A guest editorial by Mark A. Palmer

At the October 3, 2006, county commissioners meeting Mecklenburg County Commission chairman Parks Helms admitted that he was aware of the light rail overruns months ago. Chairman Helms could not understand why city council members were so surprised when they heard this. Chairman Helms went on to say that he felt no reason to inform the county manager or the county commissioners.

I asked Chairman Helms, “Why did he not inform county commissioners or the public?” Chairman Helms said, “That the county commissioners and the public do not need to know.” Chairman Helms went on say,” I told Ron Tober to fix it.”

Days later, Chairman Park Helms is now changing what he said. The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday, October 5, 2006 that Chairman Park Helms spoke too vaguely a day earlier of knowing for several months about cost overruns on the light rail.

This is opposite from what Chairman Park Helms said during the county meeting. By responding to what County Commissioner Jim Puckett said that Mayor Pat McCrory, City Council, MTC, and Chairman Helms were not aware of cost overruns. Chairman Park Helms made it that he was aware of overruns and Ron Tober kept him informed.

Citizens of Charlotte are yet again duped and uninformed by an elected official.

What is puzzling is how Mayor Pat McCrory and various city council members have been warned numerous times that light rail does have major over runs. At the John Locke Transit Town Meeting over a year ago, several city council members listened as two of the top knowledgeable transit people spoke about light rail. They shared in detail problems of cost, budget overruns, flaws, etc.

Still, this is a very common situation, where “virgin” transit agencies and councils do not have the experience in doing major capital projects, as is the case in Charlotte. They want to move the dirt before they have the proper staff or plan and control system. In Charlotte’s case there is almost no real oversight staff at all.

The bid for the stations was in September 2005, which was same time that a major hurricane hit the Gulf that brought construction costs to a high. You would think this would set off major alarms to CATS, City Manager Pam Syfert and Mayor Pat McCrory.

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