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It's an important topic, yet unsexy for the general public, which is why it needs more attention. Cost just seem to slowly ratchet up in the US, with each piec
by supernova87a 6y ago
It's an important topic, yet unsexy for the general public, which is why it needs more attention.
Cost just seem to slowly ratchet up in the US, with each piece of the process/org taking their little chunk of $. I'm sure rising standard of living is part of it, risk aversion, outsourcing public infrastructure capabilities (and responsibility) to private contractors. Add to it also the important topic that we've fallen out of practice (as a country) of having large numbers of people who are capable of working on these kinds of infrastructure -- so it gets more expensive to find them.
It's a big loss. We could have 2x or 3x the new infrastructure we do, if it didn't cost so much.
- bonestamp2 6y agoI wonder how it works in Tokyo. They have the most impressive infrastructure of any city I've ever been to, and it seems that is because they never stop. At that point, it makes sense to just salary everyone involved and not deal with the corruption that comes from outsourcing. The most popular vehicle on the road in Tokyo appears to be the concrete mixer.
- bobthepanda 6y agoJapan has been using construction as economic stimulus since the Lost Decade and debt-to-GDP is 252%.
- adrianN 6y agoI've heard that the railway companies in Tokyo own a lot of the real estate around the stations. They cross finance public transport as a means of making the buildings they own more attractive.