Marco Chitti
@chittimarco.bsky.social
Researcher on urban planning and public transportation.
https://marcochitti.substack.com/
https://marcochitti.substack.com/
Pinned
Marco Chitti
@chittimarco.bsky.social
· Jun 21
It took quite a while, but the paper about the history of high-speed rail planning in Italy that I co-authored with @beriapaolo.bsky.social is finally out!
It's open source, so you can read it at length (it is pretty long),
But here is a TL;DR: 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
It's open source, so you can read it at length (it is pretty long),
But here is a TL;DR: 🧵
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
An interesting fact about fare practices is that there is a partial overlapping with bus boarding practices. Countries with lower multipliers for monthly passes, such as German-speaking countries, Eastern Europe and Italy, generally do multiple-door boarding on a proof-of-payment base.
Pedestrian Observations: Fare Practices pedestrianobservations.com/2025/12/31/f...
With thanks to people who helped populate the table: @joao-paulouro.bsky.social, @borners.bsky.social, @egoldwyn.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, and @etany.org.
With thanks to people who helped populate the table: @joao-paulouro.bsky.social, @borners.bsky.social, @egoldwyn.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, and @etany.org.
Fare Practices
Here’s a table of urban public transport fares for various cities, covering the United States, Canada, parts of Europe, Turkey, and Japan. Included are single fares, multi-ride discounts, day…
pedestrianobservations.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:58 PM
An interesting fact about fare practices is that there is a partial overlapping with bus boarding practices. Countries with lower multipliers for monthly passes, such as German-speaking countries, Eastern Europe and Italy, generally do multiple-door boarding on a proof-of-payment base.
Last tram news of the year: the city of Florence has approved the final design of the 6.1 km extension of its tram network from Libertà to Rovezzano, on the Eastern side of the city. Works are expected to start in June 2026.
youtu.be/zmQ6Wfp2F_g?...
youtu.be/zmQ6Wfp2F_g?...
Tramvia Firenze, ecco come sarà la futura linea 3.2.2 Libertà-Rovezzano
YouTube video by Florence Tv
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Last tram news of the year: the city of Florence has approved the final design of the 6.1 km extension of its tram network from Libertà to Rovezzano, on the Eastern side of the city. Works are expected to start in June 2026.
youtu.be/zmQ6Wfp2F_g?...
youtu.be/zmQ6Wfp2F_g?...
The thing I understood from the "whereIdlive" maps people are posting is that I'm much less of a big city lover than my mutuals in the transit/urbanism community in here.
December 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The thing I understood from the "whereIdlive" maps people are posting is that I'm much less of a big city lover than my mutuals in the transit/urbanism community in here.
Interesting video detailing the 2025 activities of one of the top ten specialized rail contractors in Italy, Salcef. Trackworks, OHLE, concrere sleepers and trackwork equipment manufacturing, but also high-voltage power lines.
youtu.be/ZDB-kWC3a7w?...
youtu.be/ZDB-kWC3a7w?...
Salcef Group | 2025 Year in Review
YouTube video by Salcef Group
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Interesting video detailing the 2025 activities of one of the top ten specialized rail contractors in Italy, Salcef. Trackworks, OHLE, concrere sleepers and trackwork equipment manufacturing, but also high-voltage power lines.
youtu.be/ZDB-kWC3a7w?...
youtu.be/ZDB-kWC3a7w?...
SAFETY FIRST !!!
**(Does not apply when drivers convenience come into the equation. In that case we can add a deadly lateral slope to sidewalks for a smooth driveway cut)**
**(Does not apply when drivers convenience come into the equation. In that case we can add a deadly lateral slope to sidewalks for a smooth driveway cut)**
December 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
SAFETY FIRST !!!
**(Does not apply when drivers convenience come into the equation. In that case we can add a deadly lateral slope to sidewalks for a smooth driveway cut)**
**(Does not apply when drivers convenience come into the equation. In that case we can add a deadly lateral slope to sidewalks for a smooth driveway cut)**
Webuild has been awarded the contract for the civils of the first 6.5 km, 7-station phase (1A) of Naples metro line 10 for €660 million. The contract includes an option for the subsequent phases of the 14km line whose final cost is estimated at €3.1 bn.
www.webuildgroup.com/it/media/com...
www.webuildgroup.com/it/media/com...
December 29, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Webuild has been awarded the contract for the civils of the first 6.5 km, 7-station phase (1A) of Naples metro line 10 for €660 million. The contract includes an option for the subsequent phases of the 14km line whose final cost is estimated at €3.1 bn.
www.webuildgroup.com/it/media/com...
www.webuildgroup.com/it/media/com...
POV: to simultaneously remain without drinking water and electricity during the same day.
December 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
POV: to simultaneously remain without drinking water and electricity during the same day.
Removing ice manually must be one of the most intense physical activity out there.
December 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Removing ice manually must be one of the most intense physical activity out there.
🧠: gondolas for ski
🧠🧠: gondolas for urban transit
🧠🧠🧠🤯: gondolas for apples
The gondola connecting the central treatment hub of the largest apple producers consortium in Italy to the underground storage facility.
Opened last November.
🧠🧠: gondolas for urban transit
🧠🧠🧠🤯: gondolas for apples
The gondola connecting the central treatment hub of the largest apple producers consortium in Italy to the underground storage facility.
Opened last November.
December 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
🧠: gondolas for ski
🧠🧠: gondolas for urban transit
🧠🧠🧠🤯: gondolas for apples
The gondola connecting the central treatment hub of the largest apple producers consortium in Italy to the underground storage facility.
Opened last November.
🧠🧠: gondolas for urban transit
🧠🧠🧠🤯: gondolas for apples
The gondola connecting the central treatment hub of the largest apple producers consortium in Italy to the underground storage facility.
Opened last November.
Reposted by Marco Chitti
Honestly wasn't expecting the 2022 Surrey-Langley Skytrain Extension Capital Cost Memo to remind me of the Epstein Files
surreylangleyskytrain.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/...
surreylangleyskytrain.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/...
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Honestly wasn't expecting the 2022 Surrey-Langley Skytrain Extension Capital Cost Memo to remind me of the Epstein Files
surreylangleyskytrain.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/...
surreylangleyskytrain.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/...
Madrid is burying and capping yet another portion of its urban highways, putting a linear park on top.
Meanwhile, we leave them as they are or do "highway to urban boulevards" (aka landscaped stroads) because we forgot how to bury things.
youtube.com/shorts/tLSkJ...
Meanwhile, we leave them as they are or do "highway to urban boulevards" (aka landscaped stroads) because we forgot how to bury things.
youtube.com/shorts/tLSkJ...
🚧 Gran avance en el soterramiento de la A-5 en Madrid: comienza una nueva fase clave
YouTube video by Ayuntamiento de Madrid
youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Madrid is burying and capping yet another portion of its urban highways, putting a linear park on top.
Meanwhile, we leave them as they are or do "highway to urban boulevards" (aka landscaped stroads) because we forgot how to bury things.
youtube.com/shorts/tLSkJ...
Meanwhile, we leave them as they are or do "highway to urban boulevards" (aka landscaped stroads) because we forgot how to bury things.
youtube.com/shorts/tLSkJ...
That's quite the chart of the % of new starts by type in greater Montréal since 2000. More and more a metro area of apartments.
From the new Metropolitan plan PMAD.
cmm.qc.ca/wp-content/u...
From the new Metropolitan plan PMAD.
cmm.qc.ca/wp-content/u...
December 20, 2025 at 10:59 PM
That's quite the chart of the % of new starts by type in greater Montréal since 2000. More and more a metro area of apartments.
From the new Metropolitan plan PMAD.
cmm.qc.ca/wp-content/u...
From the new Metropolitan plan PMAD.
cmm.qc.ca/wp-content/u...
This is exactly what happens in large infrastructure projects and ends up driving costs: many times, institutional arrangements determine the perimeter of what is technically possible.
I'm pretty sure ALTO's alignment choice will offer a great example of how institutions shapes the material world
I'm pretty sure ALTO's alignment choice will offer a great example of how institutions shapes the material world
This is to say: had this merger happened a few years ago, the capacity pressure that required bulldozing housing in the first place would not have existed.
It's incredible what re-configuring institutional incentives can do to the material world.
It's incredible what re-configuring institutional incentives can do to the material world.
December 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This is exactly what happens in large infrastructure projects and ends up driving costs: many times, institutional arrangements determine the perimeter of what is technically possible.
I'm pretty sure ALTO's alignment choice will offer a great example of how institutions shapes the material world
I'm pretty sure ALTO's alignment choice will offer a great example of how institutions shapes the material world
Reposted by Marco Chitti
This is to say: had this merger happened a few years ago, the capacity pressure that required bulldozing housing in the first place would not have existed.
It's incredible what re-configuring institutional incentives can do to the material world.
It's incredible what re-configuring institutional incentives can do to the material world.
December 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This is to say: had this merger happened a few years ago, the capacity pressure that required bulldozing housing in the first place would not have existed.
It's incredible what re-configuring institutional incentives can do to the material world.
It's incredible what re-configuring institutional incentives can do to the material world.
Without going into the exotic perfection of the Nordics, that's exactly what Italy does, too.
AFAICT, pre-filled tax declarations for people on a payroll are the norm in most of Europe nowadays.
AFAICT, pre-filled tax declarations for people on a payroll are the norm in most of Europe nowadays.
December 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Without going into the exotic perfection of the Nordics, that's exactly what Italy does, too.
AFAICT, pre-filled tax declarations for people on a payroll are the norm in most of Europe nowadays.
AFAICT, pre-filled tax declarations for people on a payroll are the norm in most of Europe nowadays.
Today Montpellier inaugurated its 5th tram line, bringing the network to 83 km. The first line was opened in 2000.
The network has grown highly interlined, with multiple trunks crossing the central area.
The network has grown highly interlined, with multiple trunks crossing the central area.
December 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today Montpellier inaugurated its 5th tram line, bringing the network to 83 km. The first line was opened in 2000.
The network has grown highly interlined, with multiple trunks crossing the central area.
The network has grown highly interlined, with multiple trunks crossing the central area.
Epstein Files 🤝 FOIA for a Canadian infrastructure projects' cost estimates.
December 19, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Epstein Files 🤝 FOIA for a Canadian infrastructure projects' cost estimates.
I guess keeping all these electric cables outside is a good idea right?
This happens 2-3 times per year, at least.
This happens 2-3 times per year, at least.
December 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I guess keeping all these electric cables outside is a good idea right?
This happens 2-3 times per year, at least.
This happens 2-3 times per year, at least.
Reposted by Marco Chitti
Tout est en ligne sur leur site internet : www.cerema.fr/fr/actualite...
Carrefours cyclables en milieu urbain: les règles de conception
1/ La règle d’or : proposer des trajets cyclables crédibles, respectant les règles sur les rayons de courbure des trajectoiresLa règle d’or pour tous les projets de carrefour est la crédibilité des tr...
www.cerema.fr
December 19, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Tout est en ligne sur leur site internet : www.cerema.fr/fr/actualite...
Reposted by Marco Chitti
Le #CEREMA vient de publier un dossier spécial "Carrefours cyclables en milieu urbain : les règles de conception". On y trouve les clés pour réussir un aménagement qui a toutes les chances de bien fonctionner. N'hésitez pas à l'utiliser. Avec un exemple à Clermont Ferrand ;) @cerema.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Le #CEREMA vient de publier un dossier spécial "Carrefours cyclables en milieu urbain : les règles de conception". On y trouve les clés pour réussir un aménagement qui a toutes les chances de bien fonctionner. N'hésitez pas à l'utiliser. Avec un exemple à Clermont Ferrand ;) @cerema.bsky.social
Speed Matters.
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Speed matters
Of time, life and space. Or why transit speed matters.
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Speed Matters.
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Does "running times optimism" also exist for grade-segregated transit? If you look at REM, the answer is not as much as for street-running projects like Finch West.
D-M -> Canora
2016 ridership study = 27 min
current scheduled = 29'
D-M -> Gare C.le
2016 = 32' (w/o McGill & E-M)
current = 37'
D-M -> Canora
2016 ridership study = 27 min
current scheduled = 29'
D-M -> Gare C.le
2016 = 32' (w/o McGill & E-M)
current = 37'
December 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Does "running times optimism" also exist for grade-segregated transit? If you look at REM, the answer is not as much as for street-running projects like Finch West.
D-M -> Canora
2016 ridership study = 27 min
current scheduled = 29'
D-M -> Gare C.le
2016 = 32' (w/o McGill & E-M)
current = 37'
D-M -> Canora
2016 ridership study = 27 min
current scheduled = 29'
D-M -> Gare C.le
2016 = 32' (w/o McGill & E-M)
current = 37'
From Today, Rome's metro will be slightly less underbuilt: the two-station segment between San Giovanni and Colosseo-Fori Inperiali just opened, increasing by a round 50% the number of connections in the network (from 2 to 3 😁), giving Rome a partial "Soviet Triangle"
Pics from various sources.
Pics from various sources.
December 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
From Today, Rome's metro will be slightly less underbuilt: the two-station segment between San Giovanni and Colosseo-Fori Inperiali just opened, increasing by a round 50% the number of connections in the network (from 2 to 3 😁), giving Rome a partial "Soviet Triangle"
Pics from various sources.
Pics from various sources.
Montréal, 2025: on doit interrompre la voie réservée en rive pour permettre tous les virages à droite
France, 1972: il est opportun d'interdire le virage à droite lorsque ils existent des trajets parallèles. C'est très efficace!
France, 1972: il est opportun d'interdire le virage à droite lorsque ils existent des trajets parallèles. C'est très efficace!
December 16, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Montréal, 2025: on doit interrompre la voie réservée en rive pour permettre tous les virages à droite
France, 1972: il est opportun d'interdire le virage à droite lorsque ils existent des trajets parallèles. C'est très efficace!
France, 1972: il est opportun d'interdire le virage à droite lorsque ils existent des trajets parallèles. C'est très efficace!