Back in 2000, former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan presided over the groundbreaking of the Silver Spring Transit Center, which was originally supposed to cost $35 million and open in 2003. One decade and $80 million later, it is a structurally unsound hunk of unusable concrete that will require millions either to fix or to tear down. Its grand opening has been delayed indefinitely as the county and its contractors blame each other for the colossal mess.

Envisioned as a hub for Metro and MARC trains, buses and taxis, and the capstone to the revitalization of Silver Spring, the transit center fell victim to political infighting, bureaucratic bungling and a complete lack of oversight. It is not a pretty sight.