Anonymous Wondering About The Rising Fort Worth Cost Of America's Biggest Bridge Boondoggle

It has long puzzled me why I have never read details regarding the "cost" of various elements of what has become America's Biggest Boondoggle, also known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision.

"Costs" such as how much the Boondoggle has spent on its various propaganda productions, both in print media and what turns out to be ironic signage, such as a large billboard touting "Panther Island Bridge Progress in Motion" near where there has been no bridge building motion for a year.

How much has the Boondoggle spent on the Boondoggle's headquarters on the ground floor of the Star-Telegram building? That space must lease for quite a hefty price tag. How much have all those installations showing the imaginary wonders of the Boondoggle cost?

How much extra have J.D. Granger and his minions been paid past what they would have been paid had this public works project progressed and been finished in a timely fashion, such as is the norm in more modern locations on the planet?

How much has J.D. Granger spent taking his minions out to lunch, over and over and over and over again, the many years the Boondoggle has been boondoggling along? How about the Boondoggle's junkets to other towns, or hotel stays in Dallas? How much has been spent on that type thing?

And then we have this relatively small (Boondoggle caused) increased cost brought to our attention by Anonymous.

$2,000 a month paid to Fort Worth and Western Railroad Company (FWWRR) to maintain temporary railroad crossings near two of the Boondoggle's stalled  bridges.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stormy Look At Zero Panther Island Bridge Motion Progress":

The bridge delays are costing real money. Here's one example that has to be dealt with at the next city council meeting. 

Adopt Appropriation Ordinance to Continue Funding Temporary Railroad Crossing Maintenance for the N. Henderson Street and N. Commerce Street Fort Worth and Western Railroad Crossings as Authorized Under City Secretary Contract No. 44661-A1

RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Appropriation Ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Intergovernmental Contribution Fund in the amount of $48,000.00 to continue funding temporary railroad crossing maintenance for the N. Henderson Street and N. Commerce Street Fort Worth and Western Railroad crossings as authorized under City Secretary Contract No. 44661-A1.

DISCUSSION:
On October 4, 2013, the City entered into a Compromise Settlement Agreement for TRV Bridges (City Secretary Contract (CSC) No. 44950) with the Fort Worth and Western Railroad Company (FWWRR) whereby the City agreed to maintain the temporary crossings at N. Henderson Street and N. Commerce Street. The temporary at-grade crossings are required for construction of the N. Henderson Street and North Main Street bridges in conjunction with the Trinity River Vision Central City Project.

Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the City agreed to pay for monthly maintenance/inspections until the temporary at-grade crossings are no longer needed for the TRV bridges. CTC Inc., was engaged to provide the required maintenance and inspection of the N. Henderson Street and N. Commerce Street crossings and crossing warning systems since they were already providing similar services at other locations within the City (CSC No. 44661).

On February 10, 2015, the City executed Amendment No. 1 to the referenced maintenance contract with the intent that the amendment would remain in full force and renew annually for as long as necessary, but shall terminate when the City ceases using the temporary crossings for regular vehicular traffic. Funding for the initial 24 months of maintenance inspections has since been exhausted.

It is anticipated that the temporary railroad crossing will need to be maintained until February of 2019, or approximately 24 months. CTC's monthly charges for maintenance/inspection services are $2,000.00/month.

The requested $48,000.00 amount is considered TRV-related. Having met its $26.6 million commitment to the TRV Project, the City will be reimbursed the full amount of $48,000.00 by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). Staff will record a receivable every month for reimbursable expenses and the TRV Program Manager in the Planning and Development Department will be responsible for collecting the full reimbursement from TRWD upon project completion. Once reimbursement is received, the revenue will be receipted to the Intergovernmental Contribution Fund.