Why is NYC subway construction so expensive?


Why is NYC subway construction so expensive? Labor is expensive, but so is outsourcing of expertise. ?But we would argue,? says Goldwyn, ?that, more recently, there's more going on here. There are other issues, which we refer to as procurement ? like contractors charging a premium because the MTA is hard to work with.


How long does it take to build a NYC subway?

Construction of the New York City Subway took 4 years and was completed in 1904; or the first section of the subway was completed then, at least.


How much does it cost to maintain NYC subway?

NYCT also spends far more on operations than many peer systems. For example, in 2018, expenses for subway operations and maintenance in New York came to $14.55 per car-mile, while the system earned only $10.05 per car-mile in fare revenue.


How much does it cost to build a subway in NYC?

At $2.5 billion per mile, construction costs for the 1.8-mile Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway were 8 to 12 times more expensive than similar subway projects in Italy, Istanbul, Sweden, Paris, Berlin and Spain, according to a report from New York University's Marron Institute of Urban Management.


Who owns the NYC subway?

The New York City subway is a core part of the infrastructure and transportation in the city. The subway is owned by the city of New York and leased to the New York Transit Authority. It is one of the oldest subway systems and one of the largest in the world, with about 472 stations in operation.


Why is NYC transit so good?

“New York is doing well because of its comprehensive subway network that operates 24 hours and the fact that trains go to Long Island and New Jersey,” said Jasper de Lange, transportation project manager at Arcadis. “It also scores high in the amount of people who are using public transit compared to a car to commute.”


Why was the 2nd Avenue subway so expensive?

Oversizing the three stations at 72nd, 86th and 96th streets was a key reason behind the Upper East Side extension's record-setting price tag. Each stop cost $633 million to $794 million and has caverns of roughly 1,000 feet long or bigger.


Is the New York subway so old?

Opened on October 27, 1904, the New York City Subway is one of the world's oldest public transit systems, one of the most-used, and the one with the most stations, with 472 stations in operation (424, if stations connected by transfers are counted as single stations).


How much money does the MTA lost a year?

About the report on MTA Fare and Toll Evasion Losses to the MTA's operating budget are staggering, with nearly $700 million in revenue not collected in 2022 alone. This includes $315 million lost in bus fares, $285 million in subway fares, $46 million in bridge and tunnel tolls, and $44 million in railroad fares.


How many people don t pay for subway NYC?

About 400,000 riders enter the subway each day without paying–a problem so big that enforcement alone cannot solve it,” the panel reported.


What percent of NYC uses public transit?

54% of households in New York City do not own a car, and rely on public transportation.


What is the oldest subway line in NYC?

The original IRT line opened in 1904, and 116 Street - Columbia University (now a 1 train stop) was part of the first wave of stations that ran from City Hall to 145th Street at Broadway.


Why is it so expensive to build public transit in the US?

However, building infrastructure in the U.S., especially subways, is very expensive. This CNBC report shows that building subways in the U.S. is more expensive than in most countries because of high labor costs, overbuilt tracks and stations, and onerous regulations.