THE SAN FRANCISCO TRANSBAY PROJECT SLATED TO COST $6 BILLION - THE SF PORT AUTHORITY SEAWALL PROJECT SLATED TO COST $5 BILLION - BOTH MOVING AT A SNAIL PACE - WILL COST DOUBLE THE PRICE.

 

The SF Transbay debacle is one of patience - capped at $6 billion -slowly but surely it will reach $12 billion - tons of hot air - thousands of change orders - so baffling - it is confounding and convoluted.

In San Francisco, when it comes to our main infrastructure project - the wheeling and dealing - brings in the sharks -  costing the taxpayers three times the original price - the SF Board of Supervisors and more the Mayor - fast asleep in the cockpit.

From time to time, I participate in the virtual meetings - held by the Joint Transbay Board - I love listening to the hot air - know precisely what is happening - the left-hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

The primary purpose was to put a high-speed rail line in place - and with all the talk so far, nothing much is happening - except untold headaches. 

The project started with a cost of $6 billion - slowly but surely, it is creeping to $12 billion - and will end up costing the taxpayers $20 billion.

In recent years - the cost of steel, concrete, and other building materials has gone up - on average, over one hundred and fifty percent.

It is impressive to see Elaine Forbes from the SF Port Authority and Tilly Chang from the SF County Transportation Authority - backing up the issues that come up for voting. 

Both have no clue what they are voting for - but want their names to be registered on the record - and all this and more will come to haunt them sooner, not later. 

I have been following the Transbay Project since 2001, and it is 2022 - and in all this time - hogwash. 

Currently, the SF Port Authority - an Enterprise Department - is working with the Corps of Engineers - to build a seawall. This project will cost $5 billion - but as we all know - it will be more -   do not be surprised - the final cost - is $15 billion.

The seawall project started with a task force - talking hot air but failing to understand the basics. 

None on the task force were structural engineers; initially, the task force did not have profound studies - the seawall was prone to liquefaction and severe flooding.

Giant waves are as high as 50 feet that a tsunami could create and adversely impact the current Ferry Building.

For starters, the seawall was not maintained for over 80 years. 

The SF Port Authority was created in the late 1960s.

The 7.5 miles came under the jurisdiction of the State of California.

The land and facilities from lower Fort Mason to Pier 98 - were handed to the City and County of San Francisco.

The City and County of San Francisco - created the SF Port Authority and Enterprise entity - that must raise its own funds and be self-sufficient.

Monique Moyer, the Director of the SF Port Authority - tried her best to balance the budget of SF Port Authority. 

She also played a crucial role in creating the Cruise Ship terminal - upgrading structures and leasing real estate property.

She finalized the deal with the ATT Stadium, known as the Pacific Bell Stadium.

Strictly speaking - all SF Port Authority comes under the Public Trust Land Act. The land, in the case of the SF Port Authority - the use or operation -  is mandated for maritime purposes. 

We all love baseball, but what has baseball to do with maritime operations? These jerks can come out with convoluted reasons - to make money - the Giants - or whoever singing the blues.

How these ploys and machinations are handled - the SF Port Authority has a point person I know - who goes to Sacramento.

Aided and abetted by crooks - one politician from San Francisco - who was the Speaker once - terms curtailed - to get him to step down - and fade into oblivion.

Today he had his dirty finger in every pie - raking in millions, and no one can touch him so far. 

Conceptual plan - 50 feet waves project in 3 years - flooding areas from the Embacadero to Montgomery Street in San Francisco. Time will tell. Adversely impacting underground rail - MUNI - and the clean water and sewer system.

Seawall Program led by the Corps of Engineers.

The SF Port Authority is an Enterprise Department - it has to raise its own money.

Plans are afoot to use John Burton on the SF Port Commission - to get the money - linked to the Infrastructure Bill.

The Federal Government is aware of the corruption in San Francisco - and the incompetent SF Board of Supervisors.

The constituents of San Francisco have the power to vote - and recently shot down the MUNI Bond Measure. The west side of San Francisco - sending a strong signal -  provide us with the sound MUNI services - and then only will we consider - supporting you Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA).

The Central Subway started with a $600 million cap and has now reached $2 billion.

This nonsense is nothing new in San Francisco.

The politicians and those working for MTA, the SFCTA, SF Port Authority, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Diane Feinstein - one worse than the other - raking millions to fill their campaign coffers.