Transit Tangents

Boston's North and South stations serve as critical transit hubs but remain disconnected despite a century of failed attempts to link them. • North Station serves 40,000 daily commuters from northern suburbs and connects to Amtrak's Downeaster route • South Station handles 60,000 daily commuters and serves as terminus for multiple Amtrak routes including Acela • Transferring between stations requires a 16-25 minute journey using multiple subway lines • Five major attempts to connect the stat...

The North Star Rail line in Minnesota is being canceled after struggling with ridership, particularly following a devastating 98% drop during the pandemic. Though originally conceived as an 80-mile connection between Minneapolis and St. Cloud, budget constraints limited it to just 40 miles ending in Big Lake, setting the project up for challenges from the start. • 40-mile commuter rail line with seven stations running from Minneapolis to Big Lake • Pre-pandemic ridership approached 800,000 a...

We explore how car-sharing services like Zipcar are changing urban mobility patterns and helping people reduce or eliminate personal car ownership while maintaining flexibility for special trips. • Car sharing complements public transit with each shared vehicle taking up to 13 privately owned cars off the street • 83% of Zipcar members don't own cars, and 27% sell their cars within a year of joining • 63% of car-sharing members are regular transit riders who use cars for occasional needs • M...

We explore the revived Baltimore Red Line light rail project with Jerome Horne, Deputy Communications Director, who explains how this 14-mile east-west corridor will transform transportation across the city while potentially healing historical urban scars. • The Red Line project dates back to 2002 planning but was canceled in 2015 just before construction began • Governor Wes Moore resurrected the project in 2023, recognizing its vital importance to Baltimore's transportation network • Three...

Philadelphia's public transit agency, SEPTA, faces devastating 45% budget cuts if Pennsylvania doesn't pass adequate funding, threatening to eliminate 50 bus routes, end rail service at 9 pm, and cancel five suburban rail lines. We are joined by Steve, a Transit advocate from How We Get Around, to discuss the crisis and ongoing fight to save the system. • SEPTA's funding crisis stems from Act 89's reduction from $450 million to $50 million for public transit statewide • COVID relief funds te...

Philadelphia, one of America’s oldest cities, blends rich history with a dense, walkable urban core. Its transit system, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), includes subways, trolleys, buses, and regional rail that connect neighborhoods, suburbs, and key destinations like the airport and multiple universities. While aging infrastructure poses challenges, Philly’s compact layout makes it one of the most transit-accessible cities in the U.S. • SEPTA's tap...

America's oldest subway system is experiencing a renaissance. After facing system-wide speed restrictions and a severe deficit of public trust in early 2023, Boston's MBTA has engineered a remarkable turnaround that's transforming how people move throughout the city and beyond. Andrew Cassidy, MBTA’s Senior Director of Digital Strategy, joins us to share how transparency, leadership changes, and creative rider engagement (including their podcast Spilling the Tea) are driving a remarkable tur...

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 Fen...

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, TXDallas, TXSan Antonio, TXHouston, TXNew Orleans, LAWashington, D.C.Salt Lake City, UTKansas City, MO Let us know how you would rank these cities. Help support Transit Tangents b...

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 s...

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 nei...

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...

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 Unio...

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 agree...

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...