The staff recommendation outlines good near-term steps to prioritize projects as the region prepares for FTA and TIRCP funding cycles. However, we also encourage MTC to take on a stronger role in project selection, cost estimation, project prioritization and project oversight in order to ensure that the region’s major transportation projects are delivered more quickly and cost-effectively and with better value to the public. The region only has one opportunity to get megaprojects right, and the decisions made today will last for a hundred years. Additionally, a major reason why we do not have the transit network we need is because projects cost too much and take too long. And when each project is so expensive, it’s no wonder that there’s little money left to deliver the frequency and quality of service we need. Negative headlines about project delays, cost overruns, and poor design may make voters less inclined to invest in transit.
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