New York’s subways are consistently the most expensive in the world. It is not immediately clear why. The effect of these runaway costs is dire: first, they inhibit the expansion and development of high-capacity rapid-transit systems at a moment when concerns about climate and unequal access to affordable housing, jobs, education, and services are paramount. The incredibly high costs of phase one of the Second Avenue subway highlight three problems that plague transit-infrastructure costs across the country.
