They’ve already won one Teddy Waste Award for their abysmal mismanagement of the $4.5 million South Surrey Ghosttown, er, Park and Ride, but TransLink is already bucking for another.

Stefania Seccia of the Burnaby Now has an interesting piece on a TransLink-rented empty building at 6700 Southridge Dr.

From Stefania’s story:

Last November, TransLink announced it would spend $37.9 million to refurbish aging SkyTrain vehicles from the Millenium and Expo Lines at a facility on 6700 Southridge Dr.

However, the Burnaby NOW has learned that TransLink has been paying $60,000 a month in rent since August 2012 – but only preparation work has been done, such as spending $309,800 to re-track 80 metres at the Operation and Maintenance Facility Two. TransLink still has to install a paint booth, as well.

TransLink’s spokesperson claims the building is being used. Let’s find out what the head of their union says:

But Bill Magri, president of the SkyTrain workers local CUPE 7000 union, said the building is empty.

“My bargaining team has been in that building in one of the offices, and there’s nothing going on, but Bombardier still has an office downstairs on the first floor,” he said. “The top floor is totally vacant and the warehouse is totally vacant.”

Magri said there’s been some work, but no construction or painting has taken place. “What bothers me is the outright waste and the poor financial decisions made by TransLink.”

Magri said the paint booth hasn’t been constructed, and that it’s doubtful it ever will. “They reconnected the link, they had to put in another track switch and all that because they took it out when they sold the building,” he said. “They can do what they like for the property, but make proper, sound financial decisions.”

This is the second massive taxpayer waste at the same building. In 2004, the provincial government’s B.C. Transit was forced to buy the building due to a weird deal with Bombardier. Price tag: $17.2 million. They then sold it to a private owner for $8.2 million – and that owner flipped it to another company within five months for $13 million.

Last word to Coun. Colleen Jordan of Burnaby:

“It just shows the lack of [TransLink] foresight, the lack of management planning.”

Hear, hear, Councillor.