Here’s a question (that maybe @RCAFDM would like to tackle): why are infrastructure construction costs so high in the U.S. compared to other developed countries? For example, new York City’s new subway came in at over $1 billion per mile. Why?
The better question is why does NYC subway construction result in extending the subway at all. Spending money generates kickbacks and payouts to voters and vote banks so that's what gets maximized. Building track is the *constraint* - there's some minimum that needs to be done.