"In tough fiscal times, grandiose transit plans never die - they’re just shelved" by Noah Bierman, Globe Staff | July 26, 2009
Some of these projects may actually get built. Most will stay on maps. But none will ever die.
Thanks, fart-misting pricks. Related: The High Cost of Fart Mist
Killing a transportation project, no matter how unrealistic, requires at least one wooden stake and several medieval curses. For the most part, the dreams keep neighborhoods motivated and provoke residents to think hard about what kind of cities they want to live in.
But the debate becomes divisive when the money gets spent and political promises get made. Are the millions of dollars spent on planning for these projects a big waste intended to avoid angering political constituencies, or is there a wisdom to planning multiple projects so the state will be ready to lay some bricks when money comes around again? The answer depends on whom you ask. If the responder likes a particular project, it’s a good investment. If not, it’s a waste.
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