The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency cannot keep up with requests to maintain the city’s traffic signals and signs and pavement markings, with the backlog extending three months or longer, according to a report released today by the Office of the Controller-City Services Auditor.

Maintenance will have to be ramped up to meet upcoming federal traffic standards, the audit found. Transportation agency representatives say that a funding shortage has meant fewer resources for preventative maintenance. Instead, work crews get to it when they can.

”Given the limited resources and funding currently available, we are unable to assign dedicated crews to review and troubleshoot the city for preventive maintenance purposes,” said agency spokesman Paul Rose. ”Such an effort would require hiring additional electricians, sign installers and paint crews, as well as additional service vehicles, materials and costly tracking systems.”

The audit also said the agency should consider ending its relationship with the nonprofit corporations that run five city-owned parking garages, saying the setup is unnecessary and adds an estimated $551,000 a year to administrative costs.

Rose said the agency will review the recommendation to determine whether to end the practice when the current parking garage leases expire.