California Transit Nerd
@catransitnerd.bsky.social
Bay area native lived in LA for college. I work on Supercomputers with a Poly Sci degree. Rail nerd working on state policy RT=/= endorsement
Pinned
Intro:
My focus is on regional and intercity transit statewide and ending freeway expansion.
Ask don’t assume my position on issue, 99% of the time I’ll happy answer
My focus is on regional and intercity transit statewide and ending freeway expansion.
Ask don’t assume my position on issue, 99% of the time I’ll happy answer
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
You see this again and again. JPA management, limited staff capacity, patchwork grant programs -> budget overruns, longer timelines descoping, less service for riders in rapidly-growing areas. This time for Valley Rail in the Central Valley. Will 2026 be the year we take action?
Valley Rail isn’t looking so healthy
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
SJRRC Special Station/Facilities Development Committee - January 8, 2026 10:30 am - San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission
Station Facilities Development Committee January 8 2026 Special Meeting Packet Meeting Location: San Joaquin Council of Governments First Floor, Board Room 555 E. Weber Avenue Stockton, CA 95202 Join ...
www.sjrrc.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:07 AM
You see this again and again. JPA management, limited staff capacity, patchwork grant programs -> budget overruns, longer timelines descoping, less service for riders in rapidly-growing areas. This time for Valley Rail in the Central Valley. Will 2026 be the year we take action?
Valley Rail isn’t looking so healthy
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
SJRRC Special Station/Facilities Development Committee - January 8, 2026 10:30 am - San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission
Station Facilities Development Committee January 8 2026 Special Meeting Packet Meeting Location: San Joaquin Council of Governments First Floor, Board Room 555 E. Weber Avenue Stockton, CA 95202 Join ...
www.sjrrc.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Valley Rail isn’t looking so healthy
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
While 2025 was a tough year for many, last year we saw electric rail continue to move forward, with lots of good news for the future. Here's a look at some of what we accomplished last year: 🧵https://calelectricrail.org/2025-year-in-review/
2025 Year in Review – Californians for Electric Rail
calelectricrail.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:32 AM
While 2025 was a tough year for many, last year we saw electric rail continue to move forward, with lots of good news for the future. Here's a look at some of what we accomplished last year: 🧵https://calelectricrail.org/2025-year-in-review/
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
All 5 "ebike deaths" in an Ottawa study involved illegally modified ebikes. In other words, they were electric motorcycle deaths
January 6, 2026 at 3:13 PM
All 5 "ebike deaths" in an Ottawa study involved illegally modified ebikes. In other words, they were electric motorcycle deaths
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
I may write about this more formally at some point, but the degree to which NS's cut-service-and-hike-rates strategy completely kneecapped their Crescent Corridor partnership with states to decongest I-81 is nuts. After billions in govt investment, train service is now *slower* than it was before.
January 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
I may write about this more formally at some point, but the degree to which NS's cut-service-and-hike-rates strategy completely kneecapped their Crescent Corridor partnership with states to decongest I-81 is nuts. After billions in govt investment, train service is now *slower* than it was before.
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Los Angeles should congestion-price its freeways to maintain peak throughput at times of high demand.
January 5, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Los Angeles should congestion-price its freeways to maintain peak throughput at times of high demand.
As I go back to work commuting over a bridge with a frustrating little amount of slow bus service I’m remind just how flawed the Bay Area RMs are. They are supposedly about fixing congestion but burn money on interchanges and HOV or HOT lanes rather than regional services to provide alternatives
January 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
As I go back to work commuting over a bridge with a frustrating little amount of slow bus service I’m remind just how flawed the Bay Area RMs are. They are supposedly about fixing congestion but burn money on interchanges and HOV or HOT lanes rather than regional services to provide alternatives
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Allow me to connect some dots for you:
Too much of the world currently relies for its basic functions on resources which must be continuously extracted. You burn that oil one time and oops, now you need more.
Geopolitical horrors are, in fact, one of the reasons we need to move to renewables ASAP.
Too much of the world currently relies for its basic functions on resources which must be continuously extracted. You burn that oil one time and oops, now you need more.
Geopolitical horrors are, in fact, one of the reasons we need to move to renewables ASAP.
January 3, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Allow me to connect some dots for you:
Too much of the world currently relies for its basic functions on resources which must be continuously extracted. You burn that oil one time and oops, now you need more.
Geopolitical horrors are, in fact, one of the reasons we need to move to renewables ASAP.
Too much of the world currently relies for its basic functions on resources which must be continuously extracted. You burn that oil one time and oops, now you need more.
Geopolitical horrors are, in fact, one of the reasons we need to move to renewables ASAP.
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Seattle Fire Code has its own provisions for fixed guideway transit which are more restrictive than NFPA 130
For example, it doesn't allow escalators & elevators to count toward egress capacity under any circumstance, and enclosed emergency exists must provide at least 50% of egress capacity
For example, it doesn't allow escalators & elevators to count toward egress capacity under any circumstance, and enclosed emergency exists must provide at least 50% of egress capacity
January 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Seattle Fire Code has its own provisions for fixed guideway transit which are more restrictive than NFPA 130
For example, it doesn't allow escalators & elevators to count toward egress capacity under any circumstance, and enclosed emergency exists must provide at least 50% of egress capacity
For example, it doesn't allow escalators & elevators to count toward egress capacity under any circumstance, and enclosed emergency exists must provide at least 50% of egress capacity
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Im publishing an ACT article very soon that's very important but also dropping my old piece detailing ACT's downfall darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-slow-d...
The Slow Death of AC Transit
The on-going fiscal crisis for AC Transit and how to reverse it in the future.
darrellowens.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Im publishing an ACT article very soon that's very important but also dropping my old piece detailing ACT's downfall darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-slow-d...
On a college campus these will get overwhelmed. I know some campuses use 30ft units on some routes due to road designs but in general 35-40ft is all you should be using there
As for smaller cities I don’t see these doing particularly well without strong stop infrastructure which is unlikely
As for smaller cities I don’t see these doing particularly well without strong stop infrastructure which is unlikely
🧵(1/2) Spotted a Beep AV Shuttle in DC. I believe these have a place in the mobility hierarchy like moving people on medical/college/airport campuses or serving as downtown shuttles. Might be a good way for smaller cities to have a more robust transit network.
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 AM
On a college campus these will get overwhelmed. I know some campuses use 30ft units on some routes due to road designs but in general 35-40ft is all you should be using there
As for smaller cities I don’t see these doing particularly well without strong stop infrastructure which is unlikely
As for smaller cities I don’t see these doing particularly well without strong stop infrastructure which is unlikely
I’m driving home via the coast tonight and I’ve seen 2 sidings filled with extra intermodal equipment just between king city and Santa Barbra, I expect more further north
UP has no use for the line as a though route and likely would be happy to get out of doing local work so the state should buy it
UP has no use for the line as a though route and likely would be happy to get out of doing local work so the state should buy it
January 2, 2026 at 5:13 AM
I’m driving home via the coast tonight and I’ve seen 2 sidings filled with extra intermodal equipment just between king city and Santa Barbra, I expect more further north
UP has no use for the line as a though route and likely would be happy to get out of doing local work so the state should buy it
UP has no use for the line as a though route and likely would be happy to get out of doing local work so the state should buy it
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Happy New Year! Start the year off right with our webinar on how to better fund transit infrastructure for quicker, more cost-effective projects, next Thursday at 1 PM PST. @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Happy New Year! Start the year off right with our webinar on how to better fund transit infrastructure for quicker, more cost-effective projects, next Thursday at 1 PM PST. @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Americans do not have a "love affair" with cars, the term typically used in the media.
Rather we are in an abusive relationship, wanting to leave but fearing the consequences.
Rather we are in an abusive relationship, wanting to leave but fearing the consequences.
An astonishing percentage of Americans are open to car-free living.
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
The problem isn't attitudes. The problem is the failure to invest in viable options.
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
Many Americans Are Open to Car-Free Living — Human Transit
Is Americans a “car culture” or are they “car dependent”? Do they drive because they love driving, or are they in an unhealthy relationship with a substance it would be happy to do without? Obviousl...
humantransit.org
December 31, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Americans do not have a "love affair" with cars, the term typically used in the media.
Rather we are in an abusive relationship, wanting to leave but fearing the consequences.
Rather we are in an abusive relationship, wanting to leave but fearing the consequences.
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
It should be harder to get a drivers license and easier to lose it.
The California DMV is in deep need of reform. Enraging stuff, uncovered by a team of reporters at @calmatters.org
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
December 31, 2025 at 1:28 AM
It should be harder to get a drivers license and easier to lose it.
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
After 10 years of planning, Palo Alto has voted to advance three different alternatives for a grade separations at Churchill to 15% design stage.
www.paloaltoonline.com/transportati...
www.paloaltoonline.com/transportati...
December 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
After 10 years of planning, Palo Alto has voted to advance three different alternatives for a grade separations at Churchill to 15% design stage.
www.paloaltoonline.com/transportati...
www.paloaltoonline.com/transportati...
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Integrated, accessible, through-running electrified regional rail could transform Southern California and move high-speed rail forward. Join us on January 12th for a webinar from 5-6 pm to learn why this is so important and how we make it happen. actionnetwork.org/events/elect...
Electrolink Webinar
Southern California deserves a modern, green, and accessible rail system. In their new whitepaper, Electrolink, Californians for Electric Rail presents a vision for how to get there, through investmen...
actionnetwork.org
December 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Integrated, accessible, through-running electrified regional rail could transform Southern California and move high-speed rail forward. Join us on January 12th for a webinar from 5-6 pm to learn why this is so important and how we make it happen. actionnetwork.org/events/elect...
random thought for the fare nerds
Would it be possible (and does it make sense) to allow an individual with a SNAP card to first tap the card to receive the low income discount (assuming the agency has one) then pay with cash?
I know the bay has issues with lack of fare reload machines on bus routes
Would it be possible (and does it make sense) to allow an individual with a SNAP card to first tap the card to receive the low income discount (assuming the agency has one) then pay with cash?
I know the bay has issues with lack of fare reload machines on bus routes
December 29, 2025 at 9:37 AM
random thought for the fare nerds
Would it be possible (and does it make sense) to allow an individual with a SNAP card to first tap the card to receive the low income discount (assuming the agency has one) then pay with cash?
I know the bay has issues with lack of fare reload machines on bus routes
Would it be possible (and does it make sense) to allow an individual with a SNAP card to first tap the card to receive the low income discount (assuming the agency has one) then pay with cash?
I know the bay has issues with lack of fare reload machines on bus routes
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
A short thread on my frustration with the phrase,
"Every additional trip costs a transit agency money."
While it is true in one sense, it seriously misstates the incentives that a funding-constrained agency faces.
"Every additional trip costs a transit agency money."
While it is true in one sense, it seriously misstates the incentives that a funding-constrained agency faces.
I've heard this phrase thrown around a bunch during my 10 years in planning and it has always bothered me because it is only true in the aggregate sense.
Yes, if opex is greater than revenue then, on average, each trip is subsidized.
Yes, if opex is greater than revenue then, on average, each trip is subsidized.
December 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
A short thread on my frustration with the phrase,
"Every additional trip costs a transit agency money."
While it is true in one sense, it seriously misstates the incentives that a funding-constrained agency faces.
"Every additional trip costs a transit agency money."
While it is true in one sense, it seriously misstates the incentives that a funding-constrained agency faces.
I am once again asking for both sleeper service and some faster and more frequent daytime service between the Bay and LA via the coast.
A sleeper train would have been perfect for my trip this week
A sleeper train would have been perfect for my trip this week
December 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I am once again asking for both sleeper service and some faster and more frequent daytime service between the Bay and LA via the coast.
A sleeper train would have been perfect for my trip this week
A sleeper train would have been perfect for my trip this week
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
The equity case for infrequent buses at low fares only makes sense if you believe low income people’s time has no value or that they don’t value their time.
Every transit professional knows this, but equity
Transit's main competition is cars. If you raise fares from $2.50 to $3, you're still way more affordable than driving. But if you cut the bus from every 15 to every 20, you're screwed because cars have infinity frequency and 24 hr service span.
December 27, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The equity case for infrequent buses at low fares only makes sense if you believe low income people’s time has no value or that they don’t value their time.
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
All the Toronto streetcar discourse has had me looking at a lot of TTC stringlines, and I must say, it seems there's an incredibly opportunity for quick improvement there with some basic terminal ops fixes.
Why was nearly every streetcar *entering service* on this random wednesday late?
Why was nearly every streetcar *entering service* on this random wednesday late?
December 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
All the Toronto streetcar discourse has had me looking at a lot of TTC stringlines, and I must say, it seems there's an incredibly opportunity for quick improvement there with some basic terminal ops fixes.
Why was nearly every streetcar *entering service* on this random wednesday late?
Why was nearly every streetcar *entering service* on this random wednesday late?
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
Blue Dem governors united in supporting climate change acceleration.
Who is primarying her?
Who is primarying her?
Cutting property taxes for Oregonians affected by wildfires. Canceling planned freeway tolls. Pausing local new taxes in the Portland area. We have to keep going to make life more affordable for Oregonians.
December 24, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Blue Dem governors united in supporting climate change acceleration.
Who is primarying her?
Who is primarying her?
Reposted by California Transit Nerd
South Bay Connect please
December 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
South Bay Connect please
Took Caltrain today and shot some photos while the fiancée was in the office for a few hours
Mid day ridership reminds me a lot of BART. I’d be curious what 20 min all day service 10 min peak and some better feeder buses would do for the system
Mid day ridership reminds me a lot of BART. I’d be curious what 20 min all day service 10 min peak and some better feeder buses would do for the system
December 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Took Caltrain today and shot some photos while the fiancée was in the office for a few hours
Mid day ridership reminds me a lot of BART. I’d be curious what 20 min all day service 10 min peak and some better feeder buses would do for the system
Mid day ridership reminds me a lot of BART. I’d be curious what 20 min all day service 10 min peak and some better feeder buses would do for the system