Very excited to see these signs popping up all over my neighborhood

The famous Amtrak buttercake

Red Wing seems like a really cute spot for a weekend Amtrak getaway.

TIL where the old MSP Amtrak station used to be. The platforms and some signage are still in place. The move to St Paul Union Station seems like a major upgrade. (Seen from the Empire Builder)

Midnight in Minot, North Dakota 🚂 Amtrak Empire Builder

Wrapped up a work trip to Portland and I’m heading home on the Amtrak Empire Builder. Two full days to sit in a cozy roomette, read books, and watch the world go by.

Wednesday night's fog made for some moody vibes at the Metra station last night

In Portland for work and I’m genuinely impressed by how clean, safe, and intuitive the light rail system is.

Out and about in the Loop today

Let your state senator and assembly person know that you’d like to see new rolling stock for Borealis. Amtrak doesn’t have the equipment needed to provide enough capacity or bike storage. The state needs to step in and purchase that new equipment.

Amtrak Borealis in the snow

Interesting observation about why the KC Streetcar extension is such a success:

The Kansas City streetcar is expanding again — the latest evidence that targeted transit can boost economic development and reduce car use.

Sankofa Village Wellness Center is prepping for an April opening in West Garfield Park. blockclubchi.co/4seXDtO

On paper, Iowa's #SD21 should be an ultra competitive district. It's a suburban Des Moines district that narrowly backed Biden before backing Trump by 2 in 2024. However, the Republican incumbent here up and left to run for a more Republican district! That should tell you a lot.

Biking to work this morning in a tie and was mistaken for a missionary. The guy seemed disappointed that I wasn’t from the church. I really need to prepare a “have you heard the good news about car-free living” pitch for situations like this. This is the second time it’s happened.

United Northwest Side is proud to endorse to Juanita Irizarry for the Cook County Board of Review. Juanita is running to make sure that wealthy corporations pay their share of property taxes, rather than allowing them to shift the burden onto working families. (1/2)

Stopped in to admire the Lakeview Post Office mural in my old neighborhood.

12 rail openings/extensions are expected in 2026 across the U.S., and the first one is less than a month away. The Monon Corridor, a branch off of the South Shore Line, opens March 17th. It will feature 3 new stations in Lake County, IN, with 17 round trips on weekdays and 12 on weekends.

Very cool news: there are plans for a small business market in the Crystal Lake Metra station.

The new Amtrak Mardi Gras service, which revived passenger rail between Mobile and New Orleans, has now officially hit its first year ridership projections in less than half that time.

Hey #bikechi of the Northwest Side, CDOT has proposed a new bikeway network where I live in Portage Park. Here are two ways to support… www.chicago.gov/city/en/site...

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An American coot stands on ice in Montrose Harbor, showing off its feet.

Today’s transit-based birding adventure: South Shore Line to Portage/Ogden Dunes and a quick bike ride to the Portage Lakefront.

Kansas City, 1928. Assertions to the effect that “people preferred to drive” are guesses in the guise of explanations. In cities, a small minority of motorists degraded streetcar service for the majority.

Pulaski and Milwaukee a few nights ago. It’s remarkable how frequently drivers plow into storefronts

As the ice was melting, Montrose Harbor had a lot of interesting birds this afternoon. A sample: 1. red-throated loon 2. white-winged scoter 3. long-tailed duck 4. common merganser

First the rapidly declining homicide rate, now growing tourism. Rough start to 2026 for Paul Vallas, the Tribune editorial board, and others professionally committed to the idea of a failing city

It appears that something is finally going in the ground floor of this building at Six Corners. The window advertising wraps for the senior living units were just removed, and I noticed the building permit. As best I can tell, the retail space has been vacant since the building opened in 2023.

The protest at Coral Ridge Mall Monday was one of the largest "Sing Down the Doors at Target" demonstrations so far. Unlike a counterpart in Philadelphia four days ago, there were no arrests. “We were prepared for that to happen,” local organizer Aliese Gingrich told LV.

St. Patrick's Day launch date set for the South Shore Line's West Lake Corridor...

According to MidwesternPRA on the other platform, Amtrak is working to extend two daily Hiawatha trains from Milwaukee to Madison by 2029. See their full thread here: x.com/midwesternpr...

Regional rail connects people and communities by fast, frequent, and affordable trains throughout the day. NER and SEPTA footage courtesy of Stephen Hudgins #regionalrail #trains #highspeedrail

Someone cleared a skating rink in the slough at LaBagh Woods!

Kansas City, 1929. Assertions to the effect that “people preferred to drive” are guesses in the guise of explanations. In cities a minority of motorists degraded streetcar service for the majority. KCPSC: “Practically the only cause of delay ... is ... motorists who block [streetcars’] progress.”

Ridership on the Kansas City streetcar hit a record high in December, up 170% compared to last year after the opening of the main street extension to UMKC! The system now has more ridership than the New Orleans streetcars, and is set to be extended to the riverfront in 2026!

Via /r/CyclingMSP: www.reddit.com/r/CyclingMSP... Photo credit: /u/mplsforward

Weird winter ducks at Montrose Harbor yesterday: Redhead, Long-tailed, Greater Scaup, and Red-breasted Merganser. 78 bus to Uptown + short walk to the lakefront. #greenbirding

Mid-dive American Coot at Montrose Harbor yesterday

The Abt appliance superstore in Glenview is a wonderland, a suburban spectacle with no thematic coherence. Here is Humpty Dumpty with a cave bear skeleton.

Very grateful for all the gayness Illuminated Brew Works brings to one of the most right-wing neighborhoods in the city. Also, they give you 10% off if you bike there.

Just donated to Sarah Trone Garriott, who’s running to flip Iowa’s Des Moines-based congressional district. She’s won three tight state senate elections in a formerly Republican seat. Great candidate, winnable seat, I’m excited about how the midterms are shaping up.

Every one of these should be a train

Iowa’s two most competitive congressional races saw significant shifts this week as Democratic candidates dropped out, setting up clearer general election matchups against two embattled Republican incumbents.

Snowy Metra rides feel even more magical when you’ve just left an event where people were complaining about having to drive home in the snow

North Branch Trail at night

Went to Community Tavern tonight and when I got the check there was a Crosstown Trail flyer tucked inside. Great to see my favorite neighborhood restaurant spreading the word about this critical NW side bike infrastructure project! crosstownchi.org

At one time, passenger trains operated twice daily between Saint Paul and Kansas City. We are advocating for a new train to connect the Twin Cities Metro area with Minnesota cities along the 35W corridor.