Saturday, September 23, 2017

Blundering Boondoggles

Denver International Airport administration continues their historic mismanagement and fiscal misadventures. The latest? A 11.5 million dollar sign.


The sign is now under construction contributing to congestion. When completed, it will give the revenue generators (aka Denver Police) several new honey holes.

One problem. The sign cannot be used as intended because it would violate a Federal Highway Administration regulation. The only solution seems to be a literal Act of Congress.


Then there are the conspiracy theories.


What isn’t a theory is the million dollar baggage system that doesn’t work, and seemingly, cannot be fixed. Ask any frequent flyer about retrieving their bags in a reasonable time.

When DIA first opened, you had to pay a toll to leave. An elaborate building was erected and acres of concrete poured.

After closure, the area was closed to any parking. A convenient cell phone waiting area with portable restrooms was closed. Instead of re-purposing the toll plaza and building as a cell phone waiting area, a new “Food Court” and cell phone waiting area was built.


 Hard to reach, inadequate parking and difficult to use, it continues the hallmark of DIA mismanagement.

As a frequent air freight shipper, I say the air freight facilities suck.

TSA has been wonderful for the airline and ancillary companies. All inefficiencies and bad customer service experiences are blamed on “security regulations”. Some may even be true.

The freight agency I’m forced to use, Air General, would make the average DMV office look like a drill team.

At least I don’t need to use FedEx. Their DIA operation seems to be modeled after a Cold War East German border crossing. Differs in not being as user friendly.


DIA probably isn’t the worst airport, or has the worse mismanagement, but must be considered a contender IMO.

10 comments:

Old NFO said...

It's in the top three, along with JFK and ATL...

Well Seasoned Fool said...

With all your travels over the years, you know. Atlanta? Horror show. Haven't been to JFK in years. DFW isn't high on my list.

Unknown said...

WSF,

Mismanagement?
Billions of dollars wasted?

You have to change your perspective.

i.e. Billions funneled to big donors through contracts for "public works" .

Through that lens, with security as the nebulous excuse, Superb Management.

Momma Fargo said...


Well that was a big sad waste of money. They could have spent that somewhere else and got a bigger bang for their buck. No pun intended. Will I be able to fly now that I said that?

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Wow! Someone more cynical than me.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Wasting money is what they do with flair.

drjim said...

Public Works projects are similar to the agencies that manage them. They grow to absorb all the budget, ask for more, and then use that up.

The (mis)management at DIA apparently understands that concept very well....

Brig said...

Follow the money... down the rat hole...

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Seems to be the way.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

These rats seem to be feeding well.