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Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist
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Interesting opinion piece that begins to scratch the surface on the public Gold Platting public infrastructure projects.
The Boston example cited is a good one and one that breaks down the Environmental process where so many other things are added that can make a break a projects budget and the reality is that the bulk of the cost of that project should have been and was the widening and re-configuring of two existing operating commuter rail right of ways to fit nearly 5 miles of new trolley tracks, stations and a new trolley yard.
However it is not as simplistic of just building smaller stations. How NYC does it with such a large network makes sense (tedious as it may sound) because that system is busy 24/7 getting that suggested crane to shut down the system just to replace light bulbs is rather dumb because there is an operational cost to the lack of infrastructure or the lack of crossovers after stations in case a train breaks down.
I see it here in LA when they start maintenance shut downs at 9pm to do things like replace broken light bulbs and pick up garbage on the tracks and run single track service that can make the rail network a pain in the ass because there aren't any crossovers in the Downtown tunnel other than Union Station and Westlake Stations a distance of over 3 miles.
Vancouver with its Canada Line may regret not going with longer platforms once they extend their Skytrain down Broadway to Aritbus and UBC.