Martin
@martin-r-m.bsky.social
Metropolitan card at LGA
December 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Metropolitan card at LGA
Reposted by Martin
There's so much eye-opening stuff in the 300MB UP-NS STB filing, but a big one are the two railroads' 2024 traffic density maps, which really show how much more concentrated NS' network is as legacy PRR from Chicago. Almost every new intermodal service will bypass Chicago for southern lanes
December 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
There's so much eye-opening stuff in the 300MB UP-NS STB filing, but a big one are the two railroads' 2024 traffic density maps, which really show how much more concentrated NS' network is as legacy PRR from Chicago. Almost every new intermodal service will bypass Chicago for southern lanes
yea or nay - Bears stadium here:
December 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
yea or nay - Bears stadium here:
Reposted by Martin
December 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Why dont we have ticket cameras at railroad crossing gates? Who would need to pass a law to make it happen?
December 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Why dont we have ticket cameras at railroad crossing gates? Who would need to pass a law to make it happen?
Reposted by Martin
KRM is now MARK, please update your crayons accordingly www.markrail.org
MARK Rail Study Home Page
Learn about the MARK Rail Study!
www.markrail.org
December 2, 2025 at 3:36 AM
KRM is now MARK, please update your crayons accordingly www.markrail.org
Reposted by Martin
“Environmental review is not planning” is one of those statements that is so obviously true but nearly every thing about transportation institutions and environmental review in California/US pushes against it.
November 28, 2025 at 11:45 PM
“Environmental review is not planning” is one of those statements that is so obviously true but nearly every thing about transportation institutions and environmental review in California/US pushes against it.
Reposted by Martin
2/3rds of the CTA’s expressway-median stations are on the Blue Line, which would benefit from PSDs for noise/passenger comfort alone. Combined with a totally isolated operating environment and the need to rebuild the entire Forest Park Branch anyway, full automation needs to be considered.
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
2/3rds of the CTA’s expressway-median stations are on the Blue Line, which would benefit from PSDs for noise/passenger comfort alone. Combined with a totally isolated operating environment and the need to rebuild the entire Forest Park Branch anyway, full automation needs to be considered.
Reposted by Martin
Today, Madison, WI has no passenger rail. Here's the service it had circa 1950, near the peak of the US passenger rail network. A few notable takeaways:
November 19, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Today, Madison, WI has no passenger rail. Here's the service it had circa 1950, near the peak of the US passenger rail network. A few notable takeaways:
Reposted by Martin
Transit reform/funding bill approved in the Senate. This is final passage
October 31, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Transit reform/funding bill approved in the Senate. This is final passage
Reposted by Martin
I understand the politics of offsetting road revenues being redirected towards transit with a toll increase on the IL Tollway, but...
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
October 31, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I understand the politics of offsetting road revenues being redirected towards transit with a toll increase on the IL Tollway, but...
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
The Tollway is a separate authority that receives no general funds.
So the Tollway, which is already flush with revenues, gets an extra $1B?
Reposted by Martin
SB2111 passes the Senate 36-21
October 31, 2025 at 9:20 AM
SB2111 passes the Senate 36-21
Reposted by Martin
Transit bill has just dropped in the Illinois General Assembly: ilga.gov/documents/le...
ilga.gov
October 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Transit bill has just dropped in the Illinois General Assembly: ilga.gov/documents/le...
It pays to write an op ed. What about Chicago expenses?
October 29, 2025 at 2:46 AM
It pays to write an op ed. What about Chicago expenses?
Concert ticket will become a transit pass.
October 29, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Concert ticket will become a transit pass.
Reposted by Martin
I was hoping for 1 Good News today but the counter is still at 0
BREAKING: A scaled-back proposal to test the ability of city crews to clear not just Chicago’s roads but also its sidewalks of snow and ice during winter storms was rejected Friday by two key city panels. @wttw.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I was hoping for 1 Good News today but the counter is still at 0
Reposted by Martin
Why isn’t Metra electrifying the lines it owns?
Caltrain almost doubled its ridership.
Caltrain almost doubled its ridership.
There’s sort of no excuse for the rail electrification being such a sleeper issue given the incredible success of CalTrain.
sf.streetsblog.org/2025/07/31/c...
sf.streetsblog.org/2025/07/31/c...
September 26, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Why isn’t Metra electrifying the lines it owns?
Caltrain almost doubled its ridership.
Caltrain almost doubled its ridership.
Reposted by Martin
A bizarre artifact of chronically underfunding our transit system is that Metra specifically has gotten *too* good at rebuilding their fleet. There are locomotives in revenue service that predate Metra’s creation in 1984, and (famously) some coaches that date back to the Eisenhower administration.
I don't care about the rolling stock part of public transit but I'm sure some of you do so here you go www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwwz...
How Metra can keep running such OLD trains
YouTube video by Trains Are Awesome
www.youtube.com
September 14, 2025 at 12:32 AM
A bizarre artifact of chronically underfunding our transit system is that Metra specifically has gotten *too* good at rebuilding their fleet. There are locomotives in revenue service that predate Metra’s creation in 1984, and (famously) some coaches that date back to the Eisenhower administration.
Reposted by Martin
Huge news for the Chicago Fire as they now have approval to build the new stadium from the Chicago Plan Commission.
On track to start construction this fall and open in 2028.
#cf97 #VamosFire
On track to start construction this fall and open in 2028.
#cf97 #VamosFire
September 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Huge news for the Chicago Fire as they now have approval to build the new stadium from the Chicago Plan Commission.
On track to start construction this fall and open in 2028.
#cf97 #VamosFire
On track to start construction this fall and open in 2028.
#cf97 #VamosFire
Reposted by Martin
The US DOT cancelled $20 m in funding for Boston's Roxbury street improvement project, which was awarded in 2022.
The project was likely targeted because it prioritized bus riders, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Trump administration has stated that its focus is expanding road capacity for cars.
The project was likely targeted because it prioritized bus riders, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Trump administration has stated that its focus is expanding road capacity for cars.
USDOT Cancels $20 Million Pledge to Fund Street and Transit Improvements In Roxbury - Streetsblog Massachusetts
The grant cancellation is part of a nationwide wave of funding cuts for projects that the Trump administration opposes.
mass.streetsblog.org
September 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The US DOT cancelled $20 m in funding for Boston's Roxbury street improvement project, which was awarded in 2022.
The project was likely targeted because it prioritized bus riders, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Trump administration has stated that its focus is expanding road capacity for cars.
The project was likely targeted because it prioritized bus riders, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Trump administration has stated that its focus is expanding road capacity for cars.
