Talking Headways Podcast: The Cost of a Subway

This week’s guest is transit analyst and writer Alon Levy, whose work comparing the capital costs of rail construction across cities and countries has become increasingly influential. We talk about how Alon got into transportation, subway costs, and price comparisons, and the thinking behind a new Boston commuter rail electrification plan.

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At Bourg-la-Reine, outside Paris, the rail station is surrounded by dense, mixed-use development and walkable streets. Image: Google Maps

What American Commuter Rail Can Learn From Paris, Part 2

By Alon Levy |
In Europe it's common for regional rail systems to get ridership comparable to that of the subway in the central city. But in America, this is unheard of. One reason for the discrepancy is land use: American commuter rail stations are typically surrounded by parking, while in the Paris region you see a different pattern with ample development next to suburban train stations.

FRA Safety Regs Add Costs, Not Safety, to American Rail

By Angie Schmitt |
The Federal Railroad Administration is an increasingly frequent target for Streetsblog Network members. Writers including Alon Levy at Pedestrian Observations and the mysterious “Drunk Engineer” who pens Systemic Failure have called out FRA safety regulations as irrational and out-of-date, adding unnecessary costs to rail operations and preventing the modernization of Amtrak and commuter rail systems. […]