The engineering knowledge is there and growing, and spans borders. Like all construction in the states, the people to construct things are lacking, but that’s not the fundamental cost increase.
Here’s a few things I think are to blame (some as mentioned in the article and some of my own.)
- Desire to minimally disrupt others, this extends beyond rail to other projects, look at the big dig in Boston.
- Planning requirements re ISTEA act, have put engineering in a back seat to local concerns.
- Lack of domestic production/ buy america - leads to paying higher prices and big startup costs on every project
- No standardization of components. Almost every rail vehicle in the US ends up different. Every station is engineered from the start. 150 years ago, stations would come in on a train and be stood up to all look the same. England learned this late with crossrail.
- Political desire and requirements to minimize and mitigate impacts of globally net beneficial projects. Elevated trains are a nonstarter in most cities. If you can’t grade separate more trains mean more delays to cars, which means excuses for ambulances saving lives can be used.
Here’s a few things I think are to blame (some as mentioned in the article and some of my own.)
- Desire to minimally disrupt others, this extends beyond rail to other projects, look at the big dig in Boston.
- Planning requirements re ISTEA act, have put engineering in a back seat to local concerns.
- Lack of domestic production/ buy america - leads to paying higher prices and big startup costs on every project
- No standardization of components. Almost every rail vehicle in the US ends up different. Every station is engineered from the start. 150 years ago, stations would come in on a train and be stood up to all look the same. England learned this late with crossrail.
- Political desire and requirements to minimize and mitigate impacts of globally net beneficial projects. Elevated trains are a nonstarter in most cities. If you can’t grade separate more trains mean more delays to cars, which means excuses for ambulances saving lives can be used.