I have some experience in heavy rail, including controls and signalling. I do not understand why light rail is so much more expensive than a freeway, especially when you account for new technologies like concrete ties and in-field replacement and rail grinding. There must be something else at work here.
Kick backs to the DUmmies and over paid /under skilled community organizers who hang out between elections.
A lot of light rail has elevated lines or must buy land in areas with very expensive real estate. Then there is running high power electrical controls and power distribution.
It’s because it’s a government project. First the consultants milk it to death with endless studies, going in circles and nothing to show for it. No route plans, just a lot of bean-counter speak made up of mindless drivel. In the end only a dinky system is built, so there are no economies of scale.
Rail transit, the way it is currently implemented, is nothing more than a make work program for clueless consultants. Proof that government does not want to solve the problems they claim they will solve, just spend our money and perpetuate the problem.