Virginia Builds $1 Million “Super” Bus Stop

[CaseyJones]

http://www.dailytech.com/Virginia+Builds+1+Million+Super+Bus+Stop/article30283.htm


It expects to build 23 more at over $900,000 a piece

The city of Arlington just recently opened an impressive bus stop with a not-so-impressive price tag of $1 million.

The “super stop” in Arlington, Virginia is unlike any other bus stop. It has a custom designed roof made of glass and steel; a wall of etched glass; heaters in the floor; gorgeous landscaping, and concrete/stainless steel benches.

The bus stop has 10-inch high curbs, 90 feet of concrete and can shelter 15 people at a time while waiting for buses to arrive – all at a cost of $1 million.

more at link ^

[Brian4Liberty]

Shovel ready jobs! Yippee! All hail Premier Obama!

[WM_in_MO]

Hah hah ha!

[presence]

15 people?

[libertyjam]

What a ripoff, so who is getting massively overpaid for this? You can build an entire gas station complete with building, food court, underground tanks, 10,000 sq ft of concrete, etc for that price.

[Origanalist]

The idea behind the fancy bus stops is to not only accommodate Arlington’s plans for its streetcars and buses (about 16,000 people use the Columbia Pike buses for transportation) but to also draw people to the area.

Ha, ha. It will draw new people all right...

http://polishbumsblog.blox.pl/resource/bej2.JPG

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4687188965785673&pid=15.1

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5axc9kbBk1qzuwtko1_500.jpg

But hey, it's free money. Right?

[itshappening]

This is why Tax Hike Bob wanted his tax hikes along with the crony capitalists at the Chamber of Commerce

[Brian4Liberty]

They have been doing this all over the nation. They did a bus stop like this in my city. They also tore down a perfectly good playground and restroom facilities and rebuilt them, nearly identical to what was there before. Stimulating the economy!

[Origanalist]

This reminds me of Seattles "high tech toilets". http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003867372_toilets04m.html

[juleswin]

PPP for you. Private public partnership coupled with no bid contracts is used to demonize private industries. Now the private industries that win these bids not the corrupt politicians that let it happen gets most of the blame.

[TheTexan]

This is what they spent $1 million on:

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1073239/thumbs/r-MILLION-DOLLAR-BUS-STOP-large570.jpg?13

[Cleaner44]

I wish somebody would run a bulldozer into those bus stops.

[WM_in_MO]

I wish somebody would run a bulldozer into those bus stops.

Stimulate the hell outta this economy

[Keith and stuff]

So the bus tickets are $20 to go a few miles right? Otherwise, who is this being paid for?

[juleswin]

This is what they spent $1 million on:

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1073239/thumbs/r-MILLION-DOLLAR-BUS-STOP-large570.jpg?13

No soda machines or flat screen TVs? You think it after spending $1 it would be futuristic or have a lot of amenities that would be useful to a rider other than a bench and bus schedule.

Heck, it should contain a deli store or some fast food joint in it :)

[MelissaWV]

This is what they spent $1 million on:

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1073239/thumbs/r-MILLION-DOLLAR-BUS-STOP-large570.jpg?13

Heated, but it's open to the elements, so how efficient is it?

Seats 15, but where?

The shelter roof is half of a roof and tilted, so if it is raining from the direction the street is in, or if you are checking the bus map, you are still getting soaked.

I'm not in any way saying they should rebuild this stupid thing. I'm saying that for a million dollars, you'd think they could address even the most basic issues involved.

[VoluntaryAmerican]

This is what they spent $1 million on:

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1073239/thumbs/r-MILLION-DOLLAR-BUS-STOP-large570.jpg?13

Hobo Hotels.

[MelissaWV]

No soda machines or flat screen TVs? You think it after spending $1 it would be futuristic or have a lot of amenities that would be useful to a rider other than a bench and bus schedule.

Heck, it should contain a deli store or some fast food joint in it :)

You know what? In a way, you're onto something. I wonder if, in some cities, there would be mini marts willing to build a two-story structure where the first story is a bus stop, and the second is a convenience store/cafe/something.

[HOLLYWOOD]

The cost comes down to $575,000 for construction/fabrication and $440,000 for construction management and inspections, where federal/state money took care of 80 percent of the total price tag.

I'd like to see the breakout of costs and percentages. where's the other 20%?

I wonder why these million dollar bus stops aren't built/funded for; Omaha or Cote d'Alene, or Fuquay-Varina or etc... again, Washington DC stealing from around the country to build their Imperial metro palace even bigger.

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

PPP for you. Private public partnership coupled with no bid contracts is used to demonize private industries. Now the private industries that win these bids not the corrupt politicians that let it happen gets most of the blame.


If you're taking government money to build bullshit, you likely aren't really a private business to start with. The word is crony, I believe.

I'm familiar with a small business who used to bid on government contracts. They eventually stopped bidding because they were getting fucked all the time... Pretty much, the specs would get changed halfway through the jobs.



I'd like to see the breakout of costs and percentages. where's the other 20%?

I wonder why these million dollar bus stops aren't built/funded for; Omaha or Cote d'Alene, or Fuquay-Varina or etc... again, Washington DC stealing from around the country to build their Imperial metro palace even bigger.


Yep. Arlington might as well be DC. Well... besides that it's only the rich people who work in DC, not the crime infested poor neighborhoods actually within the district.

[Origanalist]

You know what? In a way, you're onto something. I wonder if, in some cities, there would be mini marts willing to build a two-story structure where the first story is a bus stop, and the second is a convenience store/cafe/something.

What? A self sustaining private enterprise not dependent on government taking money and blowing it on progressive utopian ideas?

Enemy of the state! Reported.

[Brian4Liberty]

Heated, but it's open to the elements, so how efficient is it?

Seats 15, but where?

The shelter roof is half of a roof and tilted, so if it is raining from the direction the street is in, or if you are checking the bus map, you are still getting soaked.

I'm not in any way saying they should rebuild this stupid thing. I'm saying that for a million dollars, you'd think they could address even the most basic issues involved.

But it's a work of art! It doesn't need to be functional. Maybe some of the Federal money came from the National Endowment for the Arts.

[HOLLYWOOD]

Isn't their a 7/11 every 7-11 blocks? Maybe Fascist government can haVE bus stops over to corporate donors... You hear the recording on the bus announce, "Next stop Starbucks... next stop 7/11, next stop Spentagon."

[jkob]

Those cost a million dollars a piece? Geez...

[devil21]

No soda machines or flat screen TVs? You think it after spending $1 it would be futuristic or have a lot of amenities that would be useful to a rider other than a bench and bus schedule.

Heck, it should contain a deli store or some fast food joint in it :)

Actually, the "map" on the right is a flat screen tv. There's another thread on this from a couple weeks ago already.

[AGRP]

$1 mil and it doesnt even properly protect people from getting wet.

[AGRP]

It looks like people forgot how these "projects" work. Of course they over paid for it. Its the same reason why their toilet seats cost $200.

[LibForestPaul]

You know what? In a way, you're onto something. I wonder if, in some cities, there would be mini marts willing to build a two-story structure where the first story is a bus stop, and the second is a convenience store/cafe/something.

+1

[oyarde]

Public flogging for every elected official involved.That is how I see it.Stealing is bad , time to learn the lesson .

[KingRobbStark]

This is where high born hobos spend their time.

[juleswin]

$1 mil and it doesnt even properly protect people from getting wet.

I noticed that too. Just imagine waiting at that stop during a cold breezy winter morning? just 1 wall to shield you from the breeze. I have a feeling the guy/gal who built this never rode the bus system, cos this is something people who ride the bus system will know

[Icymudpuppy]

Okay, I could have built that same thing for less than $50,000. Including the heated seats.

[TheTexan]

Okay, I could have built that same thing for less than $50,000. Including the heated seats.

Why would you do that? That's incredibly inefficient. That's $950,000 of profit that you're just giving up on.

[Origanalist]

Why would you do that? That's incredibly inefficient. That's $950,000 of profit that you're just giving up on.

Because he could still make a profit, and continue to get business? Oh, that's right, were dealing with government......

[VIDEODROME]

What the hell, I was expecting to see a large travel plaza not this piece of shit.

[Keith and stuff]

This is where high born hobos spend their time.
There are homeless people all over the place in Arlington. This will encourage more of them.

[TheTexan]

There are homeless people all over the place in Arlington. This will encourage more of them.

Which begs the question... do hobos have "turf"? I reckon that heated bench is going to be a source of many hobo fights

[Origanalist]

Which begs the question... do hobos have "turf"? I reckon that heated bench is going to be a source of many hobo fights

Oh yeah, they have turf. I have watch a beggar run off another begger who was on "his" corner a few times.

[Carson]

Does standing under a glass ceiling creep out anyone else but me?

[Carson]

Which begs the question... do hobos have "turf"? I reckon that heated bench is going to be a source of many hobo fights

I think the answer to that is on the horizon for all of us and the answer is no. I thinking the only option is to keep moving.

[AGRP]

Good story. Perhaps some will start to wonder why something like that is worth $1 mil and figure out the purpose of public projects is to line wallets? This would be a good topic for someone to post that story about a contractor bidding the highest price to the public official so both of them could pocket the extra money.

[Brian4Liberty]

Good story. Perhaps some will start to wonder why something like that is worth $1 mil and figure out the purpose of public projects is to line wallets?

The Keynsian socialists who run our country would be just as happy to pay to dig holes and then refill them the next day. It lines the pockets of their cronies, and supposedly creates jobs. In reality, it hurts jobs because it is malinvestment of borrowed money, but it is very effective at making a few rich.

We should feel lucky that the pretty bus stop was actually built at all.

[CaseyJones]

you know those seat warmers will be broke in a year and someone will try and pry that flat screen out also

[Origanalist]

The Keynsian socialists who run our country would be just as happy to pay to dig holes and then refill them the next day. It lines the pockets of their cronies, and supposedly creates jobs. In reality, it hurts jobs because it is malinvestment of borrowed money, but it is very effective at making a few rich.

We should feel lucky that the pretty bus stop was actually built at all.

I know I feel lucky....

[John of Des Moines]

Soon the etched glass will be etched with non-approved etchings.

[devil21]

Soon the etched glass will be etched with non-approved etchings.

That will, of course, mean that security cameras will need to be installed to monitor for taggers. And a couple more cops hired to drive by every 30 minutes. I sure hope whoever was paid $1M to build that is paid another $100k to secure it with cameras bought from Walmart in a couple months. (well played playa)

[Icymudpuppy]

Good story. Perhaps some will start to wonder why something like that is worth $1 mil and figure out the purpose of public projects is to line wallets? This would be a good topic for someone to post that story about a contractor bidding the highest price to the public official so both of them could pocket the extra money.

That reminds me of a joke:

A government agent for a federal program has a project to complete. He gets three bids.

A Contractor from Nashville bids the project at 20,000.
A Contractor from Littlerock bids the project at 15,000.
A Contractor from Chicago bids the project at 45,000.

The government agent is amazed, and asks the Chicago contractor. "Why is your more than double either of the other guys?"

The contractor from Chicago replies, "Simple, 15,000 for me, 15,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Littlerock."

Naturally, the Chicago bid was accepted.

[devil21]

removed

[AGRP]

That reminds me of a joke:

A government agent for a federal program has a project to complete. He gets three bids.

A Contractor from Nashville bids the project at 20,000.
A Contractor from Littlerock bids the project at 15,000.
A Contractor from Chicago bids the project at 45,000.

The government agent is amazed, and asks the Chicago contractor. "Why is your more than double either of the other guys?"

The contractor from Chicago replies, "Simple, 15,000 for me, 15,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Littlerock."

Naturally, the Chicago bid was accepted.

Thats it.