Since this tweet went viral, obviously yes I know that this is apples and oranges. But it is worth asking why transit infrastructure takes so long and costs so much in America. I suggest reading and following @alon_levy:https://www.the-american-interest.com/2017/02/10/why-we-cant-have-nice-things-2/ …
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Whose work inspired this NYTimes story on its subway system’s out-of-control costs: The Most Expensive Mile of Subway Track on Earthhttps://nyti.ms/2pR3IlH
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Sorry here: https://nyti.ms/2pR3IlH also this comparative list of costs per mile: https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/01/why-its-so-expensive-to-build-urban-rail-in-the-us/551408/ …
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Some excellent stuff on his blog: Why US metro stations cost so much compared to other countries: https://pedestrianobservations.com/2018/01/27/construction-costs-metro-stations/ … A teardown of
@elonmusk's claims: https://pedestrianobservations.com/2017/12/15/elon-musks-ideas-about-transportation-are-boring/ … A 2011 comparison of costs per mile globally, (embarrassing for the US):https://pedestrianobservations.com/2011/05/16/us-rail-construction-costs/ …Show this thread -
Also, a discussion here of why it's so ridiculous that it costs *$190 MILLION* to build *TWO MILES* of *BUS LANE*, in reference to the Van Ness project I mentioned in the original tweet:https://www.thebaycitybeacon.com/politics/the-van-ness-brt-costs-way-way-too-much-pedestrian/article_06b07030-c829-11e7-8050-73ea7942d1e2.html …
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This is not an argument not to invest in public transit. In contrast, I am *VERY* much a supporter of major investments in mass transit and would like to see a second Transbay Tube on the ballot in the near future. I am concerned that these costs erode public trust and
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make voters less willing to support necessary long-term infrastructural investments, which in turn cede more of our systems to private solutions, which can roll out more rapidly but are insufficient in the long run.
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Self-driving cars will not address the fact that we have a limited number of bridges in the Bay Area, which have limited capacity and would face an induced demand problem should AVs reduce fares/cost.
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End of conversation
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Perhaps I should explain the concept of a metaphor?
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@alon_levy has written that some of this has to do with the American system being based on common, rather than civil, law so disputes on contractors, procurement, land acq, etc get resolved through litigationhttps://www.the-american-interest.com/2017/02/10/why-we-cant-have-nice-things-2/ …
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