Community Corner

'Our Focus Has to Be Moving Forward:' Councilmembers React to Silver Spring Transit Center

After hearing remarks from David Dise, head of the county's general services department Tuesday, council members spoke to County Cable Montgomery.

 

Nearly a month after a disappointing report that the unopened Silver Spring Transit Center, now at about $120 million, was unsafe and unusable without major repairs, Montgomery County officials seem confident in the future of the transit hub. 

After hearing remarks from David Dise, head of the county's general services department Tuesday, council members spoke to County Cable Montgomery, the county's public cable station, about the remediation of the facility, which should begin at the end of this summer. 

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"I think it's important to remember the council's responsibility, in terms of our oversight, is to ensure that this particular remediation takes place, that it takes place on time," said Council President Nancy Navarro (D-Dist 4), "and also that we protect the taxpayers' liability in this entire process."

"Again, no one's happy about where we are, but our focus has to be moving forward, not looking back and I think this is a legitimate good plan to move forward," said Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist 1), chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee.

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Last month, an inspection report by independent firm KCE Engineering found issues with the center's concrete, girders, columns, support beams and, most disturbing for inspectors, an absence of support cabling on one level of the three-tiered facility. Parsons Brinckerhoff, the center's original engineers, will design the fixes to the center. 

Since the March report, Navarro and Berliner sent a memo to County Executive Isiah Leggett requesting regular updates on the progress of the Transit Center. Councilwomen Valerie Ervin (D-Dist 5) and Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) said they wanted to hire an outside consultant to advise the council through the repairs. 


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