Tough Timing Department: Pace

The Daily Herald reports that Pace's board has approved the construction of a new $13.7 million headquarters for the agency. You can just envision the wince on Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski's face during the following exchange:

Pace leaders say replacing their current, rundown headquarters is too critical to put off. They also say it will cost more to keep the old building than to build a new one, and that a $7.7 million federal grant could be lost if they don’t act quickly.

Yet, even Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski conceded the public may frown on the move as the suburban bus agency struggles with a $23 million shortfall and calls for higher sales taxes.

“Is it the politically correct time to do this? Probably not,” Kwasneski said. “Is it the practical time to do it? It probably was five years ago. This is something that we have held off for as long as we possibly could.”

You would think that after five years of procrastination Pace could wait one more month, until after the General Assembly (hopefully) completes its budget, to announce its plans to build yet another suburban public agency "Taj Mahal." Now, people are going to wonder why Pace is crying poor when it is building a new headquarters.

Pace's current headquarters is a dump. It is a shame that public agencies are so gun shy about doing the right and cost-effective thing for fear of adverse publicity. If the business case for the new Pace HQ is solid, Pace's board should have moved ahead years ago. Pace must have been really desperate if it had to act this month, with the public transit funding initiative still hanging in the balance.