Posted on 11/07/2011 5:59:02 PM PST by WOBBLY BOB
Voters approved the project in 2003, to replace a freeway damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Back then, the cost was $647 million. Today, the price tag is $1.6 billion, with the lion's share of the funding still to come from the federal government.
In July, San Francisco's Civil Grand Jury concluded the project was poorly designed, won't meet projected ridership levels, and, as the scathing title of its report says, costs "too much money for too little benefit."
At about $1 billion per mile, the Central Subway has become a driving force in Tuesday's mayoral election.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“At about $1 billion per mile, the Central Subway has become a driving force in Tuesday’s mayoral election.”
Just think of it as Big Dig II and hope they don’t pay off the contractors to tell everyone the footings are secure...you’ll see dead people.
California’s bullet train has the same drawbacks... with projected costs at $26 billion per mile.
California’s morons can’t complete a project on time and under budget.
They mean not enough well-to-do paying customers will ride it. The problem with all public transportation in San Francisco is that it is heavily subsidized by federal taxes, and to a lesser extent local taxes. The fare-box covers up to a third, at best, of running costs. Yank away the subsidies, and it all collapses.
I always thought this two-mile subway was a bad idea. People get to Chinatown just fine on buses. Heck, it's an easy walk from the Caltrain station for the two miles into Chinatown. City "leaders" think tax money grows on trees for easy picking.
The problem with all public transportation in San Francisco is that it is filled with typical San Franciscans.
Muni (San Francisco run Municipal Railway) buses and above-ground light-rail are largely used by San Franciscan residents. Students and seniors pay hardly anything. The remaining paying customers are regular working people who would balk at any fare increases, despite the fact that the fare is only a third of actual expenses for carrying a rider.
When I was young, there were lots of limosines (called Jitneys) that would pick you up at bus stops for a small premium over a Muni fare. The City killed that business by over-regulating it, because they wanted a monopoly with Muni. I miss those Jitneys, clean, comfortable and fast!
Why would they, when it is so obviously a naked ploy to increase "ridership."
I'll go hide now.
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