what I posted on city journal

Start from the reality that 'public works' are primarily patronage distribution to the bribers who put the pols in office. The Second Ave Subway should have been (as was the first subway) a shallow ditch with the roadway directly above. Vastly cheaper, far less in station amenity costs, AND the fastest time between platform and sidewalk. (Can you say rapid transit?)

The years late maybe only a billion over legit cost SF Central Subway was laid with cheaper out of spec rails (FWIW aay rail delivered in the US is engraved to indicate production plant and other specs). Ask yourself why as the supplies were being received at the jobsite, no one from SF Muni read the specs and halted the delivery. Did Muni even bother to have one of their own on duty for the purpose? The out of spec rail will wear out faster; but not before all involved are retired and or dead. Does anyone believe the contractors will refund Muni the cost "underrun"?