[k1052]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Absolutely not. Environmental studies are only the first step. The engineering on these large projects by itself costs hundreds of millions (it shouldn't, but that's another story). Even if magically the full funding for Gateway appeared tomorrow, it would still take them 1-2 years on an expedited schedule to finish the engineering/design work and another 1-2 years to fully bid the project and get shovels in the ground. The construciton itself would probably take 5 years of work or possibly longer if Penn South is included. This isn't a hypothetical, East Side Access has been under construction for 13 years and still isn't done.

Committing billions of dollars now, only to see benefits in 10 years or more, is the opposite of stimulus. That doesn't mean we shouldn't embark on these projects, of course... but unless the government radically changes the way these projects are done, they are totally ineffective as short-term stimulus.

Possibly the worst aspect of a Biden presidency is that Penn South is going to get funded. Somehow they'll do that but not the Baltimore tunnel.