Boston proves its rank as one of America's premier transit cities through our comprehensive exploration of its historic first subway, vintage trolleys, modern rail lines, and extensive bike infrastructure. • Visit to the Mattapan Trolley line featuring 1940s streetcars in regular daily service • Interview with Andrew Cassidy from MBTA about America's first subway, built in 1897 • Exploration of how Boston's transit-oriented development shapes neighborhoods like Back Bay • Experience with Fenway ...
Jul 01, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Chris and Louis respond to viewer requests by ranking the eight city tours they've featured on the show. The rankings are based on the quality of public transit, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each system, as well as their experiences in each city. The cities being ranked: Austin, TX Dallas, TX San Antonio, TX Houston, TX New Orleans, LA Washington, D.C. Salt Lake City, UT Kansas City, MO Let us know how you would rank these cities. Help support Transit Tangents by checking out our...
Jun 24, 2025•28 min•Season 2Ep. 78
Columbus, Ohio is undertaking an ambitious $8 billion transit plan known as LinkUS that will transform mobility across the region through 2050. We explore this voter-approved initiative that focuses on BRT corridors, active transportation, and transit-oriented development rather than light rail. • Three major BRT corridors forming the backbone of the system with plans for more • Most corridors will feature dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare payment, and signal priority • 500+ miles of new sidew...
Jun 17, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Louis and Chris dive into seven American highways that should be removed to improve city life and reconnect communities divided by urban renewal projects of the past. • Kansas City's North Loop divides downtown from the historic River Market area, destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses • Syracuse's I-81 removal project is moving forward with plans to replace the downtown viaduct with a boulevard • New Orleans' Claiborne Expressway displaced 1,500 people and continues to harm adjacent neighbo...
Jun 10, 2025•28 min•Season 2Ep. 76
Transit projects across the country are making measurable progress despite earlier funding and political challenges. We revisit four transit initiatives from previous episodes to highlight the positive developments that show momentum for public transportation investments. • SunRail expansion in Orlando has secured the full $6 million needed for project development and environmental studies, with Universal contributing $2 million • Dynamic testing has begun on Maryland's Purple Line, which is now...
Jun 03, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Transit Tangents explores Kansas City's public transportation system in a day-long adventure testing buses, bikes, and the streetcar across both Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. We discover a surprising transit network with remarkable architectural treasures and vibrant neighborhoods connected by a completely fare-free system. • Kansas City operates the largest fare-free transit system in the United States, generating fair ridership but facing funding challenges • Historic Union St...
May 27, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 74
The Research Triangle area of North Carolina keeps trying—and failing—to develop effective transit solutions despite strong voter support for improvements. After a promising light rail project was derailed by Duke University in 2019, the region has pivoted to Bus Rapid Transit projects with mixed success. • Voters approved a half-cent sales tax in 2011-2012 specifically for transit improvements including the 17.7-mile Durham Orange Light Rail • Duke University refused to sign necessary agreement...
May 20, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Louis announces his move to Germany for two years, as the Transit Tangents Pod plans to continue with a mix of European and American content. • Germany's Deutschland ticket offers access to the entire country's public transit for a monthly fee • German transit operates on multiple tiers: ICE (high-speed), IC (intercity), RE/RB (regional), plus local networks • High-speed ICE trains connect major cities at 250 km/h but face punctuality issues at 66% on-time performance • German cities feature int...
May 13, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 72
The traffic management centers across the United States are mission control for our highway systems, working 24/7 to detect incidents and coordinate emergency responses to keep traffic flowing. • Behind-the-scenes look at a Traffic Management Center (TMC) that monitors interstate highways with 300+ cameras • Overview of how TMCs detect traffic incidents using radar and probe-based data from cell phones • Insight into the emergency response process when incidents are identified • Discussion of te...
May 06, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Transit advocates are watching with concern as several high-profile transit projects across America face uncertain futures under the Trump administration, from New York's congestion pricing to California's high-speed rail. • NYC's congestion pricing has shown remarkable early success with 70% fewer honking complaints, 50% fewer traffic injuries, and increased transit ridership • The MTA's $500 million annual revenue from congestion pricing funds critical improvements to accessibility, bus freque...
Apr 29, 2025•28 min•Season 2Ep. 70
The saga of high-speed rail in Texas takes another dramatic turn as the Trump administration revokes $60 million in funding previously allocated to Amtrak for the Texas Central project. Despite this setback, we explore why the Dallas-Houston line might actually be closer to reality than ever before. • Texas high-speed rail initiatives date back to the 1990s when Southwest Airlines played a significant role in derailing early efforts • Texas Central, the current iteration of the project, would co...
Apr 22, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Urban Lab, a Kansas City-based urbanist group, hopes to inspire city leaders to reimagine streets, developments, and public spaces. Founded by architect Matt Hasek, this grassroots organization has grown organically by creating compelling visual representations that help people see how urban spaces could be different. • Kansas City has more highway miles per capita than nearly anywhere else in the United States • The city once had 350 miles of streetcar, now reduced to just 2.2 miles of streetca...
Apr 15, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Swyft Cities has developed a revolutionary transit concept called Whoosh that combines the benefits of gondolas with autonomous vehicles to create a flexible, efficient transit solution for short urban trips. • Not a traditional gondola but an autonomous vehicle system using overhead cables • Vehicles operate independently, picking up passengers at ground level and traveling directly to destinations without intermediate stops • Costs approximately $5-20 million per mile compared to billions for ...
Apr 08, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Kansas City's streetcar system has transformed downtown with $4 billion in development since opening in 2016, and now two major extensions will nearly triple the system's reach to the university district and riverfront. • 2.2-mile downtown streetcar line has carried over 14 million passengers since 2016 • Extensions will add 3.5 miles south to University of Missouri-Kansas City and 0.7 miles north to the riverfront • Fleet expanding from 6 to 14 streetcars to maintain 10-12 minute service freque...
Apr 01, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Happy April everyone! Oh Arlington, Texas — the shimmering crown jewel of American urban planning, where the concept of “public transit” strikes fear and loathing into the very soul of its leaders. Truly, a masterclass in how not to move people around. Let’s start with the obvious: no buses. No trains. Not even a lonely streetcar to pretend someone cared. But hey, they do have a microtransit experiment, in the form of VIA , which is basically Uber with a city-branded logo. Revolutionary! Nothing...
Apr 01, 2025•45 sec
We attend South by Southwest's transportation track to discover what this cutting-edge collection of thought leaders envisions as the future of mobility. Key Takeaways: • Electric vehicles are a critical part of the future but may not be enough • Battery technology advancements through AI aim to improve efficiency for both EVs and flying vehicles • American EV leadership isn't competitive when compared to China's rapid advancement • Autonomous buses could address driver shortages but still requi...
Mar 25, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 65
The Chicago Red Line extension is finally breaking ground after fifty years of planning, promising to transform mobility for underserved communities on Chicago's far south side with a $5.7 billion investment in transit infrastructure. • Five and a half mile extension from 95th Street to 130th Street serving Altgeld Gardens • Four new stations bringing rail service to approximately 100,000 residents • Project costs over $1 billion per mile, with $2 billion coming from federal grants • Expected to...
Mar 18, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Texas legislators have introduced bills that could slash DART funding by up to 50%, threatening the survival of Dallas's transit system in one of America's fastest-growing regions. • Six Dallas suburban cities initially supported cutting DART funding by 25%, with Plano leading the charge • Unable to get enough board votes, Plano representatives took their fight to the Texas Legislature • House Bill 3187 would reduce the sales tax funding and allow diversion of additional money to non-transit pro...
Mar 11, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 63
This episode highlights our challenge of exploring Dallas exclusively via public transit. Our journey reveals the good and bad of navigating a major city without a car while incorporating the unique sights of the Dallas landscape. - Testing DART's capabilities in real-time - Encountering Dallas's landmarks, including the zoo and Bishop Arts District - Our experiences with transit frequency and efficiency - Observations on the lack of direct transit routes and bus connections - Insights into the ...
Mar 04, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Exciting developments are on the horizon in Minneapolis-St Paul. We dive into the new Gold Line BRT and its potential to redefine transit in the area, exploring its benefits and limitations compared to similar lines. • Overview of the Gold Line and its dedicated infrastructure • Comparison of Gold Line with B-Line and their operational differences • Importance of transit-oriented development along the Gold Line route • Insights into ridership expectations and community impact • Discussion on how...
Feb 25, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Brightline's success in Florida not only enhances travel between Miami and Orlando but also spurs potential advancements in the state's public transit system. As the Sunshine Corridor expansion plans unfold, the discussion uncovers how private initiatives can effectively stimulate public investments and reshape commuting in the region. • Overview of Brightline's operational success and ridership growth • The positive impact of Brightline on public transit perceptions in Florida • The current sta...
Feb 18, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Join us as we explore Washington, D.C., using only public transit. This episode introduces listeners to the city's diverse transportation options. From the automated Red Line to quirky streetcars and bike shares, the hosts share experiences while highlighting which modes are effective and what makes the DC transit landscape unique. • Navigating through DC's transit system using metro, buses, and streetcars • Insights from a local expert commuter on the DC transit experience • Automation of the R...
Feb 11, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 59
The Purple Line represents Maryland’s significant investment in public transit, aiming to connect diverse suburban communities to the greater DC metro area. The episode covers its route, potential ridership, cost issues, and broader implications for urban transit in the U.S. • Overview of the Purple Line life and vision from Bethesda to New Carrollton • Importance of transit-oriented development along the route • Current ridership statistics and future projections • Financial challenges and disc...
Feb 04, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 58
This episode continues our overview of Project Connect's 16,000-page environmental impact study. We focus on station placements, expected ridership, and potential displacement of local businesses. We raise key concerns about community impact while highlighting the significance of improved public transportation for Austin's future. • Overview of Project Connect Draft EIS and light rail system • Discussion of north and south rail line routes and stations • Environmental impacts and displacement co...
Jan 21, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 57
The episode explores Austin's Project Connect, a light rail initiative designed to improve transportation and connectivity throughout the city. With the 16,000-page draft environmental impact study released, we provide a detailed overview of station highlights and their potential impact. • Station breakdown starting from Yellow Jacket Station • Key features of connectivity and sustainability • Community concerns regarding station locations • Discussion on the downtown development implications • ...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Exciting changes are on the horizon for Seattle's light rail system, with significant expansions aimed at connecting isolated lines and enhancing commuter experiences. The episode highlights the current state of the light rail network and the promising developments that will redefine urban transit in the region. • Overview of upcoming light rail expansions in Seattle • Current state and geography of Seattle's light rail system • Recent expansions and developments in suburban areas • Future plans...
Jan 14, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Unlock the secrets of urban transformation with Cutter Gonzalez, a communication strategist from the Welcoming Neighbors Network. Discover the intricate dance between housing policies and public transit systems as we dissect the "housing theory of everything," showcasing how cities like Austin are setting the stage for reduced rents and denser living environments in anticipation of projects like Project Connect. We'll explore the symbiotic exchange of urban strategies between Austin and Boston, ...
Jan 07, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 54
This episode highlights the top 10 public transportation projects set to launch in 2025, showcasing significant innovations across the United States that promise improved connectivity and efficiency. From modernization initiatives in Chicago and Boston to exciting new lines in Dallas and LA, these projects aim to enhance the commuting experience for all. • Chicago’s Red and Purple Line modernization for reliability and accessibility • Boston MBTA's elimination of slow zones for increased capacit...
Dec 31, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 53
In this episode of Transit Tangents, we roll back the clock to explore how Carl Fisher, a bold entrepreneur and transportation pioneer, helped spark America’s love affair with movement—starting not with cars, but with bicycles. Before Fisher became synonymous with monumental road projects he was a passionate advocate for cycling who helped push for better roads. This episode is a tribute to two-wheeled transportation, the early advocates who demanded better infrastructure, and the visionary who ...
Dec 24, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Houston, the fourth-largest city in the U.S., is often seen as an endless maze of sprawling suburbs and ring roads. But is it really just a car-centric metropolis? In this episode, we challenge that perception by exploring Houston’s transit options—from light rail to buses—and discovering a city that might surprise you. Join us as we navigate the oil and gas capital’s transportation network and uncover a different side of Houston! Send us a text Support the show...
Dec 17, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 51
