Baseless Self Serving Statements

http://www.wtop.com/654/3587776/Purple-Line-Officials-say-when-not-if

What can we learn from the Silver Spring Transit Center?

At one session on design and development, someone asked what lessons can be learned from the delays with the Silver Spring Transit Center, Silver Line and D.C. Streetcar that can be applied to the Purple Line.

"I believe the project will open on-time and on-budget. If there are delays, it will be on the company's dime," says Madden, referring to whichever company is involved in the public-private partnership.

MTA officials hope construction will begin in 2015 and passenger service will begin in 2020.

"We need to restore some trust with the public. We need to ensure ahead of time that the government and the contractors are very much on the same page. We need to make sure through computer modeling and just dialogue to make sure all the kinks are worked out before the shovels hit the ground," says Leventhal.

Other officials tell WTOP that state agencies pay close attention to what is happening in Silver Spring and Tysons and are confident the Purple Line will be well constructed and properly inspected.


"...close attention..."? 
"...confident the Purple Line will be well constructed and properly inspected..."?

• Did WTOP follow up?
• Did WTOP ask "probing questions" and challenge these baseless self-serving statements with "in-depth reporting"? 
• Did WTOP ask how a public-private partnership would serve the public so much better with the Purple Line when it has failed the public so miserably with the Silver Spring Transit Center?
• Did WTOP ask MTA officials specifically why "state agencies" are "confident the Purple Line will be well constructed and properly inspected"? what specific steps are being taken to provide the "close attention" to the Purple Line that was not paid to the Silver Spring Transit Center?
• Did WTOP ask Madden specifically why he believes that "the project will open on-time and on-budget. If there are delays, it will be on the company's dime"? Specifically, why he believes that the public will not be stuck with future cost overruns? Specifically how he's able to look into the future and predict how the courts will decide a case like the Silver Spring Transit Center?
• Did WTOP ask Leventhal specifically how they are going to "restore some trust with the public ... (and) ensure ahead of time that the government and the contractors are very much on the same page ... (and) make sure all the kinks are worked out before the shovels hit the ground." ...   What are the specifics that distinguish these statements from other baseless self-serving statements?
• Did WTOP point out to Madden and Leventhal the difference between facts and opinions ("I believe...")?

Apparently not.