Season 2 · Episode 908
Why Did We Forget How to Build Cheap Subways?
Why does a mile of subway cost billions today? Herman and Corn explore the hidden complexities and rising costs of modern urban transit.
My Weird Prompts · Daniel Rosehill
March 2, 202621m 58s
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Show Notes
In this episode of My Weird Prompts, Herman Poppleberry and Corn tackle a listener's question about the staggering economics of underground transit. From the "cut and cover" methods of the 1860s to the multi-billion dollar price tag of New York’s Second Avenue Subway, the duo explores why building beneath our feet has become a modern impossibility for many cities. They compare the efficient, standardized approaches of Madrid and China against the consultant-heavy, bespoke designs of the US and UK, while weighing the impact of stringent safety regulations and archaeological discoveries. Is the future of urban mobility still underground, or have we reached a financial and regulatory tipping point? Join the conversation as we peel back the layers of our cities to reveal the "hidden machine" that keeps us moving—and why it’s breaking the bank.