There's a small news story out of China that is quite instructive as to what is currently wrong with American government. The Beijing subway is to be expanded with a new line. This new subway line will run from Yongfeng in the north, through downtown Beijing and end in Lugouqiao in the south. It will be 36 kilometers long with 24 stations. It is expected to be open by the end of 2016.
So why does this say anything about American government? Here is the answer: This new subway line is equivalent to ten percent of the New York City subway system, America's largest (New York has 337 kilometers of lines in the transit system.) New York has been building a new line as well, the Second Avenue subway. Construction of the Second Avenue line has been started and stopped many times in the past. In the 1970's about a quarter of the line was built only to be abandoned when New York hit financial problems. The latest efforts to build the Second Avenue line began in earnest in 2007 when the contracts for some of the tunneling were awarded. Like the Beijing line, the Second Avenue line is expected to be completed in 2016. That means that Beijing is building its new line in four years while New York took ten years for its construction. The Second Avenue line is 13.7 kilometes in length with 16 stations compared to the Chinese line that is almost three times longer with 50% more stations. Perhaps the most startling comparison of all, however, is this one: the Chinese line will have a total cost of $5.78 billion compared to the total cost of the Second Avenue line of more than $17 billion. In other words, the Chinese are getting three times as much subway for one third the cost and in 40% of the time.
If you are one of those who thinks that the difference between the Chinese and American subway construction is that there is something inherently more difficult about building in Manhattan, you need to be aware that the first subway line in New York was constructed between 1902 and 1904 and that it was slightly longer than the Second Avenue line currently under construction. Americans used to be able to build things quickly, but not anymore. The government has stepped in and now requires steps to be followed that just slow things down and make them more expensive.
Remember this comparison the next time that someone tells you that all the complaints about government regulations are overblown.
So why does this say anything about American government? Here is the answer: This new subway line is equivalent to ten percent of the New York City subway system, America's largest (New York has 337 kilometers of lines in the transit system.) New York has been building a new line as well, the Second Avenue subway. Construction of the Second Avenue line has been started and stopped many times in the past. In the 1970's about a quarter of the line was built only to be abandoned when New York hit financial problems. The latest efforts to build the Second Avenue line began in earnest in 2007 when the contracts for some of the tunneling were awarded. Like the Beijing line, the Second Avenue line is expected to be completed in 2016. That means that Beijing is building its new line in four years while New York took ten years for its construction. The Second Avenue line is 13.7 kilometes in length with 16 stations compared to the Chinese line that is almost three times longer with 50% more stations. Perhaps the most startling comparison of all, however, is this one: the Chinese line will have a total cost of $5.78 billion compared to the total cost of the Second Avenue line of more than $17 billion. In other words, the Chinese are getting three times as much subway for one third the cost and in 40% of the time.
If you are one of those who thinks that the difference between the Chinese and American subway construction is that there is something inherently more difficult about building in Manhattan, you need to be aware that the first subway line in New York was constructed between 1902 and 1904 and that it was slightly longer than the Second Avenue line currently under construction. Americans used to be able to build things quickly, but not anymore. The government has stepped in and now requires steps to be followed that just slow things down and make them more expensive.
Remember this comparison the next time that someone tells you that all the complaints about government regulations are overblown.
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