Yonah Freemark
@yonahfreemark.com
Transport / Housing / Land Use / Politics / @urbaninstitute.bsky.social / Le progrès ne vaut que s’il est partagé par tous / yonahfreemark.com / thetransportpolitic.com
Yes, here’s the system in 2010 and now! www.thetransportpolitic.com/transitexplo...
January 13, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Yes, here’s the system in 2010 and now! www.thetransportpolitic.com/transitexplo...
What urban areas in the world have the longest existing/under construction metro networks per capita?
In a quick analysis using Transit Explorer & EU GHS-UCDB 2024 data, the top urban areas are:
1—Chengdu
2—Hangzhou
3—Ningbo
4—Xuzhou
5—Stockholm
6—Zhengzhou
7—Singapore
8—Xi'an
9—Hamburg
10—Changsha
In a quick analysis using Transit Explorer & EU GHS-UCDB 2024 data, the top urban areas are:
1—Chengdu
2—Hangzhou
3—Ningbo
4—Xuzhou
5—Stockholm
6—Zhengzhou
7—Singapore
8—Xi'an
9—Hamburg
10—Changsha
January 12, 2026 at 10:04 PM
What urban areas in the world have the longest existing/under construction metro networks per capita?
In a quick analysis using Transit Explorer & EU GHS-UCDB 2024 data, the top urban areas are:
1—Chengdu
2—Hangzhou
3—Ningbo
4—Xuzhou
5—Stockholm
6—Zhengzhou
7—Singapore
8—Xi'an
9—Hamburg
10—Changsha
In a quick analysis using Transit Explorer & EU GHS-UCDB 2024 data, the top urban areas are:
1—Chengdu
2—Hangzhou
3—Ningbo
4—Xuzhou
5—Stockholm
6—Zhengzhou
7—Singapore
8—Xi'an
9—Hamburg
10—Changsha
New data show housing construction continuing to decline. Oct 2025 data showed the lowest new housing starts figure since the pandemic.
The economic environment—high debt costs + high construction costs, primarily—is making housing more and more difficult to build.
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/HOUST
The economic environment—high debt costs + high construction costs, primarily—is making housing more and more difficult to build.
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/HOUST
January 10, 2026 at 5:25 PM
New data show housing construction continuing to decline. Oct 2025 data showed the lowest new housing starts figure since the pandemic.
The economic environment—high debt costs + high construction costs, primarily—is making housing more and more difficult to build.
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/HOUST
The economic environment—high debt costs + high construction costs, primarily—is making housing more and more difficult to build.
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/HOUST
Here are the 20 US urban areas that had the highest per-capita transit ridership in 2024.
New York, unsurprisingly, dominated. Among the big urban areas, the other leaders were SF, DC & Boston.
A lot of small towns—like Ames, IA or Champaign, IL—did well, too. That's because they're college towns!
New York, unsurprisingly, dominated. Among the big urban areas, the other leaders were SF, DC & Boston.
A lot of small towns—like Ames, IA or Champaign, IL—did well, too. That's because they're college towns!
January 9, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Here are the 20 US urban areas that had the highest per-capita transit ridership in 2024.
New York, unsurprisingly, dominated. Among the big urban areas, the other leaders were SF, DC & Boston.
A lot of small towns—like Ames, IA or Champaign, IL—did well, too. That's because they're college towns!
New York, unsurprisingly, dominated. Among the big urban areas, the other leaders were SF, DC & Boston.
A lot of small towns—like Ames, IA or Champaign, IL—did well, too. That's because they're college towns!
Interesting data from Edmonton after a zoning reform there: A large increase in middle density housing, with most of it coming in the form of 8-flats.
Smaller projects are less financially feasible and thus have attracted less interest from developers.
Smaller projects are less financially feasible and thus have attracted less interest from developers.
January 6, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Interesting data from Edmonton after a zoning reform there: A large increase in middle density housing, with most of it coming in the form of 8-flats.
Smaller projects are less financially feasible and thus have attracted less interest from developers.
Smaller projects are less financially feasible and thus have attracted less interest from developers.
Le Monde’s editorial today:
“With this operation… the US pushes the Americas back more than a century… in mentioning Venezuelan oil… Trump underlined that this new US imperialism is just as predatory as the country’s past actions.”
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
“With this operation… the US pushes the Americas back more than a century… in mentioning Venezuelan oil… Trump underlined that this new US imperialism is just as predatory as the country’s past actions.”
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
January 4, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Le Monde’s editorial today:
“With this operation… the US pushes the Americas back more than a century… in mentioning Venezuelan oil… Trump underlined that this new US imperialism is just as predatory as the country’s past actions.”
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
“With this operation… the US pushes the Americas back more than a century… in mentioning Venezuelan oil… Trump underlined that this new US imperialism is just as predatory as the country’s past actions.”
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Bus rapid transit routes, or at least improved bus services, are opening in:
—Atlanta, south of downtown
—Baton Rouge, along the Plank-Nicholson route
—Houston, along Scott Street
—Las Vegas, along Maryland Parkway
—Salt Lake City's Midvalley Express
—San Bernardino's West Valley Connector
—Atlanta, south of downtown
—Baton Rouge, along the Plank-Nicholson route
—Houston, along Scott Street
—Las Vegas, along Maryland Parkway
—Salt Lake City's Midvalley Express
—San Bernardino's West Valley Connector
January 1, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Bus rapid transit routes, or at least improved bus services, are opening in:
—Atlanta, south of downtown
—Baton Rouge, along the Plank-Nicholson route
—Houston, along Scott Street
—Las Vegas, along Maryland Parkway
—Salt Lake City's Midvalley Express
—San Bernardino's West Valley Connector
—Atlanta, south of downtown
—Baton Rouge, along the Plank-Nicholson route
—Houston, along Scott Street
—Las Vegas, along Maryland Parkway
—Salt Lake City's Midvalley Express
—San Bernardino's West Valley Connector
Light rail & streetcar lines opening:
—Kansas City's streetcar to the riverfront.
—Orange County's first streetcar route.
—Ottawa's Line 1 extension to the east.
—St. Louis' train to MidAmerica Airport.
—Seattle's link between the 1 and 2 Lines.
—Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown/Line 5.
—Kansas City's streetcar to the riverfront.
—Orange County's first streetcar route.
—Ottawa's Line 1 extension to the east.
—St. Louis' train to MidAmerica Airport.
—Seattle's link between the 1 and 2 Lines.
—Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown/Line 5.
January 1, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Light rail & streetcar lines opening:
—Kansas City's streetcar to the riverfront.
—Orange County's first streetcar route.
—Ottawa's Line 1 extension to the east.
—St. Louis' train to MidAmerica Airport.
—Seattle's link between the 1 and 2 Lines.
—Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown/Line 5.
—Kansas City's streetcar to the riverfront.
—Orange County's first streetcar route.
—Ottawa's Line 1 extension to the east.
—St. Louis' train to MidAmerica Airport.
—Seattle's link between the 1 and 2 Lines.
—Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown/Line 5.
New metro lines are coming to Los Angeles, Monterrey, and Montréal.
—LA's getting a 3-station extension of its D Line as well as the LAX airport automated people mover.
—Monterrey will add new monorail lines.
—Montréal will add a new branch to its automated REM light metro system.
—LA's getting a 3-station extension of its D Line as well as the LAX airport automated people mover.
—Monterrey will add new monorail lines.
—Montréal will add a new branch to its automated REM light metro system.
January 1, 2026 at 11:36 AM
New metro lines are coming to Los Angeles, Monterrey, and Montréal.
—LA's getting a 3-station extension of its D Line as well as the LAX airport automated people mover.
—Monterrey will add new monorail lines.
—Montréal will add a new branch to its automated REM light metro system.
—LA's getting a 3-station extension of its D Line as well as the LAX airport automated people mover.
—Monterrey will add new monorail lines.
—Montréal will add a new branch to its automated REM light metro system.
New paper on rezoning in NYC finds that upzoning is associated with:
—Greater housing supply: ~+4%
—More moves by incumbent residents out of upzoned areas, though not displaced to lower-income areas
—More moves in by residents from slightly higher-income areas
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
—Greater housing supply: ~+4%
—More moves by incumbent residents out of upzoned areas, though not displaced to lower-income areas
—More moves in by residents from slightly higher-income areas
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
New paper on rezoning in NYC finds that upzoning is associated with:
—Greater housing supply: ~+4%
—More moves by incumbent residents out of upzoned areas, though not displaced to lower-income areas
—More moves in by residents from slightly higher-income areas
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
—Greater housing supply: ~+4%
—More moves by incumbent residents out of upzoned areas, though not displaced to lower-income areas
—More moves in by residents from slightly higher-income areas
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Even before the new tram line opened, Montpellier was doing a great job getting people to ride—it carried 110 million riders in 2024, up 33% from 2019.
The urban area's per-capita ridership is 5th highest in France, and higher than any US urban area's, even NYC's.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
The urban area's per-capita ridership is 5th highest in France, and higher than any US urban area's, even NYC's.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
December 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Even before the new tram line opened, Montpellier was doing a great job getting people to ride—it carried 110 million riders in 2024, up 33% from 2019.
The urban area's per-capita ridership is 5th highest in France, and higher than any US urban area's, even NYC's.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
The urban area's per-capita ridership is 5th highest in France, and higher than any US urban area's, even NYC's.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
Montpellier FR began service on Tram 5 this past weekend. The 17.5 km line includes 11 km of new infrastructure as well as the creation of two major squares; the project cost €440 million, so roughly €65 m/mile. It's expected to serve 80,000 daily riders.
December 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Montpellier FR began service on Tram 5 this past weekend. The 17.5 km line includes 11 km of new infrastructure as well as the creation of two major squares; the project cost €440 million, so roughly €65 m/mile. It's expected to serve 80,000 daily riders.
An important factor at play in the free-fares vs. reduced-fares-for-low-income-people debate: A means-tested program will inevitably result in a large share of eligible people not using it.
The documentation required for NYC fair fares is a hurdle for some people, notably undocumented people.
The documentation required for NYC fair fares is a hurdle for some people, notably undocumented people.
December 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
An important factor at play in the free-fares vs. reduced-fares-for-low-income-people debate: A means-tested program will inevitably result in a large share of eligible people not using it.
The documentation required for NYC fair fares is a hurdle for some people, notably undocumented people.
The documentation required for NYC fair fares is a hurdle for some people, notably undocumented people.
Why do we need to do something to help make TOD possible?
Unfortunately, housing permitting is declining almost everywhere around the US. That's especially true in the Puget Sound (Seattle region), which is the focus of our study. There, permitting is down about 50% since 2022!
Unfortunately, housing permitting is declining almost everywhere around the US. That's especially true in the Puget Sound (Seattle region), which is the focus of our study. There, permitting is down about 50% since 2022!
December 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Why do we need to do something to help make TOD possible?
Unfortunately, housing permitting is declining almost everywhere around the US. That's especially true in the Puget Sound (Seattle region), which is the focus of our study. There, permitting is down about 50% since 2022!
Unfortunately, housing permitting is declining almost everywhere around the US. That's especially true in the Puget Sound (Seattle region), which is the focus of our study. There, permitting is down about 50% since 2022!
One element I find interesting: Whether states or provinces mandate that localities implement a minimum density standard, or an >average<.
This makes a potentially big difference, because averaging theoretically allows localities to play the system and not do much on actually allowing TOD.
This makes a potentially big difference, because averaging theoretically allows localities to play the system and not do much on actually allowing TOD.
December 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
One element I find interesting: Whether states or provinces mandate that localities implement a minimum density standard, or an >average<.
This makes a potentially big difference, because averaging theoretically allows localities to play the system and not do much on actually allowing TOD.
This makes a potentially big difference, because averaging theoretically allows localities to play the system and not do much on actually allowing TOD.
What’s exciting is that housing development is already increasingly located near transit!
In every US state, housing growth was relatively faster near rail lines between 2010 and 2020 than it was between 2000 to 2010, when controlling for state growth patterns.
In every US state, housing growth was relatively faster near rail lines between 2010 and 2020 than it was between 2000 to 2010, when controlling for state growth patterns.
December 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
What’s exciting is that housing development is already increasingly located near transit!
In every US state, housing growth was relatively faster near rail lines between 2010 and 2020 than it was between 2000 to 2010, when controlling for state growth patterns.
In every US state, housing growth was relatively faster near rail lines between 2010 and 2020 than it was between 2000 to 2010, when controlling for state growth patterns.
The Paris C1 line—the region’s first aerial tram—will open for service tomorrow in suburban Créteil. The €125 million line will extend 4.5 km and service 5 stations www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en/le-reseau...
December 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The Paris C1 line—the region’s first aerial tram—will open for service tomorrow in suburban Créteil. The €125 million line will extend 4.5 km and service 5 stations www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en/le-reseau...
Most members of the board that manages transit in the Twin Cities—the Met Council—rarely actually use transit, a story that’s all too familiar around the nation.
8 of 17 members never rode over the last year. 2 others took just 1 trip each.
www.msn.com/en-us/autos/...
8 of 17 members never rode over the last year. 2 others took just 1 trip each.
www.msn.com/en-us/autos/...
December 10, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Most members of the board that manages transit in the Twin Cities—the Met Council—rarely actually use transit, a story that’s all too familiar around the nation.
8 of 17 members never rode over the last year. 2 others took just 1 trip each.
www.msn.com/en-us/autos/...
8 of 17 members never rode over the last year. 2 others took just 1 trip each.
www.msn.com/en-us/autos/...
Since 2000, London has added more than 1.9 million residents (+26%), but the number of vehicle miles driven has declined by 10%; it's declined most spectacularly in the center.
Outside of London, vehicle miles traveled have increased rapidly over the same period. content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-lo...
Outside of London, vehicle miles traveled have increased rapidly over the same period. content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-lo...
December 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Since 2000, London has added more than 1.9 million residents (+26%), but the number of vehicle miles driven has declined by 10%; it's declined most spectacularly in the center.
Outside of London, vehicle miles traveled have increased rapidly over the same period. content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-lo...
Outside of London, vehicle miles traveled have increased rapidly over the same period. content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-lo...
Minneapolis’ E Line improved bus service, linking downtown with Uptown and suburban Edina, opened yesterday
December 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Minneapolis’ E Line improved bus service, linking downtown with Uptown and suburban Edina, opened yesterday
Seattle’s Link light rail system expanded to the south by three new stations today, now reaching Federal Way! The 8-mile project follows I-5 on an elevated & at-grade alignment, and cost $2.5 billion to build. Link 1 Line is now 41 miles long.
December 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Seattle’s Link light rail system expanded to the south by three new stations today, now reaching Federal Way! The 8-mile project follows I-5 on an elevated & at-grade alignment, and cost $2.5 billion to build. Link 1 Line is now 41 miles long.
The second element—requiring the Dulles airport redevelopment to be "traditional and classical" is pretty funny if you've ever seen the main terminal
December 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The second element—requiring the Dulles airport redevelopment to be "traditional and classical" is pretty funny if you've ever seen the main terminal
Just to harp on this a bit more, when you need this key on your map, something’s gone very wrong (who even understands the difference between “stop” and “station”?).
Also—some of the station numbers are shared between lines???? E.g. Angle Lake and Downtown Redmond have the same number?
Also—some of the station numbers are shared between lines???? E.g. Angle Lake and Downtown Redmond have the same number?
December 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Just to harp on this a bit more, when you need this key on your map, something’s gone very wrong (who even understands the difference between “stop” and “station”?).
Also—some of the station numbers are shared between lines???? E.g. Angle Lake and Downtown Redmond have the same number?
Also—some of the station numbers are shared between lines???? E.g. Angle Lake and Downtown Redmond have the same number?
Chicago engaged in decades of downzoning, beginning in the 1970s. It also passed historical preservation ordinances that had the same effect.
These downzonings affected many parts of the city, but were especially concentrated in the city's North Side, where demand to live was strongest.
These downzonings affected many parts of the city, but were especially concentrated in the city's North Side, where demand to live was strongest.
December 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Chicago engaged in decades of downzoning, beginning in the 1970s. It also passed historical preservation ordinances that had the same effect.
These downzonings affected many parts of the city, but were especially concentrated in the city's North Side, where demand to live was strongest.
These downzonings affected many parts of the city, but were especially concentrated in the city's North Side, where demand to live was strongest.
These maps of major metropolitan areas show striking differences in tax bases in areas close to one another www.taxbasefragmentation.net/home :
—Compare the north vs south shore of Nassau County
—Coastal vs inland Miami
—Inglewood vs El Segundo
—East Palo Alto vs everything around it
—Compare the north vs south shore of Nassau County
—Coastal vs inland Miami
—Inglewood vs El Segundo
—East Palo Alto vs everything around it
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
These maps of major metropolitan areas show striking differences in tax bases in areas close to one another www.taxbasefragmentation.net/home :
—Compare the north vs south shore of Nassau County
—Coastal vs inland Miami
—Inglewood vs El Segundo
—East Palo Alto vs everything around it
—Compare the north vs south shore of Nassau County
—Coastal vs inland Miami
—Inglewood vs El Segundo
—East Palo Alto vs everything around it