I realize that pricing transportation infrastructure is a political minefield, and that many parties, including the construction companies, as well as the advocates for different modes of transportation will lie through their teeth to advance their own personal agendas. Still, would it be too much to ask to find something that provides a) costs per mile of the construction of highways, rails, bridges, intown roads, etc, and b) provides references supporting its claims?
somewhere between $2million/mile and $70million/mile is a rather broad range (for light rail, highway estimates are more consistent, $15-40million.
Bleh.
Minefield is right. We’re in the middle of installing light rail in the Twin Cities and it’s an extremely divisive issue for the reasons you describe. Each side believes their own numbers and there’s no real authority to step in and say whether or not it makes economic sense.