First new york subway Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

First new york subway - Research Paper Example The lessons in design, planning and implementation that attended the project continue to offer practical wisdom for city planners and urban architects alike. More importantly, the infrastructure of the subway proves to be a cultural melting pot for a nation that is constantly evolving its identity. The NYC subway was commissioned to be built by the Rapid Transit Construction Company. Privately owned, the company spun off an exclusive branch (Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT)), for overseeing the operations of the construction. Moreover, the stakeholders in the company applied and won the contract to operate the railway line upon its construction. The grand scale of the project warranted that the IRT publish a book in 1904 highlighting the features of the just-completed project. Considering the numerous hurdles and hiccups the project successfully overcame, the company showcased its achievement in the large-format book with plenty of photographs and in a appealing layout. The book is now rightly considered a colletor’s item, not only for the momentous occasion it marked but also for the rich detail it contained. For example, the book included the reasons and considerations behind certain decisions taken during the planning and design stage. As well, it contained d etails of particular problems and their resolutions during the implementation stage. Further, much of the content was serialized in a reputed trade journal in the lead up to the inauguration of the subway. This was meant to serve two objectives: to educate the general public about the upcoming utility and also to generate excitement and anticipation of its launch. (Interborough Rapid Transit, 2004, p. 1) It is not surprising that the NYC subway project elicited lots of excitement among the general public upon its initial announcement. The subway employees were looked upon as noble public servants and the IRT motormen were celebrated as heroes. The train engine was a