Alon Levy

Alon Levy, co-founder of NYU's Transit Costs Project, delves into the staggering expense of U.S. transit construction compared to global counterparts. He highlights how countries like Spain and Italy achieve efficiency through in-house expertise and standardized designs, contrasting with the costly privatization ideology seen here. Levy discusses strategies to bring ambitious projects, like high-speed rail in the Northeast, within reach, advocating for empowered civil servants and the adoption of international best practices to combat bureaucratic fragmentation.

Alon Levy, a transit guru and expert in urban rail megaprojects, dives into the potential of high-speed rail on the Northeast Corridor. He discusses how this project could be built for under $20 billion, a fraction of Amtrak's estimates. Levy shares insights on the need for efficient operations and infrastructure management, and the role of maintenance in ensuring a successful rail system. He also highlights the challenges of U.S. high-speed rail versus international standards, emphasizing the importance of coordination among various agencies for effective implementation.