Even kids know the difference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyyVJQmMewo

"most egregious ways taxpayer money is wasted"

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/taxes-wasted-120m-parking-center-150000921.html

"The project, first begun in 1997 by local officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, was intended to allow easier pedestrian, vehicle and mass transit access to the D.C. Metro train system, Amtrak and the local commuter train, MARC. The original plans expected the transit center to open in 1998. Sixteen years later, the center remains shuttered and the costs have skyrocketed.

Regardless, millions of local, state and federal tax dollars keep flowing in. That’s why it earned a mention in Sen. Tom Coburn’s latest annual “Wastebook” report, which highlights what the senator calls the most egregious ways taxpayer money is wasted each  year.

 

“Sometimes it costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time to build something great,” Coburn said in the report. For example, “It took one year and 45 days to complete New York’s Empire State Building for a cost of $41 million in 1931. But should it take more than 16 years and $120 million to complete a parking garage?”

The cost increases have approached nearly 500 percent, with the federal government providing nearly 50 percent of total funding. Though the costs keep adding up with no tangible results, county officials are still forging ahead. There is apparently no clear idea of when the project will be complete."

 

 



Has "reporting the news" come to this?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/isiah-leggett-doug-duncan-expected-to-dominate-montgomery-executive-race/2013/12/28/19d488c8-6850-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html


Where is the “news” here? Or has the “news” been reduced to political drama? Has it come to this? That the public is more interested in political drama than it is in REAL news? Like a SERIOUSLY flawed, yet-to-be-opened, over-budget transit center that has SERIOUS structural and cost issues? Not to mention government competence and integrity issues for which there are no answers at present. What a shame. Where are Woodward and Bernstein when you need them?

 

 

 



ramming the SSTC down our throats

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/duncan-agency-leading-transit-center-project-broken-leggett-says-he-is-responsible/2013/11/19/373b225e-510e-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_story.html

At what point is Montgomery County going to stop trying to ram the severely flawed Silver Spring Transit Center down our throats and accept its responsibility to the public? Explain to the public why you believe that the SSTC is safe despite its MANY flaws (e.g., a 3-inch thick piece of concrete that fell from the SSTC that is attributed to voids in the concrete, NUMEROUS cracks, slabs more than an inch thinner than they're supposed to be, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, understrength and overstressed concrete, under-designed beams, lack of expansion joints, etc.). Explain why you selected Foulger-Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to design it and Balter Company to inspect and test the concrete and to serve as special quality inspector. Were political contributions part of the selection process? Explain why the SSTC wasn't bid for construction as has been standard practice for decades. Explain Montgomery County's view of its responsibility to the public (all 50 states and the District of Columbia) for its use of federal funds for this project. Explain why Montgomery County continues to push ahead with construction without answering the public's questions.

Public hearings/meetings are held for even small re-zonings and road projects. If a doctor wants to open a small family practice at a location that's not zoned for that use, then a public hearing must be held for the public to ask questions and have their comments recorded on the record. If the County wants to make improvements to a dangerous intersection with federal funds, then a public hearing is required so that the public can ask questions and have their comments recorded on the record (at least that's the way that it used to be). But, the County presses on with repairs to the seriously flawed Silver Spring Transit Center, that THOUSANDS will use every day, without a single meeting to explain to the public what they're doing and why, to take the public's questions and comments, and to record on the record the County's responses to the public's questions and comments.

Formal meetings provide the public with an opportunity to review the project, ask questions and have their comments recorded for the record. More than half the funding for the severely flawed SSTC is federal aid. Montgomery County should be holding a series of formal public meetings that will allow the public to ask questions and to provide their comments. For a costly project (that we're paying for) that has severe structural flaws, with public safety as well as future (maintenance) cost implications, we at least deserve a public forum where we can ask our questions and have them, and the answers provided, made part of the public record.

SPEAK OUT! If you're a Montgomery County resident, then tell your representative on the County Council that you want NO MORE construction on the SSTC until public hearings are held where you and your fellow Montgomery County residents can be briefed on the project by County staff, have yours and your neighbors' questions answered and have the County's answers to yours and your neighbors' questions recorded ON THE PUBLIC RECORD.

If you're not a Montgomery County resident, then tell your US representatives in Congress (1 House and 2 Senate) that you want NO MORE of YOUR MONEY (federal aid) going to the SSTC until there's a FULL, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION of how YOUR MONEY has been used/misused on the SSTC. Tell your representatives that you want NO MORE construction on the SSTC until an INDEPENDENT investigation is complete, made public and ALL of the public's questions and comments have been recorded and answered ON THE PUBLIC RECORD.

SPEAK OUT! Don't let Montgomery County ram the SSTC down our throats!



educational video

http://youtu.be/kyyVJQmMewo


For those (especially the media) who don't know the difference between opinions and facts.

The FACTS say: "Tear it down"

We've heard PLENTY of OPINIONS regarding the Silver Spring Transit Center. From David Dise, Montgomery County's Director of the Department of General Services: "It absolutely will be safe." From the Montgomery County Council and Executive. From Montgomery County's paid consultants. From WMATA and its paid consultant. But, let's look at the facts:

 

1. The SSTC is cracked throughout. When concrete fails, it cracks.

 

 

2. Some slabs in the SSTC are more than one inch thinner than what they're supposed to be (10 inches thick).

 

 

3. Reinforcement is exposed. Some reinforcement was found to be missing entirely.

 

4. The 580 ft. x 315 ft. SSTC lacks expansion joints. Standard engineering practice (and WMATA construction standards, to which the SSTC was supposed to have been designed) requires expansion joints to be placed no farther apart than every 100 feet. (The lack of expansion joints is likely contributing to the cracking, which can be expected to continue without expansion joints.)

 

5. 250 beams need to be strengthened because they can't carry design loads within allowable design stress limits.

 

6. Some concrete in the SSTC is understrength and overstressed. Water was added on-site and standard cold weather curing procedures were not followed. Concrete test reports show the same test results for many samples suggesting that concrete testing did not conform to standard industry practice.

7. Initial loads applied to the post-tensioning tendons exceeded specified limits (another factor that likely contributed to the cracking).

 

8. The SSTC leaks.

 

9. We don't know why the engineer/designer failed to include expansion joints in the SSTC's design. We don't know why 250 beams were under-designed. We don't know why the builder/contractor built slabs that are more than an inch less thick than what they're supposed to be. We don't know why reinforcement is exposed, and in some cases missing entirely. We don't know why water was added to the concrete on site and why standard cold weather curing procedures were not followed. We don't know why the concrete was overstressed during the initial post-tensioning. We don't know why concrete inspection and testing failed to follow industry standards and contract requirements. We don't know why the SSTC's special quality inspector, Montgomery County's onsite construction management team, and other Montgomery County and WMATA personnel who inspected the project periodically failed to address these deficiencies until construction was almost complete. We don't know why Montgomery County selected the SSTC's builder/contractor, engineer/designer, concrete inspector/tester and special quality inspector. We don't know if political contributions were part of the selection process. We don't know why the SSTC wasn't bid for construction as has been standard practice for public works projects for decades.

 

Look at the facts. Take the opinions for what they're worth, especially the opinions of those involved in the project before the many deficiencies with the SSTC became public. Take a look at who is paying those who are providing opinions. Are they impartial?

 

Look at the FACTS. The SSTC should be torn down. You can't retrofit expansion joints into a finished concrete building. It's "set in concrete". You can't see missing reinforcement. You can't see if what's supposed to be a no. 7 bar (7/8 inch diameter) is actually a no. 5 bar (5/8 inch diameter). It's "set in concrete". You can't tell what other latent defects there may be. They're "set in concrete".

 

At the very least, further construction on the SSTC should be halted until it's PROVEN (by INDEPENDENT experts not paid by Montgomery County or anyone else involved in the project heretofore) that the SSTC is safe.

 

 



 

 

 

 



"You cannot fool all of the people all of the time"

"You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

 

Abraham Lincoln

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is anybody listening?

Noise. All around is noise. The media. Montgomery County. WMATA. Their paid consultants. The builder/contractor. The engineer/designer. The concrete inspector/tester and special quality inspector. All making noise.

Search the internet and you will find that the media are in control. Search "Silver Spring Transit Center" and for the most part all that you'll find are reports from the media--newspapers, TV, radio, etc. Articles. videos. Media reports that are basically regurgitated Montgomery County press releases. No "in-depth" reporting. No "probing questions".

Where are the other voices? Those who may have more to contribute than pulling a press release off the internet or copying a story from one media source to another. Where are the independent experts in engineering and construction who can actually add some meat to the bones and separate facts from spin? Where are the opinions of those who have legitimate concerns for public safety, public spending and government integrity?

They're being drowned out by the media's noise.

 

 

 



More spin than a...

F5 tornado.

 

 

David Dise, Director, Department of General Services at Montgomery County, MD, says “It (the Silver Spring Transit Center) will absolutely be safe”. 

 

 Roger Berliner, Montgomery County Councilman and Chairman of the County's Transportation Committee, says that "WMATA has no less responsibility than our county with respect to the current state of affairs".

 

Spin. Pure spin.

 

Mr. Dise doesn't KNOW that the SSTC "will be absolutely safe". And, apparently the media doesn't know the difference between a fact and an opinion. The FACT is that we don't know how many errors and omissions are hidden beneath the SSTC's cracked, thin (slabs more than an inch less thick than what they're supposed to be), under-reinforced, understrength, overstressed and hardened concrete. And, as far as Mr. Dise's opinion is concerned, he can hardly be considered impartial.

 

Likewise, Mr. Berliner's statement that "WMATA has no less responsibility than our county with respect to the current state of affairs" goes largely unchallenged by media and the public, who should know better. Didn’t Montgomery County chose the engineer, the contractor and the concrete inspection/testing firm? Didn’t Montgomery County have a fulltime, onsite construction management team of County employees on the job during construction? Didn’t Montgomery County issue the building permits? Doesn’t Montgomery County have the responsibility to inspect projects in its jurisdiction during construction? Isn't Montgomery County owner-of-record for the facility? For Mr. Berliner to suggest that WMATA "has no less responsibility than our county with respect to the current state of affairs" is patently absurd. But, apparently neither the media nor the public think so; or, they don't care.

 

 

"You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

Abraham Lincoln

 

 



Media Monkeys

In March 2013 media (newspaper, TV, radio, internet, etc.) reported that the Silver Spring Transit Center is severely flawed. In NINE MONTHS and HUNDREDS of stories it's NEVER occurred to the media to look into WHY Montgomery County selected the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer and the concrete inspector/tester and special quality inspector for the SSTC. Why? Have you ever heard of cronyism, boys and girls?

When I was a kid, reporters took pride in investigating a story and reporting their findings (e.g., Woodward and Bernstein, Watergate, Washington Post).

Not so today. "Reporters" sit behind their desks and bring up press releases, videos (the internet is full of video statements by Montgomery County Council members), etc. on their computers and send them in for publication. No "in-depth reporting". No "probing questions".

A sad state of affairs.

 

 

 



Looking for waste?

Look no further.

• END cronyism where local governments can award federally-funded contracts without open competition.
• END the practice of local governments awarding federally-funded public works contracts that are not bid for construction.
• END public/private partnerships.

If you want to see an example of government waste in spending federal funds, then look no further than the nearby Silver Spring Transit Center. (You can throw a stone from the District of Columbia to the SSTC.)



 

 

 

 

Take their word for it?

David Dise, Director, Department of General Services at Montgomery County, MD, says “It (the Silver Spring Transit Center) will absolutely be safe”. ( http://wamu.org/news/13/11/20/repairs_on_long_delayed_silver_spring_transit_center_could_be_done_next_year )

So do private consultants hired by Montgomery County and WMATA.

Of course they do.

Do you accept the opinions of those who have a "history" on the project and are paid by Montgomery County, WMATA or anyone else who has a “history” on the project?

I don’t. Give me an independent opinion from an expert(s) who doesn't have a "history" with the project and who is not paid by Montgomery County, WMATA or any of the other "players" in the project so far.



rumors

http://silverspring.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/silver-spring-crime-burglary-at-silver-spring-transit-center-site


"Construction site burglary:
•A construction site burglary occurred at the Silver Spring Transit Center (8404 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring) between Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6 a.m. Forced entry; property taken."

Rumors that concrete was removed from the already-deficient concrete structure (slabs that are more than 1 inch thinner than what's called for in the construction documents) are unsubstantiated. :)

 

 

 

American University radio

http://wamu.org/news/13/11/20/repairs_on_long_delayed_silver_spring_transit_center_could_be_done_next_year


The "light at the end of the tunnel" could be that of an oncoming train (no pun intended). There are many unanswered questions with the SSTC, such as: Is it safe? (despite what Mr. Dise and the rest of Montgomery County and their paid consultants say) Why weren't all the problems with the SSTC discovered sooner (extensive cracking, slabs thinner than what they're supposed to be, 250 beams that need to be strengthened, concrete that’s understrength and overstressed, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, etc.) especially given Montgomery County’s full time construction management team and periodic visits by other Montgomery County and WMATA personnel and their paid consultants? Why did Montgomery County select the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer, and the concrete inspector/tester and special quality inspector for the SSTC? Why wasn’t the SSTC bid for construction as is standard practice for most public works projects? etc., etc., etc. ... So many questions; so few answers.

 

 

 

 

is the SSTC safe?

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=3508920


"Concrete doesn't like to be twisted: it cracks. Cracking exposes the member to additional deterioration," Dise explained. ... True--this is a fact, not an opinion. ... "It will absolutely be safe. Remember, we know that it already handles its own weight, and it's already survived an earthquake."  ... These are half-truths, and an opinion. ... Hurray! It handles its own weight! BIG DEAL! What about fully loaded buses? What about the impact on safety of “additional deterioration” over time? ... Hurray! The SSTC survived an earthquake! So did all but a VERY few other buildings, both old and new.

Are you ready to accept the opinion of one who can hardly be called impartial? Dise, and others (especially those who happen to be using the SSTC if disaster strikes), have much to lose if the SSTC is unsafe. So far, those who have been insisting that the SSTC is safe either work directly for Montgomery County or WMATA, or are private consultants paid for by Montgomery County or WMATA. Personally, I will feel better if independent experts, not working for Montgomery County or WMATA, say that they believe that the SSTC is safe. It would still be only an opinion; but, at least it wouldn’t be the opinion of those who have much to lose if the SSTC isn’t safe.

 

 



Fairy tale?

http://youtu.be/82HhnCzC6IY

 



 

You and me and people from all 50 states are paying for the Silver Spring Transit Center. It hasn't even opened yet; but, it's severely-flawed. The concrete structure is cracked throughout. Slabs in many locations are more than an inch thinner than what they're supposed to be. Reinforcement is exposed in some places, and missing entirely in others. Some concrete is understrength and overstressed. 250 beams must be strengthened because they will not carry design loads within allowable design stress limits. The SSTC is WAY over budget and schedule.

 

Contact your US representatives in Congress (1 House; 2 Senate) and tell them that you want an independent investigation of how YOUR federal taxes, user fees, etc. were used or misused in the oversight and construction of the SSTC, including selection of the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer and the concrete/special quality inspector/tester. Do it today.

 

 

 



Fairy tale?

Once upon a time there was a kingdom—a vast kingdom that stretched from sea to shining sea. A tiny village in the vast kingdom decided to build a castle in their tiny village. Instead of searching the vast kingdom for the best castle-builders in the kingdom, the tiny village decided to pick their friends to build the castle. Villagers from the tiny village went to all of the other villages in the vast kingdom to collect money to build their castle--even though most people in the other villages in the vast kingdom would never even see, much less use, the tiny village’s castle.

When the castle was almost done, the tiny village discovered that the castle had been built all wrong. Villagers from the tiny village went to all of the other villages in the vast kingdom to collect money to fix the castle, even though the other villages in the vast kingdom had nothing to do with building the tiny village’s castle--that was built by the tiny village’s friends, and that was all messed up. In fact, many of the other villages in the vast kingdom had craftsmen who could have built the castle correctly for far less money than the tiny village spent on their messed-up castle.

Villagers from all of the other villages in the vast kingdom paid to fix the tiny village’s messed-up castle, and their children paid, and their grandchildren paid, unhappily ever after.   The end.



Pashaspop

This well-informed comment to a Washington Post article  (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/silver-spring-transit-center-will-require-additional-repairs-county-says/2013/11/19/5fe73b1a-514b-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_allComments.html) merits re-posting here:

"Pashaspop wrote:
11/21/2013 11:10 AM EST

How much worse can this possibly get. Now we are told that 250 beams and girders need strengthening. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY underdesigned beams and girders!

Well with last week's fix, if you are going to add 2 inches of Latex Modified Concrete to the deck to cover, but not fix, the deck cracks, you have just added 25 psf to the structure dead load and decreased the available live load capacity (for the buses) by a similar amount, without strengthening anything. Better had strengthen the entire structural framing given the likely defects found everywhere else.

And the MoCo excuse that we really didn't know about this because we were focused on the deck fix. Pathetic. Read the KCE report, it's all there. KCE Principal Allyn Killsheimer is hardly known as a 'shrinking violet'. He would have explained the problem fully in no uncertain terms. Couldn't get the Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) design calculations until late October, six months after asking for them. What! It takes one day to photocopy them, one day to put in 3-ring binders, and one day to ship with a nice cover letter. MoCo have PB under contract and can order them up at once. Why were they not submitted with the design documents for the record/permitting anyway?

As a Federal/MD/MoCo taxpayer I am appalled at the attitudes and behaviors alround. And we taxpayers are still not off the hook, despite the MoCo Council comments to the contrary. Who is paying/going to pay for the specialist legal advice needed now. Both contractor Foulger Pratt and designer PB intend to fight claims with MD/MoCo. Will any settlement cover our full costs and will it be conducted in public view. Unlikely, so we will continue paying and likely stuck with a future bill.

High time for the Feds to step in. In fact where are they since half the money is theirs.

Congress goes on about stopping 'waste, fraud and abuse', well here is a great example 200 yards from DC. Congressman Van Hollen?"

Putting lipstick on the pig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7xlWhqCYQ0



http://davepear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lipstick-on-a-pig.jpg

Blueprint for the independent investigator

There are many unanswered questions involving the seriously-flawed SSTC. I invite you to add your questions to the following list by using the comment feature at the end of this post. I’ll do my best to get your questions and mine to the independent investigator, should an independent investigation come to be. (This will happen if you and I demand an independent investigation directly from our elected representatives and through your and my public comments to media reports.)

1. Why did Montgomery County select Foulger-Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to design it, and Balter Co. to inspect and test concrete and to function as special quality inspector?

2. Why did so few firms respond to Montgomery County’s invitation to submit qualifications to design and build the SSTC?

3. Were political contributions part of the selection process?

4. Why wasn’t the SSTC bid for construction, as has been standard practice for public works’ projects for decades?

5. Why was Montgomery County with their full-time, onsite construction management team, their periodic inspections from other Montgomery County personnel, their being owner of record for the SSTC, and having the responsibility to issue construction permits and monitor construction within Montgomery County, seemingly unaware of the serious design, construction and inspection/testing flaws with the SSTC, until the construction was essentially complete?

6. Given that more than half of the funding for the SSTC is federal funding, how does Montgomery County justify the tens of millions of dollars in existing and future budget overruns, repair costs, administrative costs, legal fees, excessively high maintenance costs, etc. that taxpayers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia must pay for the seriously-flawed SSTC?

7. Is WMATA looking out for their patrons’ and taxpayers’ interests in taking over future operation, maintenance and ownership of the seriously-flawed SSTC?

8. Why did Parsons Brinkerhoff fail to meet their contract requirement that the SSTC be designed to meet WMATA criteria? Why are there no expansion joints in the 580 ft. by 315 ft. SSTC? (WMATA criteria require expansion joints spaced no more than 100 ft. apart.) As designed, why are some beams (approximately 250) under-designed, i.e., cannot take design loads within allowable design stress limits? Why wasn’t Montgomery County aware of these failures sooner?

9. Why did Foulger-Pratt and its subcontractors fail to meet contract requirements and normal standard of care in building the SSTC, e.g., slabs that are more than one inch less thick than called for, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, concrete that is understrength and overstressed because of too much water added onsite, improper cold weather curing and greater post-tensioning than called for, etc. Why wasn’t Montgomery County aware of these failures sooner?

10. Why did Balter Co. fail to conduct concrete inspection and testing and special quality inspection in accordance with contract requirements and normal standard of care? Why wasn’t Montgomery County aware of these failures sooner?

Please use the comments feature to add your questions to the list. The questions can serve as the "blueprint" for the independent investigator (excuse the pun).

Thank you.

 

 

 

Cover-up?

• We don’t know why Montgomery County selected Foulger-Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to design it, and Balter Co. to inspect and test concrete and to function as special quality inspector.

• We don’t know why so few firms responded to Montgomery County’s invitation to submit qualifications to design and build the SSTC.

• We don’t know if political contributions were part of the selection process.

• We don’t know why the SSTC wasn’t bid for construction, as has been standard practice for public works projects for decades.

Why doesn’t Montgomery County tell us? Is there a cover-up?

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3N9VrY-ODIxQ55-j3r8IlMK2J4-RxMqz_PIPdTdLZIzCOvV4h0Ibtym-bCWvk-tBs3NQaI9kHPioflNpuhDni8bpRQyj-nJx18JKUsAWowKA06Ae6LyuhvSqACoARz5o4ss-AMM8ye0/s1600/government-cloak-of-secrecy-open-government.JPG

Money Pit

http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/Silver-Spring-Transit-Center-delayed11-21-2013

Can the SSTC be "fixed"? Will the latex modified concrete overlay “fix” the widespread cracking and thin slabs? There are no expansion joints in the 580 ft. x 315 ft. SSTC; WMATA requires expansion joints spaced no more than 100 feet apart. Will it continue to crack? Will Montgomery County want to spend more “fixing” it if it does?

Besides cracking and thin slabs, we continue to learn about more problems with the SSTC. It leaks. 250 beams need to be strengthened because, as designed, they are incapable of taking design loads. Some concrete in the SSTC is overstressed and understrength because water was added onsite, it wasn’t cured properly in cold weather and more post-tensioning than called for was applied early on. Reinforcement is exposed is some places, and missing entirely in others.

Even if the SSTC can be “fixed”, at what cost? So far the SSTC has cost $120 million, and that’s not including repair work, future maintenance costs (which likely will be very high considering all of the SSTC’s flaws), court costs, Montgomery County’s continuing administrative costs, etc.

The SSTC is a "money pit". When will it end?



Picky?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/silver-spring-transit-center-will-require-additional-repairs-county-says/2013/11/19/5fe73b1a-514b-11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c_story.html

With all due respect, it’s a bit of a stretch for Mr. Leggett to say that it’s simply a matter of making sure that all the “t”s are crossed and “i”s are dotted. The brand new, yet-to-be-opened concrete SSTC isn’t supposed to be cracked from stem to stern. It’s not supposed to have slabs that are more than an inch less thick than what’s called for, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, concrete that’s overstressed and understrength, beams that, as designed, are unable to carry the design loads, etc. No, Mr. Leggett, this is more than about being picky. It’s about answering very serious questions about the SSTC’s structural worthiness and excessive costs for future maintenance. It’s about project oversight and managing the selection and performance of the designer, builder, inspector, and concrete tester. These aren’t little details; they’re basic responsibilities.

Speak out

• 250 beams in the yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center need strengthening

• The SSTC is cracked throughout before a single bus or car has used it

• The SSTC leaks

• Some SSTC concrete doesn't meet minimum strength requirements (too much water, improper cold weather curing, etc.)

• Post-tensioning forces were applied to the SSTC that exceeded those specified in the construction documents

• Some slabs in the SSTC are an inch or more thinner than 10 inches thick called for in construction documents

• There is exposed reinforcement in the SSTC

• Some reinforcement in the SSTC is missing entirely

• Concrete inspection and testing for the SSTC failed to meet contract requirements

• The 580 ft. by 315 ft. SSTC doesn't have expansion joints

• Some SSTC beams, as designed, are incapable of taking design loads

• Design for the SSTC failed to meet contract requirements (e.g. failure to incorporate WMATA requirements, as required by the contract documents)

Have you ever heard of such a thing? I haven't.

Would you accept a brand new car, that you paid retail for, with a frame that had to be strengthened before you drove it a single mile? I wouldn't.

Why would you accept a brand new transit center, that you paid retail for with your federal taxes, with all of these flaws? I wouldn't. You will, if Montgomery County has its way. Do something about it. Speak out.

"... 250 beams need to be strengthened..."

Like peeling an onion, we're SLOWLY learning of all of the INCREDIBLE problems with the Silver Spring Transit Center.

http://www.gazette.net/article/20131119/NEWS/131119340/1124/montgomery-council-members-want-more-information-on-transit-center&template=gazette

250 BEAMS!!!
How many beams DON'T need to be strengthened?!?

Montgomery County and its consultants and WMATA and its consultant would have us believe that the SSTC is safe? I would NEVER certify to the public that the SSTC is safe based on what I've read and the photographs that I've seen in KCE's and WMATA's consultant's report (that can be found and downloaded on Montgomery County's website). And that was BEFORE I learned from this article that 250 beams need to be strengthened.

"Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At Large) of Takoma Park passed on a request from a constituent that the center be temporarily opened up for supervised tours so residents can see the work being done for themselves. (Montgomery County General Services Director David) Dise said he had gotten the same request and has asked the county attorney to look into it, but predicted that conducting such tours in what is still a construction site could raise “serious liability and legal issues.”

On the one hand, "the SSTC is safe"; but, on the other hand, residents touring it raises "serious liability and legal issues"?
HUH?!? REALLY?!?
You expect the public to believe that the SSTC is safe?!?

"'...for unique projects such as the transit center, the county will consult experts with experience on similar projects earlier in the process than happened with the Silver Spring facility,' he (Dise) said."

Good idea!!! not rocket science, but a GOOD idea!
DUH!!!
Why didn't Montgomery County do that BEFORE the SSTC was designed and built?

Councilman Phil Andrews: "The Silver Spring Transit Center is the 'biggest construction debacle in the county’s history.'" Hands down, Councilman Andrews; hands down.

Politics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9HAn7DvTbI

Councilwoman Ervin, Of course you want the Silver Spring Transit Center to be safe. So do we, the public. With all due respect, Councilwoman Ervin, how do you KNOW that that the SSTC is safe?

We've heard Montgomery County's side. Mr. Dise also speaks for WMATA, another member of "the team". Is Mr. Dise completely impartial? Should those of us who may use the SSTC and those of us who have paid for the SSTC through fares, user fees and taxes trust assessments of the SSTC's structural worthiness and cost-effective maintainability by those who "have a dog in the fight"?

An INDEPENDENT investigation of the structural worthiness and maintenance costs by experts not paid for by Montgomery County, WMATA, or any other party that "has a dog in the fight" (including the State of Maryland) is needed. More than half of the funding for the SSTC comes from FEDERAL funds. The public deserves an INDEPENDENT investigation, not one conducted by or paid for by parties involved to-date in planning, securing funding, approval, oversight, design, construction, inspection/testing or any other aspect of the SSTC.

the few who have it right

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vClrn6QkfLs

Henry Hailstock, Past President of the Montgomery County Branch NAACP, has it right. Taxpayers should be "pissed off".

Jim Shalleck, Republican lawyer, has it right. There should be an investigation--not by Montgomery County or the State of Maryland--an INDEPENDENT investigation into the possible misuse of FEDERAL funds.

Find out why Montgomery County selected Foulger-Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to provide the engineering design, and Balter Co. to provide concrete inspection and testing and special quality inspection. Was it an open process? Why wasn't the SSTC bid for construction, as has been standard practice for public works projects for decades?

An INDEPENDENT investigation should "follow the money". The independent investigation should address if political contributions were part of the selection process. The investigation should examine the numerous design, construction, testing/inspection, and oversight errors and omissions to determine if criminal negligence and misuse of public funds were involved.

Mr. Hailstock and Mr. Shalleck have it right. A few "pissed off" taxpayers have it right. Why aren't there more?

Failures

When concrete fails, it cracks. The Silver Spring Transit Center is cracked throughout.

When government fails to deliver a public works project on time and within budget, government fails. When the project involves more than 50% federal funding, then government has failed us all. When government and quasi-governmental agencies, eg, WMATA, don't protect the public's interest, including expenditure of the public's money, then government and quasi-governmental agencies have failed us all.

When media touts that they provide "in depth" reporting and ask "probing questions" but do neither, then media fails us all.

When we, the public, don't demand that government uphold the public's trust, and spend public money on public projects wisely, then we, the public, have failed.

Why did Montgomery County choose the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer and the private concrete inspection and testing firm for this project? Were political contributions part of the selection process? Were the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer and the concrete inspection and testing firm selected in an open process? Were ALL qualified companies encouraged to compete? If not, then why not? Why wasn't the project bid for construction, as has been standard practice for public works projects for decades? Why aren't the media and we, the public, demanding answers to these questions? Does the public's silence imply satisfaction with the status quo? If so, then shame on us.

smoke screen

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/07/montgomery-county-wmata-fight-over-silver-spring-transit-center--91762.html

 

Didn’t Montgomery County chose the engineer, the contractor and the concrete inspection/testing firm? Didn’t Montgomery County have a fulltime, onsite construction management team of County employees on the job during construction? Didn’t Montgomery County issue the building permits? Doesn’t Montgomery County have the responsibility to inspect projects in their jurisdiction during construction? Isn't Montgomery County owner-of-record for the facility? For Mr. Berliner to suggest that WMATA "has no less responsibility than our (Montgomery) county with respect to the current state of affairs" is patently absurd.

WJLA 7, WUSA 9, WRC 4, Fox 5, Washington Post, Montgomery County Gazette, Silver Spring Patch, WTOP, WMAL, WAMU, etc., There hasn't been any new reporting on the Silver Spring Transit Center for over a month. Why aren't you reporting this story? Why aren't you asking Montgomery County why they selected Foulger-Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to design it, and Balter Co. to inspect and test the concrete? Why aren't you investigating whether or not political contributions were part of the selection process?

 

 

Transitgate?

Everything’s “gone dark” at the Silver Spring Transit Center (a.k.a. Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center). There hasn’t been any new news about what’s going on with the seriously-flawed SSTC for more than a month.

More than six months ago we learned that the yet-to-be-opened, WAY-over-budget, SSTC is seriously flawed—concrete cracks throughout, slabs more than an inch thinner than what construction drawings say that they should be (10 inches thick), missing reinforcement (some reinforcement missing entirely), shoddy construction, design errors, inspection errors, testing errors, poor oversight, etc.

For the past six months plus media have reported extensively on Montgomery County claims, WMATA claims, KCE and WDP claims (private firms hired by Montgomery County and WMATA), builder/contractor claims, engineer/designer claims, inspection/testing firm claims, etc. Now everything has “gone dark” for more than a month—no new news.

Is Montgomery County feeling the heat? Why won’t Montgomery County explain why they selected the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer and the concrete inspection/testing firm for the SSTC? Were political contributions part of the selection process? Why aren’t the media digging into these questions and reporting their findings? Since more than half of the funding for the SSTC are federal funds, we are ALL stakeholders in the severely-flawed, money pit, SSTC.

We know what happened with Watergate. Will the same happen with Transitgate? Where’s “Deep Throat” when you need him?

 

Where's the media?

Is concrete being poured at the SSTC? Who knows? It’s been over a month since the media reported what’s going on at the SSTC.

It’s cold; temperatures are in the 30s. We know from the KCE and WDP reports that the SSTC’s concrete strength and cracking problems are due in part to improper handling (adding water) and curing (lack of heat) in cold temperatures. We also know that concrete inspection and testing were not performed in accordance with the SSTC's construction documents and standard industry practice. (KCE’s report “Silver Spring Transit Center Structural Evaluation of Superstructure with Exhibits” and WDP’s report “WMATA Report - EVALUATION OF SILVER SPRING TRANSIT CENTER” can be viewed and downloaded at http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/DGS/DBDC/RegionalProjectPages/SilverSpringProjects/sstc.asp  )

The media are our eyes and ears. We won’t know if they’re pouring concrete at the SSTC if the media doesn’t report it. We won’t know if it’s the same concrete subcontractor(s), general contractor (Foulger-Pratt) and concrete inspection and testing firm (Balter) that did the job before. We won’t know what measures have been taken this time to assure that the concrete is mixed, transported, handled, placed and cured correctly. We won’t know if it’s being done right this time.

C’mon, media, report this story!

Is it safe?

I suppose that there may be a licensed professional engineer who would certify to the public that the SSTC is safe. Not me. Based on what I’ve read, and seen in photographs, in the KCE report (commissioned by Montgomery County and available for viewing and downloading on Montgomery County’s website) and the WDP report (commissioned by WMATA and also available for viewing and downloading on Montgomery County’s website), I would never certify to the public that the SSTC is safe.