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And the answer, much as it was in ancient times: By exploiting workers - and often letting them die.

by gnud 10y ago

Houshalter 10y ago
Europe and Korea still manage to build subways 10-20x cheaper than New York. As far as I know they don't have tons more worker deaths. With all our modern technology, we should be able to achieve what our ancestors did. Even with our higher standards for safety.
- distances 10y ago
  Helsinki is currently building a metro expansion for $103 million per kilometer, at least if I got the numbers right. Of course the setting is very different in New York vs. outskirts of Helsinki, but yes, it's cheaper.
  - greglindahl 10y ago
    Building on the outskirts of New York City is also cheaper than building in Manhattan.
- gipp 10y ago
  It is far from 10-20x difference. And many or most of those nations have stronger worker protections than the US, calling into question the idea that labor law is really the main driving force there. It's probably more like propertyholder protectionism (i.e. NIMBYism) dominating local politics. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-04-08/why-u-s-infrastructure-costs-so-much https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-04-08/why-u-s-i... http://www.realclearpolicy.com/blog/2015/03/31/high_costs_may_explain_crumbling_support_for_us_infrastructure_1249.html http://www.realclearpolicy.com/blog/2015/03/31/high_costs_ma...
  - memmcgee 10y ago
    Those nations also have stronger social safety nets, including health and retirement benefits provided nationally rather than by the employer. Your first article mentions that operating costs per ride in the NYC metro are $4.11, compared to $2.61 in London. It also estimates though that $1 of that is health and retirement benefits.
    - TazeTSchnitzel 10y ago
      The strong welfare state in these countries essentially subsidises employers in this way. Not necessarily a bad thing, mind you.
astrodust 10y ago
So many "accidents" over the last century, and most of them were because the construction companies just didn't care. The life of a sandhog was probably the worst (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhog https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhog).

And the answer, much as it was in ancient times: By exploiting workers - and often letting them die.

by gnud 10y ago

And the answer, much as it was in ancient times: By exploiting workers - and often letting them die.

Europe and Korea still manage to build subways 10-20x cheaper than New York. As far as I know they don't have tons more worker deaths. With all our modern technology, we should be able to achieve what our ancestors did. Even with our higher standards for safety.

distances 10y ago
Helsinki is currently building a metro expansion for $103 million per kilometer, at least if I got the numbers right. Of course the setting is very different in New York vs. outskirts of Helsinki, but yes, it's cheaper.
- greglindahl 10y ago
  Building on the outskirts of New York City is also cheaper than building in Manhattan.
gipp 10y ago
It is far from 10-20x difference. And many or most of those nations have stronger worker protections than the US, calling into question the idea that labor law is really the main driving force there. It's probably more like propertyholder protectionism (i.e. NIMBYism) dominating local politics. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-04-08/why-u-s-infrastructure-costs-so-much https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-04-08/why-u-s-i... http://www.realclearpolicy.com/blog/2015/03/31/high_costs_may_explain_crumbling_support_for_us_infrastructure_1249.html http://www.realclearpolicy.com/blog/2015/03/31/high_costs_ma...
- memmcgee 10y ago
  Those nations also have stronger social safety nets, including health and retirement benefits provided nationally rather than by the employer. Your first article mentions that operating costs per ride in the NYC metro are $4.11, compared to $2.61 in London. It also estimates though that $1 of that is health and retirement benefits.
  - TazeTSchnitzel 10y ago
    The strong welfare state in these countries essentially subsidises employers in this way. Not necessarily a bad thing, mind you.

astrodust 10y ago

So many "accidents" over the last century, and most of them were because the construction companies just didn't care. The life of a sandhog was probably the worst (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhog https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhog).