alex block
@alexblock.bsky.social
cities, transportation, transit, and other intermittent discussion.
This sucks, man.
News: The Washington Post is preparing to slash upwards of 300 staffers, incl sports, metro and foreign desks @nataliekorach.bsky.social reports.
“The newsroom is being punished for absolute incompetence from the owner and publisher,” one staffer told @status.news
www.status.news/p/washington...
“The newsroom is being punished for absolute incompetence from the owner and publisher,” one staffer told @status.news
www.status.news/p/washington...
Post Parting Depression
Looming cuts at The Washington Post threaten to decimate key coverage areas as staffers question the motives and commitment of billionaire owner Jeff Bezos.
www.status.news
January 26, 2026 at 2:24 AM
This sucks, man.
↘️
January 25, 2026 at 10:36 PM
↘️
I’m a sucker for glass block!
January 25, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I’m a sucker for glass block!
❤️ Minneapolis
There are just the loveliest little candlelight vigils for Alex Pretti being held all over Uptown right now. People building little candle memorials on street corners in the snow. This city is in pain but we will win together
January 25, 2026 at 4:29 AM
❤️ Minneapolis
Congress has legally mandated that Amtrak turn a profit.
Amtrak over the last few years has expanded its use of dynamic pricing, a system that rewards early planners and charges a premium for flexibility and last-minute travel. Critics of Amtrak’s approach say a taxpayer-supported service should not behave like a moody algorithm.
Travel Math: When Flying Costs as Much as the Train, Who Wins?
Amtrak says dynamic pricing has helped strengthen its finances, but travelers often grumble at the cost, especially for last-minute travel. Still, the train has a secret weapon: avoiding the airport.
nyti.ms
January 24, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Congress has legally mandated that Amtrak turn a profit.
Reposted by alex block
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
Reposted by alex block
Jesus, that last line.
They were eventually allowed one phone call as a thanks for saving the agent’s life.
They used it to call their lawyer, who called their state representative, who ultimately got them released on the condition they tell people they were “treated kindly.”
They used it to call their lawyer, who called their state representative, who ultimately got them released on the condition they tell people they were “treated kindly.”
January 24, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Jesus, that last line.
so my phone finally updated to iOS 26 and now my lock screen clock is constantly askew for some reason?
January 23, 2026 at 11:12 PM
so my phone finally updated to iOS 26 and now my lock screen clock is constantly askew for some reason?
none of these concepts appear any better (or even that different, fundamentally) from the already existing master plan for Dulles.
Some are just packaged with shiny renderings.
Some are just packaged with shiny renderings.
ICYMI
The DOT received at least 21 proposals to reimagine Washington Dulles.
byerussell.substack.com/p/21-ideas-t...
📷 Ferrovial/Grimshaw
The DOT received at least 21 proposals to reimagine Washington Dulles.
byerussell.substack.com/p/21-ideas-t...
📷 Ferrovial/Grimshaw
January 23, 2026 at 9:19 PM
none of these concepts appear any better (or even that different, fundamentally) from the already existing master plan for Dulles.
Some are just packaged with shiny renderings.
Some are just packaged with shiny renderings.
honestly surprised that Wisconsin isn’t buried in the bottom left
📊🏈COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S MOST EFFICIENT TEAMS
2025 FULL SEASON
↗️🟢: Good Offense, Good Defense
↖️🔵: Good Offense, Defense Needs Work
↘️🟡: Good Defense, Offense Needs Work
↙️🔴: We're Trying Our Best!
2025 FULL SEASON
↗️🟢: Good Offense, Good Defense
↖️🔵: Good Offense, Defense Needs Work
↘️🟡: Good Defense, Offense Needs Work
↙️🔴: We're Trying Our Best!
January 23, 2026 at 9:02 PM
honestly surprised that Wisconsin isn’t buried in the bottom left
really excellent visuals with this piece.
Washington has long weighed a plan to redevelop a vast federal office enclave in SW DC.
Along comes a president willing to demolish the East Wing without warning.
Neoclassical designers sense their moment.
Welcome to DC's next neighborhood-in-waiting, FEDLANDIA: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Along comes a president willing to demolish the East Wing without warning.
Neoclassical designers sense their moment.
Welcome to DC's next neighborhood-in-waiting, FEDLANDIA: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Inside the Plan to Demolish and Rebuild Trump’s Washington
When President Donald Trump demolished the East Wing in October, it came as a public shock. But the White House likely won’t be the last historic DC building to face a wrecking ball.
www.bloomberg.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:14 PM
really excellent visuals with this piece.
Reposted by alex block
Washington has long weighed a plan to redevelop a vast federal office enclave in SW DC.
Along comes a president willing to demolish the East Wing without warning.
Neoclassical designers sense their moment.
Welcome to DC's next neighborhood-in-waiting, FEDLANDIA: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Along comes a president willing to demolish the East Wing without warning.
Neoclassical designers sense their moment.
Welcome to DC's next neighborhood-in-waiting, FEDLANDIA: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Inside the Plan to Demolish and Rebuild Trump’s Washington
When President Donald Trump demolished the East Wing in October, it came as a public shock. But the White House likely won’t be the last historic DC building to face a wrecking ball.
www.bloomberg.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Washington has long weighed a plan to redevelop a vast federal office enclave in SW DC.
Along comes a president willing to demolish the East Wing without warning.
Neoclassical designers sense their moment.
Welcome to DC's next neighborhood-in-waiting, FEDLANDIA: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Along comes a president willing to demolish the East Wing without warning.
Neoclassical designers sense their moment.
Welcome to DC's next neighborhood-in-waiting, FEDLANDIA: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
This is great news.
And quite the contrast from the failed/canceled HSR project. Incremental extension of existing Amtrak corridor service.
And quite the contrast from the failed/canceled HSR project. Incremental extension of existing Amtrak corridor service.
Amtrak is planning passenger rail service to Madison by 2029: 🧵
January 23, 2026 at 1:39 PM
This is great news.
And quite the contrast from the failed/canceled HSR project. Incremental extension of existing Amtrak corridor service.
And quite the contrast from the failed/canceled HSR project. Incremental extension of existing Amtrak corridor service.
Good morning!
NEWS in TOP of @punchbowlnews.bsky.social ☀️ AM: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is pushing to host an IndyCar race on the National Mall in August as part of the America250 celebration.
But it needs congressional approval — and Dems aren’t thrilled about the idea.
punchbowl.news/article/wash...
But it needs congressional approval — and Dems aren’t thrilled about the idea.
punchbowl.news/article/wash...
Dems cool to Duffy’s IndyCar Grand Prix
News: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is pushing to host an IndyCar race on the National Mall in August as part of the America250 celebration.
punchbowl.news
January 23, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Good morning!
Reposted by alex block
A sharp drop in the Cheese Availability Index means a big storm is coming
January 22, 2026 at 9:52 PM
A sharp drop in the Cheese Availability Index means a big storm is coming
Reposted by alex block
A surefire way to make transportation more abundant and affordable?
Increase density.
In Bloomberg, I explained why. 🧵
Increase density.
In Bloomberg, I explained why. 🧵
Achieving ‘Transportation Abundance’ Is All About Density
To drive down transportation costs and move the needle on affordability, Americans need to embrace living closer together.
www.bloomberg.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:17 PM
A surefire way to make transportation more abundant and affordable?
Increase density.
In Bloomberg, I explained why. 🧵
Increase density.
In Bloomberg, I explained why. 🧵
Reposted by alex block
The picture of his cubby
January 22, 2026 at 3:14 AM
The picture of his cubby
Makes me so angry as a UW-Madison alum; yet alone as an American to see us voluntarily torpedoing these institutions.
“A chill has settled over the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Last fall, the number of new international undergraduates fell by 25 percent. The number of new international graduate students also fell, declining by more than 27 percent.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
How Trump Made Life Difficult for International Students and Wisconsin
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Makes me so angry as a UW-Madison alum; yet alone as an American to see us voluntarily torpedoing these institutions.
my god.
Heartbreaking cruelty visited upon children in our name
January 21, 2026 at 9:26 PM
my god.
Post a car picture you took
January 21, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Post a car picture you took
Post a car picture you took
January 21, 2026 at 3:55 AM
Post a car picture you took
Ooof.
“Several said the decision to stop the project would undermine public confidence in the More MARTA program, which has yet to deliver a single capital project nearly 10 years after Atlantans began taxing themselves to pay for transit expansion.”
“Several said the decision to stop the project would undermine public confidence in the More MARTA program, which has yet to deliver a single capital project nearly 10 years after Atlantans began taxing themselves to pay for transit expansion.”
Unbeknownst to the public, a small group of officials from the city of Atlanta, the Atlanta Beltline and MARTA voted to stop all work on the Eastside Beltline light rail project more than six months ago: www.ajc.com/news/2026/01...
Eastside Beltline light rail work secretly halted last year
A group made up of officials with the city of Atlanta, the Beltline and MARTA made the decision in a closed-door meeting without ever informing the public.
www.ajc.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Ooof.
“Several said the decision to stop the project would undermine public confidence in the More MARTA program, which has yet to deliver a single capital project nearly 10 years after Atlantans began taxing themselves to pay for transit expansion.”
“Several said the decision to stop the project would undermine public confidence in the More MARTA program, which has yet to deliver a single capital project nearly 10 years after Atlantans began taxing themselves to pay for transit expansion.”