rohan aras
@rohanaras.bsky.social
Senior Transportation Policy Analyst @niskanencenter.bsky.social
Reposted by rohan aras
@aarmlovi.bsky.social coming in and writing about Cambridge like he got a degree at the K school or something.
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
How a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible - CommonWealth Beacon
This is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities.
commonwealthbeacon.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:37 AM
@aarmlovi.bsky.social coming in and writing about Cambridge like he got a degree at the K school or something.
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
Reposted by rohan aras
You may've heard that at-large city councils represent citywide interests but violate the Voting Rights Act, dooming us to single member wards with "member deference"
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
@aarmlovi.bsky.social coming in and writing about Cambridge like he got a degree at the K school or something.
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
How a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible - CommonWealth Beacon
This is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities.
commonwealthbeacon.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:47 AM
You may've heard that at-large city councils represent citywide interests but violate the Voting Rights Act, dooming us to single member wards with "member deference"
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
Reposted by rohan aras
For better or for worse, REM pulled off a very successful bit of cultural/regulatory arbitrage. They've essentially created a regional rail network at reasonable capital/operating costs by...making it "transit-y" rather than "RER-y." Contrast with GO's efforts is striking.
November 30, 2025 at 9:23 PM
For better or for worse, REM pulled off a very successful bit of cultural/regulatory arbitrage. They've essentially created a regional rail network at reasonable capital/operating costs by...making it "transit-y" rather than "RER-y." Contrast with GO's efforts is striking.
Reposted by rohan aras
A way to conceptualize this: Lyft is a publicly traded firm. Its investors expect market average if not market beating returns on capital spending. That probably means citibike expansion is conservative, and prices are high to ensure that rate of return.
It's too damn expensive to ride a Citi Bike. buff.ly/cZCvWJq
November 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
A way to conceptualize this: Lyft is a publicly traded firm. Its investors expect market average if not market beating returns on capital spending. That probably means citibike expansion is conservative, and prices are high to ensure that rate of return.
Reposted by rohan aras
Somehow I'd never seen this visual representation of all of the different alignments for Federal Way Link along SR 99 that were under consideration, with the transitions between trenches and elevated segments shown so strikingly.
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
November 30, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Somehow I'd never seen this visual representation of all of the different alignments for Federal Way Link along SR 99 that were under consideration, with the transitions between trenches and elevated segments shown so strikingly.
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
Reposted by rohan aras
Zoning is such a strange institution—in every other sphere of economic life, this sort of command-and-control micromanagement has been thoroughly debunked. And yet when it comes to land use, we're still doing it.
Zoning didn't allow enough housing, so we have a housing shortage.
So we changed the zoning to allow more housing.
And now some neighbors worry the zoning doesn't allow enough commercial.
Maybe... the problem is the rigid zoning approach itself?
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/28/b...
So we changed the zoning to allow more housing.
And now some neighbors worry the zoning doesn't allow enough commercial.
Maybe... the problem is the rigid zoning approach itself?
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/28/b...
Bend's biggest developing neighborhoods lament loss of commercial land - The Bulletin
Carolyn Schott moved from Colorado to Bend in 2021 after buying a townhome in a freshly-platted neighborhood in the northeast corner of the city. As home building continued around her, the 20 acres ne...
bendbulletin.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Zoning is such a strange institution—in every other sphere of economic life, this sort of command-and-control micromanagement has been thoroughly debunked. And yet when it comes to land use, we're still doing it.
Reposted by rohan aras
The design is hurting my eyes a bit but you can always do that better
Hardware looks like a 46" LCD display which runs about $6-10k depending on the vendor and support/warranty
The bigger cost is getting utility power to the shelter (~$20k/stop). Curious if this was a specific capital program
Hardware looks like a 46" LCD display which runs about $6-10k depending on the vendor and support/warranty
The bigger cost is getting utility power to the shelter (~$20k/stop). Curious if this was a specific capital program
November 30, 2025 at 1:19 AM
The design is hurting my eyes a bit but you can always do that better
Hardware looks like a 46" LCD display which runs about $6-10k depending on the vendor and support/warranty
The bigger cost is getting utility power to the shelter (~$20k/stop). Curious if this was a specific capital program
Hardware looks like a 46" LCD display which runs about $6-10k depending on the vendor and support/warranty
The bigger cost is getting utility power to the shelter (~$20k/stop). Curious if this was a specific capital program
Reposted by rohan aras
I really wish lay people understood that there is nothing intrinsically faster in at-grade, on-street rail compared to buses. If anything, it has a number of constraints that can make it potentially slower. It's the quality of priority that determines its performance, not the rail.
November 29, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I really wish lay people understood that there is nothing intrinsically faster in at-grade, on-street rail compared to buses. If anything, it has a number of constraints that can make it potentially slower. It's the quality of priority that determines its performance, not the rail.
Reposted by rohan aras
Parking spot density various Greater Tokyo locations from Shibuya to Chiba New Town, plus Thai, German, UK and US data.
Which basically says my hometown/borough has the least parking in the world.
Best part of England indeed.
Which basically says my hometown/borough has the least parking in the world.
Best part of England indeed.
November 27, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Parking spot density various Greater Tokyo locations from Shibuya to Chiba New Town, plus Thai, German, UK and US data.
Which basically says my hometown/borough has the least parking in the world.
Best part of England indeed.
Which basically says my hometown/borough has the least parking in the world.
Best part of England indeed.
Reposted by rohan aras
Relative to peer jurisdictions, I think Arlington County, VA is quite well-governed. However, the county has an advisory panel going to consider big changes to our governance, including a ❗ move from at-large to district-based representation❗
November 25, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Relative to peer jurisdictions, I think Arlington County, VA is quite well-governed. However, the county has an advisory panel going to consider big changes to our governance, including a ❗ move from at-large to district-based representation❗
Reposted by rohan aras
I think this is mostly San Francisco finally shrugging off the pandemic, but it is *really* funny that rent prices in San Francisco shot up *immediately* after the city banned RealPage and other algorithmic price setting software.
My pre trends are incredible!
My pre trends are incredible!
November 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I think this is mostly San Francisco finally shrugging off the pandemic, but it is *really* funny that rent prices in San Francisco shot up *immediately* after the city banned RealPage and other algorithmic price setting software.
My pre trends are incredible!
My pre trends are incredible!
Reposted by rohan aras
DC is enforcing a “crackdown” on streeteries—outdoor seating for cafes—charging the cafes huge amounts of money to keep the facilities in place, and forcing them to use seating that doesn’t work in the winter. It’s a huge self-own, likely to end up hurting businesses, reducing street vibrancy.
Exclusive: Le Dip streetery to come down as D.C. crackdown reshapes outdoor dining
It's over for many D.C. streeteries, as the city starts to charge what you might call "road rent" and other fees.
www.axios.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
DC is enforcing a “crackdown” on streeteries—outdoor seating for cafes—charging the cafes huge amounts of money to keep the facilities in place, and forcing them to use seating that doesn’t work in the winter. It’s a huge self-own, likely to end up hurting businesses, reducing street vibrancy.
Reposted by rohan aras
Portland: Highly damaging transit service cuts may be coming in the next year. Still no sign of a plan on how to prevent them.
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
Planned Bus and MAX Service Cuts
Due to a growing budget gap, we must cut some TriMet service starting in November 2025.
trimet.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Portland: Highly damaging transit service cuts may be coming in the next year. Still no sign of a plan on how to prevent them.
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
Reposted by rohan aras
My line on this kind of thing is that we need policy, programs, and infrastructure that allow cities to function *better* as they grow. Public transit does that. When more people drive, cities get worse for everyone, including drivers.
"...we need to make it possible for more and more people to live in this city without owning a car... I mean, as more people continue to move to Seattle in our region, we just have limited space, and it’s just not possible to keep adding cars to the road." @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social
Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson! - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett We had Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson on Seattle Nice this week for a wide-ranging interview about her…
publicola.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
My line on this kind of thing is that we need policy, programs, and infrastructure that allow cities to function *better* as they grow. Public transit does that. When more people drive, cities get worse for everyone, including drivers.
Reposted by rohan aras
Insane but true fact: making US roads as safe as Canadian, Australian, or European roads would save more lives than eliminating murder from the US.
November 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Insane but true fact: making US roads as safe as Canadian, Australian, or European roads would save more lives than eliminating murder from the US.
Reposted by rohan aras
What a weird week it has been. Anyway, Build Housing, yes.
Trump and Mamdani just concluded their private meeting at the White House. Trump tells reporters he congratulated Mamdani on his "incredible" election victory.
He says they spoke about "getting housing built" in NYC, among other issues.
He says they spoke about "getting housing built" in NYC, among other issues.
November 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
What a weird week it has been. Anyway, Build Housing, yes.
One thing that's interesting to me about this purchase is that BEBs were apparently only 15-20% more expensive that the diesel quote they got. But BEBs seem to regularly be quoted at double the cost for transit agencies? For example, MTCs pricelist has a 40ft BEB at 1,407,600 vs 716,400 for a diesel
November 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
One thing that's interesting to me about this purchase is that BEBs were apparently only 15-20% more expensive that the diesel quote they got. But BEBs seem to regularly be quoted at double the cost for transit agencies? For example, MTCs pricelist has a 40ft BEB at 1,407,600 vs 716,400 for a diesel
Reposted by rohan aras
I've had zero to do with it other than watching as an Orange Line rider, but rapid implementation of dropbacks on the OL is one of the coolest things I've seen in my time at the MBTA. From a process improvement exploration project to full-bore implementation in just a few months.
The MBTA confronts an "unintended consequence" of all its recent Orange Line improvements: traffic www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org
The Orange Line has gotten so much better it has a new problem: Traffic
An "unintended consequence" of all the recent improvements, Orange Line trains are now running into delays due to congestion at the end of the line. However, the MBTA has a plan to ease the issue. Mee...
www.wbur.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I've had zero to do with it other than watching as an Orange Line rider, but rapid implementation of dropbacks on the OL is one of the coolest things I've seen in my time at the MBTA. From a process improvement exploration project to full-bore implementation in just a few months.
Reposted by rohan aras
So how to move forward, what are better metrics to capture our housing pressures? I don't know the definitive answer to that, but I have been playing around with various approaches. One is the work with Keith on First Time Buyer Lorenz Curves that focuses on ability to buy a home.
First time buyer Lorenz curves revisited – Mountain Doodles
Taking another look at first time buyer affordability: updating with 2021 data, accounting for property taxes, and introducing a discretized version of the measure.
doodles.mountainmath.ca
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
So how to move forward, what are better metrics to capture our housing pressures? I don't know the definitive answer to that, but I have been playing around with various approaches. One is the work with Keith on First Time Buyer Lorenz Curves that focuses on ability to buy a home.
Reposted by rohan aras
What's the other important margin? Location! Both between metro areas and within metro areas.
Housing provides shelter, location, and privacy.
We often forget location, and even more frequently forget the privacy aspect. So I want to talk a bit more about privacy.
Housing provides shelter, location, and privacy.
We often forget location, and even more frequently forget the privacy aspect. So I want to talk a bit more about privacy.
which i think speaks to the most important point, which is that a house is not just a house: it is a location, and far and away the most important thing about that location is how well it lets you access good jobs
www.amazon.com/Order-withou...
www.amazon.com/Order-withou...
Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities
Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities [Bertaud, Alain] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities
www.amazon.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
What's the other important margin? Location! Both between metro areas and within metro areas.
Housing provides shelter, location, and privacy.
We often forget location, and even more frequently forget the privacy aspect. So I want to talk a bit more about privacy.
Housing provides shelter, location, and privacy.
We often forget location, and even more frequently forget the privacy aspect. So I want to talk a bit more about privacy.
Reposted by rohan aras
@lausterna.bsky.social and I looked specifically into this question and found that while "culture" has a measurable effect, the main driver of household formation (or the lack thereof) is economic. More to the point, in Canada it's rents that drive cross-metro differences in household formation.
Housing shortage as an explanation for family and household change – Mountain Doodles
A run down of our recent paper on this topic, and implications for research and policy.
doodles.mountainmath.ca
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
@lausterna.bsky.social and I looked specifically into this question and found that while "culture" has a measurable effect, the main driver of household formation (or the lack thereof) is economic. More to the point, in Canada it's rents that drive cross-metro differences in household formation.
Reposted by rohan aras
New study finds that "vehicles with large driver-side blind zones are much more likely to strike crossing pedestrians while turning left."
Which vehicles have big driver-side blind zones? Those with thick A-pillars, bulky side mirrors, and tall hoods—i.e., big SUVs and trucks.
Which vehicles have big driver-side blind zones? Those with thick A-pillars, bulky side mirrors, and tall hoods—i.e., big SUVs and trucks.
Vehicles with big blind zones spell danger to pedestrians during left turns
A large driver-side blind zone raises the risk of striking a pedestrian during a left turn by 70%, a new IIHS study shows.
www.iihs.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
New study finds that "vehicles with large driver-side blind zones are much more likely to strike crossing pedestrians while turning left."
Which vehicles have big driver-side blind zones? Those with thick A-pillars, bulky side mirrors, and tall hoods—i.e., big SUVs and trucks.
Which vehicles have big driver-side blind zones? Those with thick A-pillars, bulky side mirrors, and tall hoods—i.e., big SUVs and trucks.
Reposted by rohan aras
which i think speaks to the most important point, which is that a house is not just a house: it is a location, and far and away the most important thing about that location is how well it lets you access good jobs
www.amazon.com/Order-withou...
www.amazon.com/Order-withou...
Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities
Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities [Bertaud, Alain] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities
www.amazon.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:14 PM
which i think speaks to the most important point, which is that a house is not just a house: it is a location, and far and away the most important thing about that location is how well it lets you access good jobs
www.amazon.com/Order-withou...
www.amazon.com/Order-withou...
Reposted by rohan aras
Big news: House GOP head of transport committee says he wants to retain the mass transit fund, defying the Trump Admin’s proposal, which I detail below ⬇️
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Trump Administration is to propose a massive cut in federal transit funding as part of 2026 transport legislation.
This proposal would decimate the nation's transit systems, while not actually solving the revenue problem federal transportation funding faces.
Evidence @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬
This proposal would decimate the nation's transit systems, while not actually solving the revenue problem federal transportation funding faces.
Evidence @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬
Cutting Federal Transit Funding Won’t Fix Budget Shortfalls. But It Would Make Transportation Less Affordable for Americans.
A proposal to eliminate federal public transit funding would not only fail to address the existing funding gap but would also leave millions of Americans, pa…
www.urban.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Big news: House GOP head of transport committee says he wants to retain the mass transit fund, defying the Trump Admin’s proposal, which I detail below ⬇️
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Reposted by rohan aras
Good post. This is my personal primary complaint about the MTA ending the monthly pass.
Monthly passes encourage ridership: you no longer think about whether to use transit, you already have it covered.
Monthly passes encourage ridership: you no longer think about whether to use transit, you already have it covered.
November 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Good post. This is my personal primary complaint about the MTA ending the monthly pass.
Monthly passes encourage ridership: you no longer think about whether to use transit, you already have it covered.
Monthly passes encourage ridership: you no longer think about whether to use transit, you already have it covered.