CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New questions are surfacing in light of Channel 9's exclusive report on Wednesday that revealed concrete cracking problems have plagued 12 percent of the rail ties installed on the new LYNX Blue Line Extension project.
[ [EXCLUSIVE: CATS admits to defective concrete problem after whistleblower 9 investigation] ]
A Whistleblower 9 investigation led Charlotte Area Transit System officials to admit 2,076 defective concrete ties have been replaced to date, while another 2,400 have been sealed with epoxy.
The investigation revealed the problem was first discussed internally at CATS in late 2015.
Channel 9 also knows a full internal CATS investigation was not launched until late the following year.
Internal emails show that by the end of 2016 several CATS officials were fully aware as to the magnitude of the concrete rail tie cracking problem.
So, when were key city officials first told about the massive construction problem?
Channel 9 is still waiting for a complete answer.
CATS assertion in a statement on Wednesday that there will be "no additional cost to the taxpayer" is refuted by its own internal documents.
One report Channel 9 uncovered clearly states the cracking problem raises serious questions about "downstream maintenance costs" for taxpayers.
The admission that 2,400 ties have been sealed with epoxy also suggests there could be increased maintenance and replacement costs sooner rather than later, not to mention service delays for customers during future rail tie replacement efforts.
The concrete cracking issue was not part of the official presentation to Charlotte City Council or the public comments made by CATS CEO John Lewis in February 2017, when he announced the delayed opening of the Blue Line extension.
We have also not found any City of Charlotte meeting records that indicate officials have publicly discussed the rail tie cracking issue and its potential impact on taxpayers.
There was no mention of the extensive concrete cracking problem in "Monthly Progress Reports" produced by CATS for city officials and partner agencies in January or February of 2016.
Channel 9 has asked CATS if specifics about the cracking problem were included in subsequent reports issued to officials from March through July. CATS has not responded.
In the interest of transparency and accountability, we asked the following 32 public officials when they first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete on the LYNX Blue Line extension project that needed to be replaced.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when he first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.
We asked when she first learned there was a large amount of defective rail tie concrete that needed to be replaced?
No response.