Most of the outer boroughs, especially Brooklyn and the Bronx, were developed in the pre-automobile era around subways. And many of the suburbs beyond were deve

Most of the outer boroughs, especially Brooklyn and the Bronx, were developed in the pre-automobile era around subways. And many of the suburbs beyond were developed around railroad lines. Moses did indeed emphasize highways at the expense of transit for a generation— but the outer-borough subways nearly all still work as originally planned, and the rail lines to suburbs beyond would be far more effective if modernized to 'regional rail' rather than being operated as 'commuter rail' operated to haul suburbanites from park-and-ride lots to Midtown around a 9-5 schedule. e.g.: http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/07/17/regional-rail-for-new-york-city-part-ii/ http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/07/17/regional-rail-...