6 ms·

This is what is killing US public transit. Most things are reasonably priced in the US by global standards. Why are our public works projects always so ridiculo

This is what is killing US public transit. Most things are reasonably priced in the US by global standards. Why are our public works projects always so ridiculously expensive? It has to be some structural or cultural difference.

mc32 9y ago
I'm not an expert, but it seems the mix of unions, politicians, kickbacks, corruption, favoritism, etc., leads itself to abuse. Maybe, maybe if we just used something similar to the Army Corps of Engineers to handle all major infra construction in the US, keeping local politicians out of the fiscal and contractual aspects, then maybe we could get what we pay for. In the meantime, it seems like a bunch of backscratching and pocket stuffing --I mean, someone's making money.
- thatfrenchguy 9y ago
  Using a public agency to build stuff ? That’s socialism yo.
  - mc32 9y ago
    Can't be worse than local politicians. The Corps would do the management and contract with local engineering concerns --at reasonable prices. Bring them from Texas, Illinois, who cares, so long as they can do the job.
  - azemetre 9y ago
    I prefer my public works to be infested with kickbacks and bribes from massive corporations.
- seanmcdirmid 9y ago
  Is the military somehow more efficient?
  - vadimberman 9y ago
    Not really. The military contracts are a pork barrel.
  - mc32 9y ago
    While it's part of the military, organizationally speaking, they are composed of both military and civilian staff. They have the expertise in engineering, construction, management and budgeting. And, since these sorts of projects don't happen often in a given place, but do happen periodically around the country, the expertise gained can be leveraged for other similar projects rather than have the MTA and other Transit orgs reinvent the wheel. While there may be some pork in there, it's be much less than you'd find when you get local politicians and state politicians all trying to get something out of it [I'll vote for your subway, if you vote for my bridge and don't raise hell about hiring my son in law's firm, etc.]
  - scythe 9y ago
    It's harder for mob bosses to intimidate members of the military, for one. Who do you think benefits from 200 nonexistent employees?
- 1024core 9y ago
  > maybe if we just used something similar to the Army Corps of Engineers Weren't the ACE responsible for the levees in Louisiana, which failed miserably during Hurricane Katrina?
  - mc32 9y ago
    Yup, they also had repeatedly recommended their upgrade[1], but were ignored by Washington. [1]http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/04/nation/na-levee4 http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/04/nation/na-levee4

mc32 9y ago

I'm not an expert, but it seems the mix of unions, politicians, kickbacks, corruption, favoritism, etc., leads itself to abuse. Maybe, maybe if we just used something similar to the Army Corps of Engineers to handle all major infra construction in the US, keeping local politicians out of the fiscal and contractual aspects, then maybe we could get what we pay for. In the meantime, it seems like a bunch of backscratching and pocket stuffing --I mean, someone's making money.

thatfrenchguy 9y ago
Using a public agency to build stuff ? That’s socialism yo.
- mc32 9y ago
  Can't be worse than local politicians. The Corps would do the management and contract with local engineering concerns --at reasonable prices. Bring them from Texas, Illinois, who cares, so long as they can do the job.
- azemetre 9y ago
  I prefer my public works to be infested with kickbacks and bribes from massive corporations.
seanmcdirmid 9y ago
Is the military somehow more efficient?
- vadimberman 9y ago
  Not really. The military contracts are a pork barrel.
- mc32 9y ago
  While it's part of the military, organizationally speaking, they are composed of both military and civilian staff. They have the expertise in engineering, construction, management and budgeting. And, since these sorts of projects don't happen often in a given place, but do happen periodically around the country, the expertise gained can be leveraged for other similar projects rather than have the MTA and other Transit orgs reinvent the wheel. While there may be some pork in there, it's be much less than you'd find when you get local politicians and state politicians all trying to get something out of it [I'll vote for your subway, if you vote for my bridge and don't raise hell about hiring my son in law's firm, etc.]
- scythe 9y ago
  It's harder for mob bosses to intimidate members of the military, for one. Who do you think benefits from 200 nonexistent employees?
1024core 9y ago
> maybe if we just used something similar to the Army Corps of Engineers Weren't the ACE responsible for the levees in Louisiana, which failed miserably during Hurricane Katrina?
- mc32 9y ago
  Yup, they also had repeatedly recommended their upgrade[1], but were ignored by Washington. [1]http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/04/nation/na-levee4 http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/04/nation/na-levee4