A New Subway / Metro

     My best friend recently complained about an ongoing dilemma in our neighborhoods of Long Island City and Astoria.  Through no fault of their own, paying-passengers who leave the city must wait in uncomfortably old (hot) stations for overdue trains.  When those late trains go aboveground (beyond the city), they often dump the passengers at the first station, so they can skip the next four (and make up for lost time)!  So, people--who are already late--are further insulted by having to wait for the next train... whenever it comes... ONLY if there is room to get aboard.  What crappy service!

     After reading my recent blog entries and hearing about our trip to Copenhagen, my friend booked a trip to go there in September.  She and her boyfriend are excited to use Copenhagen's newest Metro line called the City Ring.  Actually, the city built two new routes--something that New York City failed to do during the last century (despite its ever-growing population and ticket prices).  

First, Copenhagen made the efforts to host "bottom-up" consensus-driven policy-making.  Just like with their new Recycling Plant, the government understands that the new structures are part of the landscape, so they take care to make them appealing to the taxpayers.  

Denmark is world-famous for artistic creativity, so it seemed natural for the government to invite citizens to adorn the construction walls with whimsical and colorful paintings to enliven the sites and beautify the areas, in the meantime.  

Why should taxpayers be faced with unsightly construction barriers for several years, when a little bit of forethought and creativity could give a remedy?  That's how Copenhagen treats its citizens—something unheard of in Manhattan and most of America.  To make matters worse, America hasn’t built a new rail system of such caliber in over one hundred years—uncaringly falling behind the rest of the globe (including third-world countries).  

The populous burst forth with colorful talent and had fun making the best out of an unavoidable situation.  Whereas NYC leaves ugly walls to face the population for years, Copenhageners had whimsical, meaningful, and team-spirited artwork to enjoy during the 10-year project.  That's because "quality of life" is important to their culture.

Even schoolchildren were empowered to get involved.  

Hitachi Machinery and Italy's Trevi Group assisted with the construction.  The Copenhagen Metro Team (CMT) was led by world-renown Italian-based Salini-Impregilo, which has a non-chauvinistic way of employing women in construction.

They dug near churches, City Hall, and the capital’s government buildings, yet did their best to avoid snarling any traffic.  They burrowed under centuries-old neighborhoods, edging around national landmarks.  That’s why they chose a company which had completed work in Rome—a similarly busy city with priceless historic structures.  

*To see our trip to Rome, please click this link:

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2022/03/our-trip-to-italy-part-6-of-7-rome.html

  The logistics of the project were extraordinary when you remember that the city borders the ocean and is dotted with many lakes and canals.  

     I recently discussed this with a coworker.  In typical blindly-patriotic American ignorance, the brainwashed man suggested that it's probably more difficult for NYC to build extra subway lines due to the Manhattan bedrock underground.  I paused.  !!!   Looking at him as if he were an idiot, I reminded him that NYC already dug a dozen subway tunnels--during the infancy of electricity, circa the 1910s!  That was a time when New York cared.  Then, New York stopped caring about its citizens and syphoned all the money, so there is nothing left for improvement/upkeep.  It was stupid and arrogant (e.g. "Let them eat cake").  
     Copenhagen is much smarter to think long-term.

The Danes didn't import Mexicans to do their "dirty work" cheaply (like America famously does).  Unlike NYC, they didn't accidentally blow up any gas lines or sewage pipes during the construction.  

What is America's excuse for crumbling infrastructure and yet never-ending construction delays?

The 17 excavations were massive to build 17 brand-new stations underground—some of which were erected in water—and some needed to join existing Metro or commuter train hubs.  

     The pivotal point of virtue is that Denmark didn't "pass the cost" upon its tax-payers.  Neither taxes nor train fares rose!  They built an entirely new subway line, and didn't raise the costs for the riders.  
     THAT is true service: running a successful enterprise that financially plans ahead for improvement.

     Denmark did something fantastic and did it correctly, because it saw its growing population and anticipated what would serve the populous best for continued success.  It would’ve been easier to just let the enlarged population deal with the existing system—becoming crammed, crowded, and overwhelmed… but that is not their attitude.  

Once again, Denmark proved that a small country can do huge things—on the forefront of automation, engineering, convenience, and caring.  So, why don’t wealthier/larger countries do that?  While overpaid American politicians scheme their paltry excuses and huff their arrogance of non-commitment, I simply set my sights on better landscapes.  After all, I have a freedom to choose, and I will do so wisely.