> OPB are you saying that advanced technology firms like to make grand claims in
> response to the RFP, but refuse to warranty those claims in the contract? Shocking!
> Yes, they do that, we've had the same problem with Highway ITS technology projects, too.

Worse yet, at least for public transit agencies, is that the chowder-heads that run them (politicians) frequently overrule their own engineering staff and let the vendors get away with it; for their "favorite" vendors anyway. California state law itself favors the contractor as well.

Between these two problems, it is a wonder California gubernment agencies ever get anything to work right. But even when it does work out right, it costs five to ten times as much as private railroads would spend on the same things anyway.

Its nuts!