Report: Extra $7.5 Million Approved for Silver Spring Transit Center

A request by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett to add $7.5 million to the Silver Spring Transit Center's budget was approved Tuesday by the County Council, The Gazette newspaper reported. Most of the money will go to expenses already incurred, the newspaper said, and about $2.2 million will go towards delays. 

Leggett proposed the additional funds in January as an amendment to the 2013-2018 Capital Improvements Program to "cover site improvement, utilities and construction costs required to prevent further opening delays," Patch reported. 

The Transit Center, a hub for buses, taxis and Kiss and Ride cars next to the Silver Spring Metro and Marc stations, is almost three years behind schedule and over budget with the total cost at $112 million.

A 100-page inspection report of the Transit Center by an outside engineering firm, available online, was made public in March, detailing a slew of problems with the $112 million public transit facility. KCE Engineering found improperly poured concrete, poorly constructed columns and the absence of cabling to hold concrete pour strips together, ultimately calling the transit center unusable and unsafe without major repairs. 

Fixes to the facility will move forward, with no timeline for completion and indefinite delays to the opening, county officials said last week.

Leggett previously said that taxpayers will not foot the bill for repairs, but rather the contractors will be forced to pay for the fixes.