Word of the Day
Awry (adj./adv., uh-RYE)
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Link of the Day
The technology behind New York City subways
It is always easier to make a change at the beginning of a project rather than after it's complete. This is especially true in infrastructure, particularly city infrastructure, where a change has to go through multiple layers of concrete and small passages (and city budgets).
This is why the New York City subway system runs on 80-year-old technology:
I have an odd mix of feelings after this video. On the one hand, it's clear that this equipment is VERY old and that maintaining it brings a significant, specialized cost, as well as a lot of uncertainty. The system isn't efficient, and NYC demands efficiency. The MTA's desire to upgrade is definitely understandable. But on the other hand, there's something incredibly cool about equipment lasting for eighty years. New York has almost 2.5 million more people than it did when the system was first created. It has a new transportation hub. And still this system works. That is design that has stood the test of time. It may be clunky now but 80 working years out of a system is impressive by any measure. What other ancient systems are powering New York (and other major cities)? Will they last?
MachinerySubwaysNew York CitySchedulingOld technologyThe Updating of Pelham 123Video