An artists rendering of the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center.
 / SC State
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- South Carolina State President George Cooper says the university is clearing up problems with a new transportation research center and has resolved most of the issues raised by a state audit.
Cooper says only five of the 18 issues raised by the Legislative Audit Council earlier this year remain to be addressed.
The audit found mismanagement, inexperience and a lack of oversight caused delays in finishing the James E. Clyburn Transportation Center. The center was announced 13 years ago for research and training in fields including mass transit and traffic engineering.
Cooper says two of the unmet requirements have to do with the need to raise about $80 million to complete the project. He says the university also must satisfy auditors that it is complying with all grant requirements.
While the audit found several issues with the university's plan to finish the center, it did not find any evidence of missing funds.
In June, Rep. Jim Clyburn said he's not surprised a state audit found no money missing from the long-delayed project at his alma mater. Clyburn also says he would support more federal money for the center.
“This report vindicates what I have been saying all along about the Transportation Center funding. No federal funds are missing," Clyburn said at the time. "They are sitting safely at the National Highway Trust Fund waiting to be drawn down after approved expenditures are made by the university as mandated by this cost-reimbursement contract award."
Construction on the center center to conduct research and train transportation workers began in August 2010. The project was given the green light back in 1998.
Watch video of SC State Board of Trustees Chairman Jonathan Pinson responding to the audit report below.
YouTube
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)