Green Line Extension update

[irilyth]

Not Davis Square per se, but probably of interest to folks in the area: "Pursuant to this directive, MassDOT and the MBTA are working together to develop and execute a 90-day plan that will result in a report to both the MassDOT Board of Directors and the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board on whether and how to proceed with the project."

http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma.us/ for more.

Comments

[gentlescholar.livejournal.com]

So, I'd like a list of the names of the companies and individuals who screwed the Commonwealth so hard that an entire T line may be canceled.
Maybe if everybody seriously screwed by this were to line up and punch them in the nose, it might deter the next assholes from going to the well too often.

[irilyth]

I have no list, but I was amused by the dissonance between your comment and your username. :^)

[teko.livejournal.com]

The companies whose contracts were recently cancelled due to obscene overruns and screwing over the city were:
• White Skanska Kiewit (construction manager / general contractor)
• HDR/Gilbane (project manager / construction manager)
• Stanton Constructibility Services (cost estimator)
• AECOM/HNTB (designer)

Report: MBTA knew 2 years ago about GLX overruns

[fefie.livejournal.com]

http://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/report-mbta-knew-two-years-ago-about-green-line-ext-overruns/

Excerpt:
"...the report states the transit agency had no in-house expertise to rein in the out-of-control costs and relied too heavily on an inexperienced private sector project manager for estimates that were constantly and significantly below the contractor’s estimates."

Basically, MassDOT, the MBTA, and the firm they hired to manage the project ignored multiple signs that the project cost would vastly increase.

More light reading on the matter here:
http://www.somervillestep.org/

RE: Report: MBTA knew 2 years ago about GLX overruns

[teko.livejournal.com]

It doesn't help that MassDOT and the state agreed to an insane contract that allowed the contractors and the project manager to re-negotiate their rates when needed during the course of the project. So in other words, they were allowed to raise prices at any time and hold the entire project hostage if they didn't get their way.