[zanny]

It is not a matter of feasibility. Infrastructure transit produces tremendous returns in productivity. Even insanely overbudget projects like the Big Dig in Boston are already breaking even after only a decade, because of how much room for growth they produce.

This is why having fast rail, uncongested highways, and always expanding to meet demand are always worth the cost. Unless you can accurately forecast a downturn in regional economic growth irrespective of whether or not you meet transit demands, it is never rational from the perspective of long term city planning for maximum economic throughput to not grow the system and increase density.

[ghaff]

Even as someone who lived on the periphery of Boston for much of the Big Dig, it's good that it was done--in spite of all the well-publicized problems. Of course, the fact that Tip O'Neill managed to funnel $10 billion or so of federal money to the city for the project doesn't hurt.