It was reported that the ART bus project contractors have now vowed to resolve all the construction problems that have now been revealed.
(See January 15, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, page A-1, ART contractors vow to resolve concerns as city chases $75 M)
The manufacturer of the electric buses is also vowing to correct the problems discovered with the buses.
How big of them.
There is not a single quote or reaction from former Mayor Richard Berry in the entire front page, above the fold headline article.
Not surprising, seeing as the Albuquerque Journal endorsed the project, was a big promoter of ART and promoted Mayor Berry at every turn for eight years.
The single greatest lie spoken by former Mayor Richard Berry for three years was his repeated proclamation that the ART bus project is a “world class” transportation project.
The truth is that ART has always been nothing more than a cheesy nine-mile, $129 million bus route that is now costing $135 million that destroyed Route 66.
A “world class transportation project” costs billions of dollars like Denver’s and Phoenix’s light rail systems and one that transforms an entire community.
The biggest promoters were always the general contractors Bradury & Stamm, architects Dekker/Perich/Sabatini and lead engineer HDR who all made millions on the project.
It so big of them that they now “vow” to resolve all the concerns about ART seeing that the promises are nothing more than what they are REQUIRED to do under the construction contract and law.
What they should consider doing is paying the real damages to all the businesses along Central that lost business, were affected by the project or that were forced to close.
It is now clear the “world class” project will not be fully functional for probably a year even after Berry dedicated the project with great fanfare just a few weeks before he left office.
Only time will tell, but let’s not hold our breath.
The new administration is now tasked with “chasing” the promised $69 million from the Feds that was in fact reduced to $50 million by congress.
For a listing of the “Lemons and Lies Of ART” see my blog article at: