alt Hacker NewsWell, some people spend a significant amount of their time on transit. Of course, utility should come first, but I also would totally support trying to make them look nice (even if most people wouldn't notice nowadays because they stare at their phones the whole time).
The us spends 4 to 7 times as much as anyone else to build transit. While consultants and labor get the money a lot of the overruns is really a desire for grand art. As others show, nice can be had much for much cheaper. The choice isn't ugly be beautiful, it is how much to spend in beautiful.
I want to get places and the money spent on beautiful means despite being a rich country the us cannot afford great transit.