Has anyone provided a good cost estimate for a SIR tube to Manhattan?

Do you have a source elaborating on the second point? Would want to read more about it

Most zoning rules and restrictions around new development are local. The federal and state reforms proposed in the book deal more with financing and building codes and less with local zoning. Those are also important, and the book discusses them too.

See:
www.strongtowns.org/housingready...

Yep. Andrew Marantz has a book "Antisocial" that covers the 2010's obsession with "virality" in tech.

And "Escaping the Housing Trap" since it talks more about specific housing policies.

If you have time I would recommend pairing with the book "Why Nothing Works", it complements it well but goes more into the political history of the internal struggle between the placement of power within the progressive movement.

Though those examples are probably also more operational improvements rather than automation improvements.

Yeah that's fair, though I do think automation can help transit agencies with funding crises, depending on the system. Granted there are usually significant capital investments to be made before large scale automation can be implemented (maybe with the exception of OPTO or commuter rail ticketing).

Gotcha. As a separate discussion, what about automation of public transit services? Like with implementing automated metro systems, one person train operation, proof of payment, etc they can replace union jobs. Or is it different because the same sort of profit incentive usually isn't there?

Would that mean any work automation is anti-labor? Or is there something specific about AV automation that makes it anti-labor?

I have not yet, thanks for that, explains a lot. Really highlights the importance of institutional knowledge. Still think someone at the MTA knew it was a bad decision though given how it was rushed at the board meeting.

Yeah if I remember correctly it can be 15 seconds depending on the station. According to the fire code it's fine but yeah I can see how it might lead to confusion and a safety issue in an emergency.