re: Why is there no longer any political will for big public works projects?

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Because they require tax money, which usually means a tax increase somewhere

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They could find the money if they wanted to. No tax increase necessary.

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I'll blame the govt before the tax paying residents

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This doesn't fix the failing infrastructure of the entire state nor allow for a plan to actually bring it into the 21st Century.

There is ZERO reason why LA is in the predicament it is in.

It should be on par with Texas due to sharing of similar resources, albeit to a lesser degree because of size.

Another example is the rail line in California.

That insanity ballooned to cost $89 million per mile.

That is insane.

Texas is a more unified state.
There is a huge divide between the north and south priorities in Louisiana.

This is why private with a toll is the way to go.

Someone mentioned to me at work the other day that NTTA has to make projects within a certain timeframe or they start paying fines.

Not sure how true that is, but that would certainly keep a builder honest.

Muh soil conditions baw

The emphasis from government & politicians running it ( essentially one and the same) is now on public welfare giveaways and not infrastructure maintenance and improvement because giveaways are where the votes are.

because politicians in 2019 are a combination of corrupt and inept that one cannot trust with a nickel.


The Big Dig in Boston. Projected to cost $2.5 Billion and ended up at over $24 billion and finished 8 years beyond schedule. There is debate as to if it even helped traffic.

https://www.wbur.org/news/2012/07/12/7-things-that-cost-less-than-the-big-dig


California high speed rail. Projected to cost $77 billion. Tens of billions spent by time scrapped but much got diverted away to be wasted by local governments. Never built.

https://time.com/5528095/california-high-speed-rail/

Two miles of tunnel in Seattle: Half a decade of delays and a billion over estimates.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/berthas-woes-grind-on-more-delay-higher-cost-for-highway-99-tunnel/



20 miles of rail in Honolulu. Projected to cost three billion. Now over nine billion.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-20-mile-train-line-swelled-into-a-9-billion-debacle-11553270393

Okay, I get all the negativity about corrupt policitians.

But grousing about that ain't getting anything built. What is a realistic solution that could put shovels in the ground NOW?

("Cut medicaid" is not a realistic solution. "Eliminate waste" is not a realistic solution. I mean, unless you can identify specifically what you would cut. Which nobody can or will do.)

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Why is there no longer any political will for big public works projects?

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Because anytime government gets its tentacles in something, the finished product is of less quality and more expensive, and takes substantially longer than promised.