Some lawmakers questioned if the DOT was providing the Legislature with artificially low estimates to get the projects approved.
Posted on 02/19/2017 9:58:17 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Edited on 02/20/2017 9:31:18 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
MADISON -- A new audit shows huge cost overruns at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, with dozens of projects costing double or triple their original estimates.
The Legislative Audit Bureau report finds that estimated costs for 19 major projects completed between 2006 and 2016 were $1.5 billion, double the initial projection. The audit also finds that the estimated costs of 16 ongoing major highway projects have increased by $3.1 billion.
(Excerpt) Read more at fox6now.com ...
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The audit also includes 4 years under democrats and doyle. Doyle butchered the transportation funds. He stole hundreds of millions and stuck it in the general fund to do his welfare and kickbacks.
Does not excuse 6 years of republicans being in charge and not keeping an eye on the notorious wi dot, though.
all highways should be 100% privatized
I worked in the WI DOT from 2011-2014, though in IT I didn’t get to see the source of overruns.
They liked to employ the strategy of starting a project and daring the state to cut it off (Zoo project, I-39/90 rework).
On the other hand, Doyle and the Dems like to divert DOT money for Dem projects.
On the third hand, dim bulb projects like multiple toaries that nobody wants in rural areas proliferated during my period there.
Doyle’s centralized data center at the east edge of Madison is a boondoggle we are stuck with. The old DOT building which may already be torn down as I write this was a fortress that was originally intended in ‘65 for most of Madison state government functions, but government grows.
This is what happens when there are no penalties for being late with a project. In fact, with most states, the overtime just keeps coming for the union goons on the job. Why would they ever get it done on time?
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Sure, whatever you say. I've seen it. If I'm wrong why do road projects take longer than planned and end up costing three to four time more than projected?
Exactly correct. In PA, there are contracts that are 10+++ years late {the I-79, I-376 completion of the cloverleaf as an example}, the PA Turnpike 43 extension, and the bridge to nowhere that hung over the Point for 15 years.
The politicians on the take, the contractors that are paying off both the pol's plus the union bosses, and the unions that are skimming and paying off the pols are the reasons that construction projects are never finished on time and on budget.
The first reason that costs are too high to begin with, THE DAVIS-BACON ACT.
Some lawmakers questioned if the DOT was providing the Legislature with artificially low estimates to get the projects approved.
Yep, lack of standards and incentives. Another aspect that annoys me, here in MI we have roads where constant “repairs” end up like speed bumps, because, apparently, it’s impossible to make a repair that isn’t an inch (or more) above the rest of the road.
Isn’t it 2017?
Now is a good time for WI to investigate to see which public officials are living beyond their means. I’ll bet that ALL of the missing bucks didn’t find their way to the general fund.
The problem is much of the money went to non politicians. Union leaders. Construction contractors friends of,doyle, et al. To pay the bids, that were padded. That kind of crap.
The private sector isnt a panacea either.
all highways should be 100% privatized
Sell off interstates ( including the land ) and use proceeds to pay off debt.
eliminate federal gas tax since federal funds no longer necessary for upkeep of interstates.
interstates would stop be trillion dollar black holes of gov’t waste mismanagement and fraud
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