Here’s the news of the day, from Will Reisman:
“San Francisco Central Subway costly even if aborted“
Well, sure.
Duh.
Costly mistakes such as the politically-motivated Central Subway project can be costly. Yes.
The question now is what to do about it, right?
Now, what about the hundreds of thousands of dollars we’ve given to Tom Otterness? If we say we’ve made a mistake, go away Tom, keep the money we’ve already given you, well then yes, that will cost us money. But it’d the right thing to do at this point.
Similarly, the hundreds of millions already sunk into the Central Subway project will be “wasted” if the Feds pull the plug or if Congress changes its mind or if we just cancel it on our own. But it’d be the right thing to do at this point.
The politicians who say they support the Central Subway – you know what they really think about it? For a lot of them, they have a nuanced position, they’re not mindless cheerleaders the way they sometimes seem.
Can you think of any other big federal project that had such a negative grand jury report come out beforehand? I can’t.
What other large federally-funded project in American history, you know, a project designed ostensibly to benefit just one city, has had such strong local opposition?
We’re special! We’re unique!
At least the Bridge to Nowhere was eventually cancelled, right?
Anyway, just for laughs, since the politicians in charge wish to ignore it:
CENTRAL SUBWAY - TOO MUCH MONEY FOR TOO LITTLE BENEFIT.
Now, is the Central Subway the best way to spend transit dollars, the best way to improve MUNI? That’s the question.
It’ll cost $315,660 per new rider, minimum? What if it were a million – would the boosters still be boosting? Well, sure, that would mean more money for them, more money for the politically-connected builders, right?
It’s the same question now as four years ago:
“Central Subway: Visionary Project or Colossal Boondoggle?”
And the answer’s the same now – yes it’s a visionary project and yes it’s a colossal boondoggle.
Oh well.
