Also of note, the bill will reduce the federal cost share of transit bus replacements from 80% oft the total cost of a bus to a maximum of 70% of the *average cost* of a new bus, based on a 5 year average of transit bus purchases to be calculated by the FTA, phasing in between FY2029 and 31.

rare in north america do you get a rapid transit project does all of this: -replaces one of the busiest existing bus routes in a city (wilshire is the 2nd busiest) -is 2-3x faster than the bus (7 min vs 22-30 min) -and way faster than driving (18 min+) los angeles did it. grade-separated rail wins

Washington DC’s transit system plans to automate its trains, removing the need for human operators. As I explained in @bloomberg.com, this could be a watershed moment for US public transportation. Gift link & 🧵

Things that are simultaneously correct: •There are more passenger rail services connecting more communities in the U.S. now than the last 75 years, and in some places, ever. •Given our resources and by international comparison, we’re still way behind many other countries. 🛤️🚉🚆

The President of the United States is threatening to commit war crimes and wipe out a "whole civilization" — all because he started a disastrous war of his own making and had no plan and no strategy for how to end it. This is abhorrent, and the American people do not support this.

People talk about “public transit” like it’s some abstract policy debate, but it’s literally the difference between someone getting to work or losing their job. A bus that runs on time isn’t a luxury. It’s dignity, mobility, and a shot at stability. #transit

The Federal Transit Administration released its annual report on new transit projects to fund. The report recommends a total of just $1.2 b for existing & new projects, a massive reduction from previous years. The federal role in funding new transit projects is being decimated.

At a high level, anywhere in the US can't build HSR the way Europe or Asia do because: 1) Most of our rail infrastructure is owned by Class 1s 2) There's no consistent source of federal funding 3) Our political system is skewed towards Republicans who are ideologically opposed to transit

Whoever works in good faith and with genuine enthusiasm on a major rail or transit project in the US, especially in California, is either a fool, a hero or a martyr, or all three at the same time. Dealing with the US political class must be just an absolute nightmare.

You know folks, CAHSR is a mess of a project but I'm growingly sympathetic with the folks coming out with new proposals to try to deliver even a pale shade of service in a foreseeable future considering the political headwinds this project is facing.

It’s true this development would have never happened if the transit hadn’t come first, but it does present a bit of a dilemma: if you build the transit but don’t change the land use, you’re underutilizing the transit, but if you change the land use first, you’re likely underutilizing the land.

As much as I'm sure the ST board and staff would like to have thirty four and a half billion dollars appear out of thin air, they don't seem to have the power to just make money exist.

Cascades Airo visiting Newark Penn today - probably the only time you'll see this signed for New York!

The MTA's own modeling shows bus rapid transit both attracts significantly fewer riders and requires 3-4 minute headways to meet capacity needs. "Red Line" BRT is not the Red Line at all. This corridor both justifies and deserves the rail it has long been promised.

Hard to find a better example for why bus electrification, especially via trolley buses on heavily used corridors can pay dividends.

Let's do this here in WA/OR/CA! Permanent DST is the right answer, and it will have more dramatic impacts in BC (as it's further north) than any of the US West Coast states. Yet they're willing to do it, and we should follow suit.

Genuinely puzzled by the negative critical response to How to Make a Killing. It’s the best time I had in a movie theater since Send Help/No Other Choice, and feels like it’s directly in stylish conversation with both of those. Plus it’s hysterically funny. Don’t believe the anti-hype. Go see it.

Hi! We looked pretty extensively at EMUs & it wasn't the best fit for our service. We are partnering with MBTA on a procurement for dual mode locos. It was advertised today.

Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf

I know all eyes are on Minneapolis, but there's a fast-approaching nightmare in Springfield, Ohio. Trump is revoking protected status for tens of thousands of Haitians living there on Feb. 3. Reportedly, on Feb. 4, 1000 ICE agents are arriving to remove this population. Ethnic cleansing.

Speed Matters. Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time. open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...

Florida DOT, like the current US DOT, is doing what it can to reverse the very feeble efforts US cities have made to dedicate road space to users other than drivers.

WOW: It appears that the Florida Department of Transportation and state Republicans used a flawed study to illegally dismantle dedicated bus lanes along a federally funded BRT project that was completed on time and under budget www.tampabay.com/news/transpo...

One of the arguments the Class Is and AAR put up any time anyone talks about freight rail electrification is that there's no electric locomotives designed for US/NA freight service. While on the surface this claim is true, it's also not a big deal To prove it, let's talk about this fucking thing

they made this into an highway vs transit funding infographic

Memphis transit is in deep trouble

It's time for clear eyed thinking about the potential for the large-scale destruction of public transit in American cities. It could happen in the next two years. Thread... 1/

That would be neat if it worked particularly well at all. Unfortunately for everyone, most of all Jacksonville, the "Ultimate Urban Circulator" doesn't. Here's my experience of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's NAVI "autonomous" shuttle system: medium.com/@marcuscnels...

This is remarkably tone-deaf and irresponsible from someone that has aspirations of getting listened to by anyone in the transit sector. This isn't the moment for it. That the author thought this was the moment for it is remarkably stupid. I don't know what else to say.

Some very cool train news this week: Brightline received final environmental approval to build high speed rail through the Cajon Pass in California! This sets the stage for their ambitious plans to start construction this year and open HSR in time for the 2028 LA Olympics!