Be alert about Silver Spring Transit Center

http://www.gazette.net/article/20140219/OPINION/140219269/1014/be-alert-about-silver-spring-transit-center

"Now that the election season is well underway we can expect to hear plenty of political talk about the Silver Spring Transit Center — about who is at fault, etc.

Meanwhile the county is in private negotiations with the various contractors, WMATA and other parties regarding fixing that structure’s serious problems.

Citizens need to be alert because in the next few months we might anticipate a deal being reached that could undercut future taxpayers.

No person knows whether the planned fixes will work, meaning fixes that would enable the transit center to last for 50 years. The fixes that have been arrived at have not been technically justified to the public, and have not undergone independent engineering review, unlike the fixes to the San Francisco Bay Bridge problem.

County politicians up for re-election know that the taxpayers will not want to pay for any future failures that may need fixing in the out-years. Those problems are not our fault. Politicians seeking re-election say that won’t happen. The county executive himself has publicly stated that he knows that he needs to have the contractor(s) put up some type of financial assurance to pay for any future problems due to poor construction.

Issue No. 1: How much money is to be set aside in the form of some surety bond? No one knows how much but if citizens see that any bond is for less than $10 million they should be uneasy.

Issue No. 2: How long should these contractors be on the hook? Of course the contractors want to minimize their exposure to a few years. But problems could arise even 10-15 years down the road. This is supposed to be a 50-year structure, after all. Citizens and the press should be upset if a settlement only is good for five or so years.

Issue No. 3: What would trigger an event that would use set-aside funds to fund a downstream fix? Who would represent the county and WMATA? The same people who negotiated a deal? What standards would be used to access a set-aside fund? Will all this be done behind closed doors with a done-deal [to] be handed to the public or will the county lift the veil of secrecy to enable more transparent government?"

Bernard Bloom, Silver Spring


Finally, an article about the Silver Spring Transit Center that tells it like it is! 

"... serious problems ... poor construction ... no person knows whether the planned fixes will work ... fixes that have been arrived at have not been technically justified to the public, and have not undergone independent engineering review... What would trigger an event that would use set-aside funds to fund a downstream fix? Who would represent the county and WMATA? The same people who negotiated a deal? What standards would be used to access a set-aside fund? Will all this be done behind closed doors with a done-deal [to] be handed to the public or will the county lift the veil of secrecy to enable more transparent government? ... a deal being reached that could undercut future taxpayers ..."  

BRAVO! in-depth coverage! probing questions! 
(unlike the rest of the media's coverage of this story)

Well done, Mr. Bloom. Well done, The Gazette.

SSTC: a public-private partnership

http://www.reformandfreedom.org/2012-06-01-03-09-30/latest-news/public-private-partnerships/174-public-private-partnerships-capitalism-or-cronyism

"The 'public-private' concept works in several ways: either government partners with private business to build and maintain public projects, or government invests in private business to foster the growth of certain industries, supposedly for the public good. Rather than stay out of the marketplace, government officials use their influence and authority to grant special favors to their friends and colleagues in the business world. When government officials and business leaders maintain a close relationship for their own financial benefit, as is often the case with public-private partnerships, it is sometimes called “crony capitalism.”

Crony capitalism is marked by favoritism when it comes to handing out legal permits, government grants, business contracts and special tax breaks. Self-serving friendships or familial ties between businessmen and government officials mean anyone not on the “inside” of these relationships is excluded from the process. Because those relationships result in decision-making based on political and social considerations, however, they often go wrong. Public resources that could be used for infrastructure, education or public safety are diverted into business deals that either go belly up, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars, or into seemingly endless projects that only serve to line the pockets of special interests."

The Silver Spring Transit Center is a public-private partnership. If the builder/contractor, the engineer/designer and the concrete inspector/tester and special quality inspector for the SSTC had been selected in open competition, then would the result have been the same? Would the public be burdened with a severely flawed, over-budget, overdue SSTC that is undergoing millions of dollars in repairs before it opens?

There is much to be learned about government's role in the severely flawed, over-budget, overdue, $120+ million Silver Spring Transit Center. Will it be? Not from government that rejects open competition for cronyism. Not from media that fail to report "in-depth" and to ask government officials "probing questions". Not with a public that is content to sit quietly by while government wastes the public's money.

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

Update from the FTA

Submission Update - FTA Contact Us Tool 
Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:26 pm
From  Automated Email Notification <FTA> fta.sqlexecserv@dot.govhide details  
To  rkoenigsc 

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. This is an automatically generated email from FTA's Contact Us Tool. Contact information is located at the end of this message. 

Question: I am a retired civil engineer. My question concerns the Silver Spring Transit Center in Montgomery County, MD. 53% of the funding for the SSTC is being provided by FTA and 11% by MMTA. In March 2013 the County reported that it had contracted with local Washington, D.C. engineering firm KCE to evaluate extensive cracking in the yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center. KCE's report attributes the extensive cracking to errors and omissions by the SSTC's builder/contractor Foulger Pratt, the engineer/designer Parsons Brinkerhoff and the concrete tester/inspector and special quality inspector Balter Co. KCE's report addresses other serious flaws: slabs more than an inch thinner than the 10 inches thick slabs called for in construction documents, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement and other construction, design and inspection and testing flaws. Since release of the KCE report last March, other flaws have been discovered: 250 beams that are under-designed, leaks, etc. The County intends to add a two inch thick latex concrete overlay to the SSTC in spring 2014 after freezing temperatures have passed. Missing from numerous media reports and public statements from Montgomery County officials is an announcement for a public meeting(s) where those paying for the SSTC are given the opportunity to ask County officials our questions and to make our comments for the record. Why? Why hasn’t FTA required public meetings to allow paying citizens to provide their input?

The answer to your question requires additional research. We are currently working towards providing an answer to your question and will be in contact with you soon.

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I'm anxious to get FTA's answer to my question. Pretty soon it'll be Spring when Montgomery County intends to waste more federal money by adding a two inch latex concrete overlay to the SSTC--without public input from those who are paying for the SSTC--including you and me. The overlay won't fix the underlying problem which is extensive concrete cracking caused by a lack of (as in none) expansion joints. Standard construction practice and WMATA criteria (to which the SSTC was supposed to have been designed and constructed) require expansion joints spaced no more than 100 ft. apart. The 315 ft. by 580 ft. SSTC has none. At the very least the FTA should require Montgomery County to hold public hearings so that we, the paying public, can ask our questions and provide our comments on the public record.

I'll keep you posted.

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

WMATA's engineers are right

WMATA's engineers are right to be balking over taking over the operation and maintenance of the Silver Spring Transit Center. There are fundamental flaws with the SSTC that can’t be fixed. One of the biggest flaws is the lack of expansion joints.

Standard construction practice requires expansion joints in structures that are subject to temperature change. WMATA construction standards (to which the SSTC were supposed to have been designed and built) require expansion joints every 100 feet. The 580 ft. by 315 ft. SSTC has none.

An article in Structure Magazine describes why expansion joints are necessary in parking garages:
http://www.structuremag.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/C-StrucDesign-Iqbal-Oct101.pdf
"The purpose of an expansion joint is to reduce build-up of volume change (VC) stresses and the associated structural distress. An expansion joint is considered a necessary evil because omitting an expansion joint where it is needed creates a risk of structural distress."

When unaccommodated by expansion joints, “volume change stresses” caused by temperature changes will result in “associated structural distress”, i.e. the concrete cracks (fails). Sound familiar?

Question: How does one fix the problem of no expansion joints in the SSTC?
Answer: You can’t. The SSTC is “cast in concrete” (the concrete has cured). You can’t go back and retrofit expansion joints into a hardened concrete building.

So, WMATA’s engineers are right:
   1. the SSTC is cracked, and likely will continue to crack, because there are no expansion joints. 
   2. Expansion joints can’t be added to a completed concrete building.  
   3. An after-the-fact, latex concrete overlay won't fix the underlying, fundamental problem (see #1 and #2)

Feedback

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While my "feedback" was specifically addressed to NBC4 News, it applies to the media in general:

"Yesterday I saw a new television commercial for NBC4 News. Jim Vance says that NBC4 News does “in-depth reporting” and “asks probing questions” (paraphrased). Not so. NBC4, as well as the other media outlets, is failing to provide “in-depth reporting” and to ask “probing questions” on a big story in metro DC—the Silver Spring Transit Center. 

Media have reported that the opening for the brand new SSTC is delayed because of serious flaws (extensive concrete cracking, slabs more than an inch less thick than what they’re supposed to be, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, 250 beams that are under-designed, leaks, etc.). A report commissioned by Montgomery County, MD (which can be downloaded from Montgomery County’s website) attributes the serious flaws to errors and omissions by the SSTC’s builder/contractor Foulger/Pratt, its engineer/designer Parsons Brinkerhoff and the concrete inspection and testing firm, Balter Co. Media have also reported that WMATA is waffling over accepting the SSTC for operation and maintenance (in an agreement with Montgomery County signed before design and construction began) because of the serious construction flaws and WMATA’s concern that these flaws will result in extraordinarily high future operation and maintenance costs. Media have also reported that the $120 million (and counting) SSTC is over budget. Media reported that current repairs cost $10.8 million. 

In-depth reporting? Probing questions? Hardly. Media haven’t asked Montgomery County why they’re proceeding with repairs to the SSTC without public input. Montgomery County continues to press ahead with repairs (including a concrete overlay scheduled for the spring after freezing weather has passed) without holding public hearings to explain to the public what they’re doing and why. Shouldn’t media find it strange that Montgomery County is proceeding with repairs to the brand new, yet-to-be-opened  SSTC without explaining to the public on the record what they’re doing and why, to answer the public’s questions (since the media aren’t) and to take public comments for the record? After all, Montgomery County reports on its website that 53% of the funding for the SSTC are federal funds (Federal Transit Administration), 11% Maryland Mass Transit Administration and 36% Montgomery County. The SSTC is a public facility that we are all paying for. Media haven’t asked Montgomery County whether or not the County feels that it has met its responsibilities to those who are paying for the SSTC. 

There are other obvious questions. Why have these serious flaws only come to light when the SSTC is almost complete? Why weren’t they discovered and addressed sooner, particularly in light of Montgomery County’s construction management team of County employees full time on the project during construction (not to mention periodic inspections by other Montgomery County and WMATA personnel)? Media hasn’t asked Montgomery County why they selected Foulger-Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to design it or the Balter Co. to inspect and test the concrete and to serve as special quality inspector for the project? 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? Why hasn’t the Federal Transit Administration required public hearings and an investigation into the possible misuse of federal funds? Why hasn’t the State of Maryland done the same? Is the SSTC safe? Montgomery County and its paid consultants say that it’s safe. Shouldn’t there be an independent (by those who aren't paid for by Montgomery County) investigation and report to the public? We’ll never know the answer to these and other questions as long as the media fails to provide in-depth coverage and to ask probing questions."

Outrageous!

We, the people, should be outraged. 

We paid top dollar ($120 million, and counting) for a brand new, state-of-the-art transit center (more than 50% of the funding are federal funds). In turn, we receive a severely flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center (extensive cracking, slabs more than an inch thinner than called for, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement, 250 underdesigned beams, leaks, etc.). 

Do you accept broken goods as new that you pay more than retail for? I don't. I return them. Why should I accept broken goods as brand new? 

If I took a broken, NEW product, that I paid more than retail for, back to the supplier, and the supplier wanted to fix it, completely on the supplier's terms, without my approval, I'd say "not so fast"!. I wouldn't have it. (At the very least, I'd have the supplier state in writing that the supplier is responsible for all repair costs. However, it's supposed to be new; I don't want one that is/was broken.)

Montgomery County marches on with repairs to the severely flawed SSTC without our input. This is outrageous! We paid top dollar for the SSTC. 

Tell your federal government representatives (and your Montgomery County Council representative, if you live in Montgomery County) that you don't want the severely flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center, that you paid more than retail for as new, whether Montgomery County says that it's fixed, or not.

Question for the FTA

New FTA Contact Us Tool Submission  

From  Automated Email Notification <FTA> fta.sqlexecserv@dot.gov
To  rkoenigsc 
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. This is an automatically generated email from FTA's Contact Us Tool. Contact Information is located at the end of this message. Thank you for writing to the Federal Transit Administration. 

Following are the details of your question: I am a retired civil engineer. My question concerns the Silver Spring Transit Center in Montgomery County, MD. 53% of the funding for the SSTC is being provided by FTA and 11% by MMTA. In March 2013 the County reported that it had contracted with local Washington, D.C. engineering firm KCE to evaluate extensive cracking in the yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center. KCE's report attributes the extensive cracking to errors and omissions by the SSTC's builder/contractor Foulger Pratt, the engineer/designer Parsons Brinkerhoff and the concrete tester/inspector and special quality inspector Balter Co. KCE's report addresses other serious flaws: slabs more than an inch thinner than the 10 inches thick slabs called for in construction documents, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement and other construction, design and inspection and testing flaws. Since release of the KCE report last March, other flaws have been discovered: 250 beams that are under-designed, leaks, etc. The County intends to add a two inch thick latex concrete overlay to the SSTC in spring 2014 after freezing temperatures have passed. Missing from numerous media reports and public statements from Montgomery County officials is an announcement for a public meeting(s) where those paying for the SSTC are given the opportunity to ask County officials our questions and to make our comments for the record. Why? Why hasn’t FTA required public meetings to allow paying citizens to provide their input?

Your question is very important to us and will be treated with our full attention. We understand the need to get your question answered quickly, and we strive to do so within two to three business days. However, there may be times when it will take longer for you to receive a response. To speed up the process, we ask that you do not send in multiple messages about the same issue. 

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We deserve better

First, we find out that instead of a brand new, state-of-the-art Silver Spring Transit Center that we're getting a $160 million, over-budget, overdue, seriously flawed Silver Spring Transit Center. It's like paying more than retail for a brand new sports car, and getting this:

Then we find out that Montgomery County MD is proceeding with 450 repairs (cost: $10.8 million) to the yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center without ANY input from US taxpayers who are paying the freight. Despite HUNDREDS of reports in the media with quotes from Montgomery County officials, NONE of these reports or statements mention a public hearing(s) where Montgomery County officials explain to the paying public what they're doing and why, and take the public's questions and comments on the public record. It's an outrage. We're paying for the SSTC (more than half of the funding for the Silver Spring Transit Center are federal funds). We deserve better.

Tell your representatives in Congress (1 House; 2 Senate) that you object to YOUR money being wasted on beat-up wrecks like the Silver Spring Transit Center. Do it today; because, Montgomery County intends to waste more of your money on a 2 inch latex overlay for the severely cracked, yet-to-be-opened SSTC as soon as the weather breaks.

What Montgomery Co. MD doesn't want us to know

Why hasn't Montgomery County MD told us why they selected Foulger Pratt to build the SSTC, Parsons Brinkerhoff to design it and Balter Co. to inspect and test concrete and to serve as special quality inspector for the SSTC? Why haven't the media asked? Could it be because political contributions were a factor in the selections? If so, then it's apparent why Montgomery County won't answer these questions. Are you OK with that? I'm not. I want to know if political contributions were part of the selection process. I deserve to know. After all, I'm paying for the seriously flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened SSTC. So are you. More than half of the funding for the SSTC are federal funds. 

I want to know why my federal tax dollars have been poorly spent on the SSTC. Do you? If so, then contact your government representatives (1 House and 2 Senate in the US Congress; and, your county council representative, if you live in Montgomery County). Tell them that you want Montgomery County to hold a public hearing(s) to explain what they're doing and why, and to take our questions and comments BEFORE any more construction on the seriously flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened SSTC occurs. 

Even though Montgomery County may not want to answer our questions, since we're paying the bills, we deserve answers to our questions, and we deserve that our comments be recorded on the public record.

Montgomery County MD's incredible chutzpah

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/11/silver-spring-transit-center-hit-with-more-structural-issues-more-delays-97141.html

"New records show 450 changes to the original construction, causing repairs worth $10.8 million. Councilman Roger Berliner says despite that sum, everyone agrees they need to build the transit center now and sue one another later."

"...everyone..."? What about me and YOU? Isn't it amazing how Montgomery County can make decisions that involve OUR money without even giving us the opportunity to have our questions answered? Incredible! 

450 repairs that cost $10.8 million vs. 0 public meetings

Talk about CHUTZPAH!

video status report

http://youtu.be/31bAYkx9eBY

"I gave him an unlimited budget, and he exceeded it."

Talk about throwing good money after bad! So far, Montgomery County has spent $120 million of our money on the severely flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center. (More than half the funding for the SSTC are federal funds.) And, Montgomery County isn't done yet! There's the two inch latex concrete overlay that Montgomery County intends to install when the weather thaws. And, there are 250 beams to strengthen, leaks to fix, cracks to seal, etc. How much will this work cost? Who knows? Montgomery County hasn't said, and the media hasn't asked. And, there will be future maintenance costs, which will likely be through-the-roof because of the SSTC's numerous flaws. And, then there will be legal costs--LOTS and LOTS of legal costs. We'll be picking up the tab for Montgomery County's outside legal consulting fees and in-house administration costs for years while Montgomery County and its paid contractor/builder Foulger-Pratt, its paid engineer designer Parsons Brinkerhoff and its paid concrete tester/inspector and special quality inspector Balter Company fight out in court as to who's going to pay for the SSTC's numerous construction, design and testing and inspection flaws.

In the early 1970s Redskins' owner Edward Bennett Williams said of Coach George Allen "I gave him an unlimited budget, and he exceeded it!" At least George Allen bought a respectable football team with his unlimited budget. Montgomery County bought a severely flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened white elephant. And, Montgomery County hasn't finished squandering our money yet. 
Such a deal!

Where we stand

Last March we learned that Montgomery County MD had contracted with local (Washington, D.C.) engineering firm KCE to evaluate extensive cracking in the yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center. KCE's report (which can be downloaded from Montgomery County's website at http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/dgs/SSTC-STRUCTURAL-REPORT.asp ) attributes the extensive cracking to errors and omissions by the SSTC's builder/contractor Foulger Pratt, the engineer/designer Parsons Brinkerhoff and the concrete tester/inspector and special quality inspector Balter Co. Besides the extensive cracking, KCE's report addresses other serious flaws: slabs more than an inch thinner than the 10 inches thick slabs called for in construction documents, exposed reinforcement, missing reinforcement and other construction, design and inspection and testing flaws. Since release of the KCE report last March, other flaws have been discovered: 250 beams that are under-designed, leaks, etc. We also learned that Montgomery County intends to add a two inch thick latex concrete overlay to the SSTC in spring 2014 after freezing temperatures have passed. 

Besides being seriously flawed and overdue, the SSTC is over-budget. (More than half of the funding for the SSTC are federal funds.) Montgomery County officials and their paid consultants have also made numerous public statements about the safety of the SSTC since last March. Notably missing from these public statements and media reports is an announcement for a public meeting(s) where those paying for the SSTC (you and me) are given the opportunity to ask County officials our questions and to make our comments for the record. 

We're entitled to answers to our questions. After all, the SSTC is OUR transit center. We're paying for it. However, there are no indications at present, either from Montgomery County's public statements or from media reports, that Montgomery County will schedule a public meeting(s) so that our questions can be answered and our comments can be heard for the record. So much for transparency in government. 

the SSTC is still a pig

A latex concrete overlay is to the Silver Spring Transit Center as lipstick is to a pig.

If the SSTC cracks because it doesn't have expansion joints (standard construction practice and a WMATA requirement), then a latex concrete overlay won't fix the problem.   

It's still a pig.

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

Abraham Lincoln

Something(s) to hide?

Lack of transparency creates suspicion.

Why won't Montgomery County hold public meetings to explain to those who are paying for the Silver Spring Transit Center (you and me) what they are doing and why? (More than half of the funding for the SSTC are federal funds.) Why does Montgomery County press ahead with repairs to a brand new, yet-to-be-opened public transit center? We paid top dollar for the SSTC; we're entitled to a brand new, unflawed SSTC, and an explanation from Montgomery County as to why they feel that we aren't. Why won't Montgomery County explain how and why they 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? Why doesn't Montgomery County explain why the SSTC wasn't bid for construction, as has been standard practice for public works projects for decades? Why wasn't the SSTC's construction bid in an open process? Why doesn't Montgomery County explain why it believes that the SSTC's lack of expansion joints (which are standard construction practice and a WMATA requirement) is acceptable, even though lack of expansion joints is undoubtedly causing the SSTC to crack? Why doesn't Montgomery County explain publicly why it believes that slabs that are more than one inch less thick than required (10 inches thick) and why 250 under-designed beams are acceptable? Why doesn't Montgomery County explain to the public, for the record, why it believes that the SSTC is safe and won't be a financial burden on you and me and our children and grandchildren in the future because of high maintenance costs caused by its numerous flaws?

Why won't Montgomery County face the public in public meetings and answer our questions (questions that the media won't ask) on the record?

Political Puffery, the Gullible Press, and the Gullible Public

I hate politics and the press' (and much of the public's) gullibility. Here's why:

http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/New-library-opens1-9-2014

Quote from David Dise, Director, Montgomery County Department of General Services:

“Every challenge makes the finish of the project that much sweeter and we appreciate that the public does not see those challenges, they just know it is taking longer. Our job is to beat those challenges and overcome them and still focus on delivering a first-class product, which I believe we have done in this case and I believe we do in all the projects that we construct.”

Quote from County Council President Craig Rice:

“We here in Montgomery County are really trying to see things through. We went through some fits and starts and had a tough economy and were really challenged when it came to our budget to make sure we continued on with a lot of these projects,” Rice. “We know how important they are to the community and wanted to make sure we delivered. We are going to see the results of this. You can see from the people that are out here today have really been waiting and wanting it so it is great for us to say we delivered.”

"County Executive Ike Leggett said he likes attending groundbreaking events, but he enjoys ribbon-cutting ceremonies even more."

Let's get this straight... Dise, Rice, Leggett and The Sentinel would have us believe what a GREAT job that Montgomery County is doing building public works' projects... Two old sayings come to mind:

"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

"I was born at night; but, not LAST night!"  (Author unknown)

 Is there any wonder why polls show that people view politicians with such disdain?

 

 

The severely flawed, over-budget, yet-to-be-opened Silver Spring Transit Center:

 

 

 

 

 

 



Case Study: Concrete Failure

http://failures.wikispaces.com/Concrete+System+Collapses+%26+Failures+During+Construction

2000 Commonwealth Avenue: January 5, 1971

This was a progressive collapse of a cast-in-place reinforced concrete flat-slab structure. Punching shear was determined to have been the triggering mechanism but the real problem was in the numerous errors and omissions by every party involved in the project (Delatte 133-143). The investigating committee determined that if the construction had had a proper building permit and had followed codes, then the failure could have been avoided (Delatte 142). Some of the problems leading to the collapse are:

  1.  Not following the structural engineers specifications for shoring and formwork
  2.  Lack of concrete design strength
  3.  Lack of shoring or removed too soon
  4.  Improper placement of reinforcement
  5.  Little construction control on site
  6.  Owner changed hands many times
  7.  Almost all jobs were sub contracted
  8.  No architectural or engineering inspection done
  9.  Inadequate inspection by the city of Boston
10.  The general contractors representative was not a licensed builder
11.  Construction was based on arrangements done by the subcontractors
12.  No direct supervision of subcontractors

Sound familiar? For the Montgomery County, MD Silver Spring Transit Center, add:

13. Under-designed
14. Failed to provide expansion joints
15. Built slabs more than one inch thinner than specified
16. Failed to adequately inspect and test concrete before and during placement
17. Understrength concrete
18. Added water at the jobsite to the concrete mix
19. Failed to follow standard cold weather curing requirements
20. Missing reinforcement
21. Applied greater initial posttensioning forces than called for
22. Failed to address extensive concrete cracking in a timely manner

 

 

 

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."