## Major US Transportation Projects: Promises and Reality

Federal, state, and local governments invest heavily in transit and intercity rail projects often with disappointing results. The following table compares original estimates of project start dates and cost with actual or most recently updated estimates. There are a range of outcomes: some projects are completed close to budget and close to schedule, while others encounter very large cost overruns and/​or delays.

### Current and future major US transportation projects

![public_transportation_project](https://infogram-thumbs-1024.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/a5d4776a-9449-42ef-9f1b-847e3e48827b.jpg) 

[ 

#CatoTransit 

](https://x.com/hashtag/CatoTransit) 

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[![subway ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/subway%202.jpg?itok=DTX52lHF)](https://www.cato.org/blog/it-not-too-late-rethink-second-avenue-subway) 

blog 

### [It Is Not Too Late to Rethink the Second Avenue Subway](/blog/it-not-too-late-rethink-second-avenue-subway) 

By [Marc Joffe](https://www.cato.org/people/marc-joffe) 

Given lower ridership on the subway system and escalating costs, a more modest extension or no extension at all would be more prudent options.

[![](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_29981.jpg?itok=ep59w-i2)](https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/marc-joffe-discusses-how-california-transportation-policy-can-better) 

Media Highlights TV 

### [Marc Joffe discusses how California transportation policy can better serve customers on the *Pacific Research Institute* podcast](/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/marc-joffe-discusses-how-california-transportation-policy-can-better) 

Featuring [Marc Joffe](https://www.cato.org/people/marc-joffe) 

[![Freight Train](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-06/freight-train.jpg?itok=d_v7rfuX)](https://www.cato.org/commentary/overton-window-shifting-san-jose-bart-extension) 

Commentary 

### [Overton Window Shifting on San Jose BART Extension](/commentary/overton-window-shifting-san-jose-bart-extension) 

By [Marc Joffe](https://www.cato.org/people/marc-joffe) 

It would be wonderful if the window shifted further in the direction of financial sanity to include the option of further shrinking the project.

[![trolley](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/st.%20louis%20trolley%201.jpg?itok=pirzqlu2)](https://www.cato.org/blog/st-louis-little-trolley-couldnt) 

blog 

### [St. Louis’ Little Trolley That Couldn’t](/blog/st-louis-little-trolley-couldnt) 

By [Marc Joffe](https://www.cato.org/people/marc-joffe) 

Other cities can avoid a similar predicament by rejecting streetcar projects altogether.

[![Radio Highlight_Marc_Joffe_New](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/Radio%20Highlight_Marc_Joffe_New.jpg?itok=6H3YfYWG)](https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-radio/marc-joffe-discusses-state-californias-public-transit-system) 

Media Highlights Radio 

### [Marc Joffe discusses the state of California’s public transit system on the *National Review’s Radio Free California* podcast](/multimedia/media-highlights-radio/marc-joffe-discusses-state-californias-public-transit-system) 

Featuring [Marc Joffe](https://www.cato.org/people/marc-joffe) 

[![](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_29085.jpg?itok=p7PbXx05)](https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/marc-joffe-discusses-high-speed-rail-california-epoch-times) 

Media Highlights TV 

### [Marc Joffe discusses high-speed rail in California on the Epoch Times’ *California Insider*](/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/marc-joffe-discusses-high-speed-rail-california-epoch-times) 

Featuring [Marc Joffe](https://www.cato.org/people/marc-joffe)