s high urgency score will remain and GSA is  likely to need significant additional funding to fully address judiciary and related needs in Los Angeles. Related GAO Products

General Services Administration:  Factors Affecting the Construction  and Operating Costs of Federal Buildings.
Why GAO Did This Study

Since the early 1990s, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the federal judiciary have been carrying out a multibillion dollar courthouse construction initiative to address the judiciary's growing space needs. To plan for and make funding decisions on projects, Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and GSA have relied on a rolling 5-year plan prepared annually by the judiciary that prioritizes new courthouse projects based on an urgency score. The urgency score is based on the year a courthouse runs out of space, the number of judges without courtrooms, security concerns, and operational inefficiencies. In recent years, the L.A. courthouse had the highest urgency score in the judiciary's 5-year plan. At a cost of approximately $400 million, the new courthouse is expected to be one of the most expensive projects in the federal government's courthouse construction program to date. In light of the project's significance, GAO was asked: (1) To what extent does GSA's current L.A. courthouse project proposal address the underlying conditions that led to Los Angeles's high urgency score and (2) what construction and other costs, if any, may be required to meet judiciary and related needs in Los Angeles? The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and GSA provided technical comments on this report.

What GAO Found

GSA's current proposal to construct a new courthouse in Los Angeles, while expanding the judiciary's use of the existing Roybal Federal Building, would address some but not all of the underlying conditions that led to Los Angeles's high urgency score. For example, it would address the judiciary's need for additional space and alleviate some security concerns. There would be space to accommodate the 47 current district and magistrate judges and the 14 additional judges expected by 2011, with room to expand, if needed, for additional judges. The new building would also improve security by providing additional holding cells and separate prisoner walkways and elevators. However, the operational and security concerns related to housing a trial court in multiple buildings (split court) that was a significant factor in Los Angeles's high urgency score would remain. For example, U.S. Marshals Service officials said that a split court would require them to duplicate much of their security equipment and personnel necessary for fulfilling its mission of protecting the courthouses. To meet judiciary and related needs in Los Angeles, the federal government will likely incur additional construction and operational costs beyond the estimated $400 million for the new courthouse. Like other courthouse projects in recent years, GSA officials acknowledge that there is a potential for the L.A. Courthouse to incur future escalation in construction costs due to changes during the design and construction phases, such as increases in raw material and labor costs. Furthermore, additional construction costs will also be incurred to meet the judiciary's space needs over the long term. Preliminary estimates by GSA show that these costs may exceed $100 million. For example, GSA will need to build four additional magistrate courtrooms in the Roybal building and renovate the current courthouse to convert courtrooms into office space for the U.S. Attorneys and other federal agencies. GSA also plans a long-term expansion project to construct seven more courtrooms to meet judiciary space needs by 2031. Judiciary officials also acknowledge that a split court would result in additional operational costs due to duplicate offices and staff in the Roybal building and the new courthouse.