Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Hayden Clarkin

@thetransitguy.com

25K followers 1.5K following 1.4K posts

I like trains and walkable neighborhoods. https://linktr.ee/thetransitguy

linktr.ee

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 24d

I actually write about it :)

thetransitguy.substack.com/p/how-to-bui...

How to Build An Actually Great Rail System in Delaware

The Case for a Swiss-like Rail System in Delaware

thetransitguy.substack.com

1 7 34

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 2d

utopianhours.it/en/

Homepage - Utopian Hours 2025

Utopian Hours is the festival dedicated to city making: projects, and places that are shaping the future of cities around the world.

utopianhours.it

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 2d

I am really excited this year to attend (virtually) Utopian Hours 2025. Are any of you else planning on attending?

1 3

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 3d

The amount of land just prime for redevelopment in every city in the United States is just such low-hanging fruit.

(Tampa)

Before and after of a decade showing an empty lot turn into a very urban core neighborhood

2 3 76

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 3d

Thanks for the share!

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 6d

open.substack.com/pub/thetrans...

The Hitchhikers Guide to Building A Lot of Subway

A Four-Step Playbook for Building Transit Faster, Cheaper, and Smarter

open.substack.com

1 2 16

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 6d

In just 33 years, the Shanghai Metro went from not existing to becoming twice the size of the NYC subway system, while NYC only added a few miles of track and 5 new stations.

In my latest Substack (linked below), I talk about how we can build a lot of subways quickly in the USA

(Urbanrail.net)

A comparison of NYC and Shanghai's metro systems at 1992 and 2025

10 29 150

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 8d

Had a really tough day today.

Anyone have any media/books you’re really enjoying?

13 12

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 9d

How can you hate trains?

4 3 90

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 11d

Buses can really get delayed for any reason

2 25

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 12d

Working on a piece now for thetransitguy.substack.com

1 15

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 12d

To clear California High-Speed Rail for use on EXISTING train tracks between San Jose and San Francisco alone, the environmental review process produced a final report of 8,204 pages (456 hours of reading) and took almost 14 years to complete. We need reform.

10 28 190

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 14d

Impossible, your blog and design is my favorite thing.

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 14d

The new Subway Builder game is absolutely stunning. I cannot wait for you all to experience it.

www.subwaybuilder.com

Three subway lines mocked up in Boston, MA

5 8 110

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 15d

Great article here: worksinprogress.co/issue/how-ma...

How Madrid built its metro cheaply

Madrid tripled the length of its metro system in just 12 years — faster and cheaper than almost any other city in the world. What can its expansion teach other cities?

worksinprogress.co

3 23

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 15d

Adjusted for inflation, Madrid built 35 miles of metro between 1995–1999 for about the same cost as a SINGLE mile of New York’s Second Avenue Subway (Phase 1). Imagine if every transit dollar here bought us 35 times more transit?

4 12 74

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 16d

It shouldn’t take thirty years to get 15-minute, all-day service on Philadelphia’s regional rail. We need to get serious and make it happen in five.

Rail Service Level Enhancements map of SEPTA regional rail, showing most lines getting 15 minute service

1 5 59

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 16d

New bus route that wasn't present when I wrote this piece a few months ago, but good catch!

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 16d

Will do!

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 16d

I actually write about it here! thetransitguy.substack.com/p/how-to-bui...

How to Build a Train to Bradley Airport

A Practical Plan to Finally Connect Connecticut’s Main Airport to Rail

thetransitguy.substack.com

1 12

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 16d

What are your thoughts on connecting Bradley Airport to Amtrak and the Hartford Line?

Proposal showing Bradley Airport being connected to Hartford Line

3 1 20

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 16d

Robert Moses is the reason NYC has UN Week, btw.

2 1 17

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 17d

Never bet against Detroit.

3 7 130

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 18d

A casual reminder to transit agencies that people do ride transit on the weekends!

3 6 110

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 20d

Aside from the need for a new infill Red Line station, I think the Chicago Fire FC stadium proposal in the South Loop, paired with new parks and 10,000 housing units is a great idea.

What do you think?

3 30

Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 21d

Sorta wild how quickly Australia can build rail lines relative to the rest of the Western world.

(Middle Gorg, VIC, 2016 -> 2019)

before and after showing a green field turning a rail station in victoria, australia (2016 -> 2019)

2 5 30