Charlie Hamilton
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chas.us
Charlie Hamilton
@chas.us
Web Developer, Manager, Writer, Trainer, and Rail Advocate. Mostly at https://rail.chat/@chas
I joined some friends on September 5, 1977 to see the launch of Voyager 1 in person -- a tremendous experience! On November 13, 2026, Voyager will be a light-day away. www.iflscience.com/on-november-... How time flies!
On November 13, 2026, A Human-Made Object Will Reach One Light-Day From The Earth For The First Time In History
It took the spacecraft nearly five decades to get there. It takes light a day.
www.iflscience.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
1. Funds were not always used effectively.
2. The law did not always result in less funding for polluting projects.
3. Many IIJA programs reinforced existing inequities by rewarding jurisdictions with greater preexisting resources.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/r...
The Reauthorization of Federal Transportation Programs Offers Policymakers an Opportunity to Improve Effectiveness, Environmental Sustainability, and Access
Federal policymakers should consider three strategies to guide deliberations around reauthorization and improvement of Americans’ quality of life.
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"Congratulations! Your ballot has been counted." Good news in a tight election.
November 8, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
The new train sets are almost halfway to the east coast for testing. AAWA's fundraiser is almost halfway to our goal. Who will get there first? Donate now at aawa.us/support/
October 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Congratulations @nondriver.bsky.social Please let me know how I can help!
October 8, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Looking to connect people? Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." Rail travel benefits the economy, environment, & equity, & is supported by liberals and conservatives. Donate to @aawa.us at www.aawa.us/support/ & @allaboardnw.org at allaboardnw.org/support/
October 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
You can still connect between Amtrak and transit in western Washington during the #WeekWithoutDriving. See the All Aboard Washington website at aawa.us/week-without... for details for 20 cities.
Connect between rail and transit during the Week Without Driving Monday, September 29 – Sunday, October 5, 2025
aawa.us
October 3, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
A rail advocate is anyone who wants to improve passenger rail and is willing to talk to other people including elected officials about jmproving passenger trains. Attend the Pacific Northwest Rail Summit, and learn how you can be a more effective passenger rail advocate. aawa.us/news/posts/r...
Rail Advocates Mobilize for Pacific Northwest Rail Summit, Oct. 15–16 in Portland
Rail advocates from All Aboard Northwest, AORTA, and All Aboard Washington are encouraging members, allies, and community leaders to participate in the Pacific Northwest Rail Summit, October 15–16 at ...
aawa.us
October 3, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
Imagine your life without driving. We are joining organizations across Washington State to celebrate the #WeekWithoutDriving! Will you be participating by #AmtrakCascades or #SounderRail ? Check out our guide to rail and transit connections at www.aawa.us/week-without... Post your stories!
Connect between rail and transit during the Week Without Driving Monday, September 29 – Sunday, October 5, 2025
www.aawa.us
September 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
Finally wrapped up my recap of the 2025 YIMBYtown conference, an event that really seemed to mark a new era for the national pro-housing movement. Plenty of tensions were put on the table for advocates to grapple with.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/27/y...
YIMBYtown 2025 Puts National Momentum for More Housing on Full Display » The Urbanist
# The sixth YIMBYtown conference, held earlier this month in Connecticut, represented a major change from its first iteration in 2016. The factors that have led to YIMBYtown going mainstream are leadi...
www.theurbanist.org
September 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
@aawa.us is encouraging individuals and elected officials to spend the week from Sep 29 – Oct 5 without using cars. To help plan car-free trips, AAWA has created a website at aawa.us/week-without... detailing how to connect between local transit and 20 Amtrak and commuter rail stations.
Connect between rail and transit during the Week Without Driving Monday, September 29 – Sunday, October 5, 2025
aawa.us
September 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
Join us in Portland October 15-17 for the Pacific Northwest Rail Summit, where passenger and freight rail leaders and elected officials will discuss opportunities to improve the shared rail system that spans the Greater Northwest. Details at nwsummit.org. Register now to attend in person or online.
Home
nwsummit.org
September 20, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
@aawa.us is pleased to participate in the #WeekWithoutDriving this year. We'll shortly be posting some suggestions about how you can make connections between 21 Washington state passenger rail stations and local transit. Stay tuned!
September 16, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This song cherylwheeler.com/songs/song/i... was written in 1997, and we're still reposting it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op7a...
If It Were Up To Me - Cheryl Wheeler
YouTube video by Nicole Sandler
www.youtube.com
September 10, 2025 at 9:17 PM
"I don't think the public's semantic reactions to the terminology of imperialism is as bad as you imagine. They seem quite satisfied, now, with the change in the title of your department, from Defense to Aggression."
--H. Beam Piper, Lone Star Planet, 1958
Catching up with dystopian science fiction.
September 6, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Congratulations to Anna Zivarts as being named a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards! www.thestranger.com/books/2025/0... If you haven't read Anna's book When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency yet, hop on a bus or a bike and grab it!
The Washington State Book Awards Announce 2025 Finalists
Wake up, babe, the Washington State Book Awards' list of 2025 finalists just dropped.
www.thestranger.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Congratulations to @nondriver.bsky.social as being named a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards! www.thestranger.com/books/2025/0... If you haven't read Anna's book When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency by Anna Zivarts yet, hop on a bus or a bike and grab it!
The Washington State Book Awards Announce 2025 Finalists
Wake up, babe, the Washington State Book Awards' list of 2025 finalists just dropped.
www.thestranger.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by Charlie Hamilton
The UN postal agency said Tuesday that 25 countries had decided to suspend package deliveries to the United States, as concern grows over the impact of President Donald Trump's looming tariffs.
u.afp.com/SAxm
August 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
You have a choice of social media platforms. I manage a Mastodon instance (hosted outside the US) called rail.chat and there are many others. Please join us.
Rail.chat
Discussing passenger and freight rail, its connections to transit and other non-car options, and the economic, environmental and equity benefits of seamless mobility.
rail.chat
August 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Trolleybus!
August 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
"For four decades, an English professor at San Jose State University has run a fiction contest for a single opening sentence to "the worst of all possible novels." He has decided to retire the contest."
chas.us/blog/still-d...
August 13, 2025 at 12:25 AM