To Tell the Truth

Let's play "To Tell the Truth":

Question: Is the Silver Spring Transit Center safe?
Answer (Montgomery County MD & its paid consultants): Yes
My answer: Let's hear from experts who were not involved in the construction of the SSTC and who are not paid for by Montgomery County.

Question: Why is the SSTC severely flawed (extensive cracking, slabs more than an inch thinner than what they're supposed to be, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, under-designed beams, etc.)?
KCE's (Washington DC engineering firm hired by Montgomery County) answer: because of errors and omissions by the SSTC's builder/contractor, Foulger-Pratt, the SSTC's designer/engineer, Parsons Brinkerhoff, and concrete inspector/tester and special quality consultant, Balter Co.
My answer: ditto

Question: Why did Montgomery County select Parsons Brinkerhoff to design the SSTC, Foulger-Pratt to build it and Balter Co. to inspect and test concrete and to serve as special quality inspector? Were political contributions part of the selection process? Why wasn't the SSTC bid for construction, as has been standard practice for public works projects for decades?
Montgomery County's answer: (silence)
My answer: Only Montgomery County knows for sure.

Question: Relatively speaking, because of its flaws, will the SSTC be expensive to operate and maintain?
WMATA's engineers' answer: yes
My answer: ditto

Question: Will the latex concrete overlay fix the SSTC?
Montgomery County's (and its paid consultants') answer: yes (presumably) 
My answer: No. Lack of expansion joints is likely causing the SSTC to crack. A latex concrete overlay will not address the underlying, fundamental cause for the cracking (no expansion joints).

Question: Will the public pay for repairs to the seriously flawed, over-budget, brand new, yet-to-be-opened SSTC?
Montgomery County's answer: No.
My answer: Montgomery County doesn't know that the public will not end up paying for repairs. Presumably, the courts will ultimately decide who pays for repairs to the seriously flawed, over-budget, brand new, yet-to-be-opened SSTC.

Question: Will we ever know the answers to some of these questions?
My answer: Probably not. By their silence neither Montgomery County, the Federal Transit Administration, the Maryland Mass Transit Administration, the media, nor those who have shelled out $120 million for the seriously flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened SSTC (you, me and citizens from all 50 states) seem to be interested in getting answers to these and other questions. 

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." 
Edmund Burke