Occasionally, I like to pick up a non-fiction title from Netgalley to read and review. Most New Yorkers are aware of how long the 2nd Avenue subway line has been in the works. There's even a whole website / blog dedicated to it called Second Avenue Sagas, which I used to follow. Our subway system I find to be both fascinating and angry about. It's great that we have a train system that basically run 24/7, but the amount of mismanagement that has gone into and continue to plague the city is unacceptable.

Timely book reviewing a very untimely project - the Second Avenue Subway in New York City. Definitely a deep dive into a topic that will most interest readers in New York City, though anyone with a passion for urban design or urban planning will find it compelling (those with less interest in labor negotiations or the details of infrastructure spending might find it a slower go.) Plotch's familiarity with the subject matter shines though, and his detailed look at the high costs (and possibly low rewards) of the long-delayed project will be an important warning to future students of large infrastructure projects.

Last Subway: The Long Wait for the Next Train in New York City by Philip Mark Plotch is the long history of the 2nd Avenue line along the eastern side of Manhattan. It is also a commentary on public works projects and the unnecessary hurdles they often face.

As a history it is well written and well researched. Obstacles, both physical and political (I lump financial in with political), are given for the on again off again project and, finally, the completion of the first phase and contextualized within the period they occurred. Strictly as a history I might have given a slightly lower rating, though still a very good one.

But it is what the book says about such projects everywhere that really put the book over the top for me. Plotch doesn't try to extrapolate from this project to other projects but the basic problems are the same for anything other than a limited time and investment infrastructure upgrade. Professionals are given little to no say over almost all aspects of any such project. Rather than a committee or public vote to determine a need then professionals to determine the best and most cost efficient way to accomplish that end, politicians hang these projects in front of voters to get votes. Then, if it can't be accomplished cheaply and quickly, they don't follow through because another election cycle will begin and they have reelection as their number one priority, not citizen welfare and public safety. And the cycle goes on and on.

This is not a partisan issue nor is it limited to large urban centers. It runs the gamut from public transit systems to highways and bridges, even many environmental projects that would require any kind of construction and/or temporary inconvenience to achieve a long term good. There needs to be some kind of process that separates politicians from anything except the initial decision-making phase about the need for a project. Once a need is established, it needs to be considered as something that will be funded, not back-burnered because it will gain someone a few votes. Some things are just too important to a functioning society to leave it open to the whims of politicians constantly thinking ahead to the next election.

I recommend this for history buffs, especially those interested in urban centers and/or New York City specifically. I also think it will be a valuable read for those interested in why so many infrastructure projects either never get off the ground or are abandoned well before completion.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

This book goes pretty slow thru a history of New York City. It was easy to put down and forgettable. But then again, I'm from the Pacific Northwest and don't care that much about New York City politics.

An utterly fascinating story - if you love (in any order) New York, railroads, subways or subterranea in general, this makes compulsive reading. Add the web of local politics and interests and it' even more introguing.

Abandon hope, all ye who enter. What Prince Andrew Cuomo says, goes.

As an employee of the most hated agency in NYC (maybe second, since everyone craps on NYPD these days), and a subway enthusiast in general, a lot of the basic backstory contained in this book wasn't new information to me. The last third or so of the book, which focused upon our egotistical governor is what really was eye opening.

He really is a narcissistic control freak who wants yes men filling the MTA. No wonder Andy Byford quit as NYC Transit president last month. I wouldn't want to work for such a control freak either. Cuomo doesn't give a rats ass about what would actually be good for the system, he'd rather just go for the shiny low hanging fruit. Who cares if the signal system is from the 1930s? You have WiFi and USB outlets to charge your phone during the resulting service disruption!

The corners Cuomo forced the MTA and contractors to cut to meet his deadline of January 1st, 2017 for the opening of the 2nd Avenue line is appalling. The city had been waiting 88 years for it to open, what's another 6 months to make sure things were done properly? Then the system as a whole suffers because Emperor Cuomo essentially dictated that resources be redirected to have 2nd Avenue open on the date he promised because he would be a failure if it didn't.

People like to dump on the MTA for dysfunction, but a lot of it starts elsewhere!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC cuz this was right up my alley.

I'm a sucker for New York City history. Having followed the plight, and finally launch, of the second-ave subway (I lived alongside its construction for many years), Plotch offers an insightful look into the factors that came into play throughout its history. This is very well researched; I would highly recommend.

Superb book on the Second Avenue subway line in NYC.

Philip Mark Plotch traces the history of the line from its inception back in the beginning of the XX century to its eventual launch in the beginning of the XXI. He maintains laser focus throughout the book, digressing only to add clarity and providing context to the degree necessary. This is not a history of the NY subway with the Second Avenue as the centerpiece of the story, this is a detailed story of one line, when, why and how it ultimately it came about, contextualized in political, financial and historical turmoil of this and the previous centuries.

Overall, “Last Subway” provides a cohesive and vibrant portrait of NY subway administration, the Second Ave line and its perpetual haunting presence in the minds of residents and officials. The book is largely focused on the politics and behind-the-scenes infrastructure planning machinations, following the change in ownership of the subway, its leadership, changing priorities, state and city officials and sources of financing. Engineering and operational aspects are only mentioned in passing as to point out their perpetual under-funding-ness and increasing complexity.

Plotch did an amazing job researching his material, which is evidenced by the amount of citations and how many of them point to “interviews with author”. He spoke to everyone from managers in charge to construction workers, and examined a wide array of relevant documents. Consequently, there is a lot to learn from the book, even on the most surface level. For example, it was a discovery for me how long the hope to build a Second Ave line has been brewing, the degree to which the subway and other infrastructure projects are at whim of elected officials or the sheer scope of MTA’s never-ending lack of funds were also somewhat unexpected.

The book is written a little dryly, but hardly suffers from the ever-present non-fiction sin of endless repetition. It is a straightforward read.

All in all, a great book I’d recommend to anyone looking to learn more about the Second Ave line, NYC subway or the intricacies of public transit administration more generally. While I’ve approached it with only a superficial knowledge of the history of NY subway and found enough context, it seems having a more solid grounding in relevant history etc. could only be helpful.