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by jonathankoren 2688 days ago
Meanwhile, in Europe a subway will cost you somewhere between 200 and 500 million dollars per mile.

https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/01/why-its-so-ex...

2 comments

The US has 2 big problems: 1. “as a result of existing union agreements covering the eastern seaboard area of the United States, underground construction employs approximately four times the number of personnel as in similar jobs in Asia, Australia, or Europe.”

Holy crap, that means 75% of the personell are just sitting around not doing anything. Must be a very powerful union.

2. Regulation: But the problems are not just to do with labor. Working alongside active commuter or intercity rail lines brings a slew of new requirements and regulations.

It seems that construction companies have learned from the medical industry how to be f...ing expensive.
And the defense industry. The defense industry has the advantage of not only maximizing cost, but also maximizing states. For instance, I believe Alaska is the only state without an economic impact from the F-35, the most expensive fighter jet ever made.

https://www.f35.com/about/economic-impact-map