Originally Posted by KENNECTED

Not solely on MTA management but building on a Island which consists of the most expensive real estate in the US - drives up cost.

In most cities there is sprawling outward, NYC is the only city in the US where you can only build vertically.

The system is very old and building under the manhattan street, in bedrock and other natural materials drives the costs up as you got to navigate building foundations. I know many building foundations had to be secured, prior to actual underground work commencing.

Most new cities systems are largely dedicated ROW at grade systems. All of the lines in Manhattan with exception to a small portion of the IRT are below ground. In a densely populated city that costs.

I never thought I would see the 2nd Avenue subway run, and I doubt I'll live long enough to see the full line run.