From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 08-May-14 15:21, Jishnu Mukerji wrote:   
   > On 5/8/2014 12:18 PM, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   >> On 08-May-14 10:20, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   >>> Michael Finfer  wrote:   
   >>>> They lengthened all of the lower platforms at Secaucus to   
   >>>> accommodate 10 car trains.  That is probably included in that   
   >>>> number.  The longest trains operating on the Hoboken Division   
   >>>> diesel lines is probably six or eight cars   
   >>>   
   >>> That's a few hundred thousand in capital costs. I know platforms   
   >>> are expensive but they aren't that expensive.   
   >>   
   >> Don't forget to multiply the costs by ten to account for endemic   
   >> stupidity, corruption, corporate welfare, etc. in public projects.   
   >>   
   >> $5.6M sounds about right after all.   
   >   
   > It would be a truly strange act of accounting to charge the entire   
   > cost of something that will last for decades serving numerous events   
   > and folks over its lifetime, to a single event.   
      
   Of course; the cost would be depreciated over its projected lifetime,   
   which is probably 30-50 years.  Using the straight-line method (most   
   common), that would result in only $112k-$187k of expense in any given   
   year, and such an amount is probably justified by the added ridership   
   that it will enable.   
      
   However, the media needs controversy to generate higher ratings; facts   
   get in the way of that, so they're the first thing to go.  Heck, why   
   bother employing anyone who understands the facts in the first place?   
      
   > But I suppose it is New Jersey afterall where people have difficulty   
   > accounting for anything.   
      
   I'm sure the accountants have it all squared away, but reporters aren't   
   any better at accurately explaining accounting details than any other   
   topic they cover, i.e. not at all.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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