Beyond the Surface: Why Cities Invest Billions in Subways to Solve Congestion, Climate, and Land Use Crises

The main benefit of this operational efficiency is a massive boost to economic productivity. By effectively shrinking the distance between homes and jobs, the metro expands the viable labor pool for businesses and increases the market reach for commercial enterprises. This clustering of people and capital, known as the agglomeration effect, is the principal engine of urban economic growth, and the reliable flow of the metro acts as its essential circulatory system.