New York City's Subway Century: Rail Transit's Role in Growth and Development

The New York City subway system's 100th anniversary on October 27, 2004, provided the occasion to examine how this innovative, early 20th century transit system has served the city and continues to serve it in the 21st century. This account of the first 100 years shows how the subway enabled the city's development and sustained its economic growth by improving the quality of life for a range of citizens, by spurring commercial development and the creation of the skyscraper skyline, and by increasing real estate values and broadening the city's tax base.