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

The decision to go underground specifically, rather than building elevated rail (which is cheaper), is often about urban aesthetics and community acceptance. Elevated tracks are widely considered a visual blight, casting shadows, generating localized noise pollution, and physically dividing neighborhoods. Tunneling, despite its staggering expense and complexity, preserves the streetscape, protects historical buildings, and avoids the fierce "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) opposition that often kills elevated projects in dense centers.