Will history repeat itself with the Purple Line?

One of the unasked questions of the Silver Spring Transit Center "monumental debacle" (as Montgomery County Councilman Phil Andrews calls it) is: Why did Montgomery County non-competitively choose private companies Parsons Brinckerfhoff to structurally design the SSTC, Foulger Pratt to build it and Balter Co. to inspect concrete and serve as special quality inspector?

The short answer is: because they can. Public-private partnerships allow government to non-competitively choose to give public contracts to private companies, even though private company contracts for most public works projects are the result of open competition.

The real answer is that we don't know why Montgomery County chose these three specific private companies to design, build and inspect the SSTC. In the more than two years since the SSTC's numerous structural defects became known not one of the many news media outlets (print, TV, radio, internet) covering the SSTC has asked the question. The public hasn't demanded an answer. And, Montgomery County hasn't volunteered why they really chose these three specific private companies to design, build and inspect the SSTC. One can only imagine why.

The Purple Line will be a public-private partnership, just like the Silver Spring Transit Center. Will history repeat itself with an even more costly "monumental debacle"? 

When Larry Hogan campaigned for governor, he promised to kill the Purple Line public-private partnership. Now, Governor Hogan is waffling.

Have you had enough, taxpayers? If so, then I suggest that you contact Governor Hogan and tell him so.

It's ironic that the PPP Purple Line will connect to the severely 
flawed, grossly overdue, grossly over-budget, 
"monumental debacle", PPP Silver Spring Transit Center