The problem you point out is another example of how we have lived off of public works projects completed by prior generations without bearing our generational responsibility to construct new ones. If the attitudes of our times prevailed when potential construction was being considered, there would be no tunnels, no George Washington Bridge and no subways.

We are living on an infrastructure that was build in the first half of the last century. We can’t get away with this forever.

No new construction is required to increase weekend service.

At present time they say that it’s great to build these buildings due to the close proximity to the Atlantic/Pacific hub nearby, but all these lines are already too crowded with passengers.

Your article has made me wonder about why NYC residents as a whole don’t come create a non profit organization of sorts that will collect money (so as to give tax breaks as an insentive for donations) that will put forth a huge amount of percentage of cash (similar to the Red Cross) collected towards building new subway lines for the MTA. I imagine that private donors could help fund lines quicker than federal funds coming in and local bonds would.

I’m intrigued by the “bus rapid transit” idea — if there were a bus to Manhattan with a dedicated bus lane, stops no more frequent than subway stops, and the same fare as the subway, I’d definitely try it. It would be a zillion times cheaper than redoing the subway.