Chris Livett
@chrislivett.bsky.social
Transportation Planner since 2007
Reposted by Chris Livett
Caltrain's electric trains run faster and smoother - and people LOVE it. Make service better, and riders will come, which means more people will vote to support transit.
We love good news! 🤭
Survey Says: Riders Love Caltrain! Read more: https://www.caltrain.com/news/survey-says-riders-love-caltrain.
Survey Says: Riders Love Caltrain! Read more: https://www.caltrain.com/news/survey-says-riders-love-caltrain.
Survey Says: Riders Love Caltrain | Caltrain
2025 Customer Satisfaction Survey shows widespread exuberance over electric service
www.caltrain.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Caltrain's electric trains run faster and smoother - and people LOVE it. Make service better, and riders will come, which means more people will vote to support transit.
Reposted by Chris Livett
I've done something that I don't do very often. I wrote a short, quick polemic post. It was prompted by a discussion in here.
It's about why I'm still skeptical about ALTO's HSR project and why there is no way around transparency in public projects.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
It's about why I'm still skeptical about ALTO's HSR project and why there is no way around transparency in public projects.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Why I’m still skeptical about ALTO’s HSR project
A reality check and a plea for transparency.
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I've done something that I don't do very often. I wrote a short, quick polemic post. It was prompted by a discussion in here.
It's about why I'm still skeptical about ALTO's HSR project and why there is no way around transparency in public projects.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
It's about why I'm still skeptical about ALTO's HSR project and why there is no way around transparency in public projects.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Reposted by Chris Livett
An Air Canada flight right now
November 2, 2025 at 1:38 AM
An Air Canada flight right now
Reposted by Chris Livett
Around 15 years ago, I was arguing that this a terrible design and it shouldn’t be built. Now they’re shutting it down. Hate to be proven right this way! Listen to the technical transit advocates – they are always right, even if you are too allistic to see it.
October 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Around 15 years ago, I was arguing that this a terrible design and it shouldn’t be built. Now they’re shutting it down. Hate to be proven right this way! Listen to the technical transit advocates – they are always right, even if you are too allistic to see it.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Happy to have written this with Reece and Narayan. There are more details to this but the point is that Spadina can be so much better with a little political will.
A piece in the Star today along with Jonathan English and Narayan Donaldson on fixing the very slow, but very high potential Spadina streetcar.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
This is how we fix the terminally slow Spadina streetcar
We don't have to spend billions to fix one of Toronto's most important transit routes.
www.thestar.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Happy to have written this with Reece and Narayan. There are more details to this but the point is that Spadina can be so much better with a little political will.
Reposted by Chris Livett
A piece in the Star today along with Jonathan English and Narayan Donaldson on fixing the very slow, but very high potential Spadina streetcar.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
This is how we fix the terminally slow Spadina streetcar
We don't have to spend billions to fix one of Toronto's most important transit routes.
www.thestar.com
September 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
A piece in the Star today along with Jonathan English and Narayan Donaldson on fixing the very slow, but very high potential Spadina streetcar.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Chris Livett
Update: Civil War cancelled due to shooter being demographically uncooperative
September 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Update: Civil War cancelled due to shooter being demographically uncooperative
Reposted by Chris Livett
ΣΠΑΠ – Peloponnese Netzgrafik 1962
Something I’d never seen before and I didn’t expect to see.
⚪️ Standard trains
🔴 Fast trains
🟢 Local and steam trains
🔵 Car-ferries
A really inclusive timetable, aiming for the passenger’s information
Source: gwrarchive.org/site/sitel2p...
Something I’d never seen before and I didn’t expect to see.
⚪️ Standard trains
🔴 Fast trains
🟢 Local and steam trains
🔵 Car-ferries
A really inclusive timetable, aiming for the passenger’s information
Source: gwrarchive.org/site/sitel2p...
August 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
ΣΠΑΠ – Peloponnese Netzgrafik 1962
Something I’d never seen before and I didn’t expect to see.
⚪️ Standard trains
🔴 Fast trains
🟢 Local and steam trains
🔵 Car-ferries
A really inclusive timetable, aiming for the passenger’s information
Source: gwrarchive.org/site/sitel2p...
Something I’d never seen before and I didn’t expect to see.
⚪️ Standard trains
🔴 Fast trains
🟢 Local and steam trains
🔵 Car-ferries
A really inclusive timetable, aiming for the passenger’s information
Source: gwrarchive.org/site/sitel2p...
Reposted by Chris Livett
Moving the Kitchener Hospital from a site directly next to light rail to a location 1 km away will reduce transit ridership so many times more than a few condos near stations. We are wayyyyy too residential focused for TOD.
August 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Moving the Kitchener Hospital from a site directly next to light rail to a location 1 km away will reduce transit ridership so many times more than a few condos near stations. We are wayyyyy too residential focused for TOD.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Santiago de Chile has an ongoing expansion program for its metro that will add 75 (seventy-five!!) km to its network by 2033 for 7.3 billion USD.
It's like adding more than a second métro of Montréal-worth for 50% more of the projected cost of adding 6km to the blue line.
It's like adding more than a second métro of Montréal-worth for 50% more of the projected cost of adding 6km to the blue line.
August 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Santiago de Chile has an ongoing expansion program for its metro that will add 75 (seventy-five!!) km to its network by 2033 for 7.3 billion USD.
It's like adding more than a second métro of Montréal-worth for 50% more of the projected cost of adding 6km to the blue line.
It's like adding more than a second métro of Montréal-worth for 50% more of the projected cost of adding 6km to the blue line.
Reposted by Chris Livett
A few weeks ago my life changed suddenly when an unleashed dog running in a park crashed into with my ankle
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Toronto man calls for better enforcement of off-leash dogs after crash sends him to hospital | CBC News
A Toronto man is on the hunt for his unleashed four-legged attacker and its owner after a crash in Christie Pits Park on July 6 left him with a fractured ankle.
www.cbc.ca
August 1, 2025 at 12:37 AM
A few weeks ago my life changed suddenly when an unleashed dog running in a park crashed into with my ankle
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
A few weeks ago my life changed suddenly when an unleashed dog running in a park crashed into with my ankle
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Toronto man calls for better enforcement of off-leash dogs after crash sends him to hospital | CBC News
A Toronto man is on the hunt for his unleashed four-legged attacker and its owner after a crash in Christie Pits Park on July 6 left him with a fractured ankle.
www.cbc.ca
August 1, 2025 at 12:37 AM
A few weeks ago my life changed suddenly when an unleashed dog running in a park crashed into with my ankle
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Article: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Video: www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Since then, I can’t believe how many similar stories I’ve heard. Clearly, off-leash dogs are a real threat to safety
Reposted by Chris Livett
Helsinki hasn't had a traffic fatality in a year: "Helsinki's current traffic safety strategy, covering 2022–2026, is nearing completion. It has focused on improving safety for children, youth, pedestrians and cyclists with safer crosswalks and smarter intersection design."
Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death
A city traffic engineer credits the success to lower speed limits and smarter design.
yle.fi
July 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Helsinki hasn't had a traffic fatality in a year: "Helsinki's current traffic safety strategy, covering 2022–2026, is nearing completion. It has focused on improving safety for children, youth, pedestrians and cyclists with safer crosswalks and smarter intersection design."
Reposted by Chris Livett
~150000 daily drivers on the Gardiner stuck in congestion - politicians at all levels leap into action to accelerate construction and fall over each other to talk solutions, a million daily subway riders trapped in slow zones . . . Almost nothing from our politicians.
July 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
~150000 daily drivers on the Gardiner stuck in congestion - politicians at all levels leap into action to accelerate construction and fall over each other to talk solutions, a million daily subway riders trapped in slow zones . . . Almost nothing from our politicians.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Supply and demand isn’t something you can “ignore”. If a seller tries to demand a price far above the market price, it just won’t sell.
Developers and landlords don’t have this mystical power to demand whatever amount they want. It only seems like that if you live in a tight housing market.
Developers and landlords don’t have this mystical power to demand whatever amount they want. It only seems like that if you live in a tight housing market.
it's really weird how some people
just flat out refuse to believe developers
and corporate landlords will often ignore
the "law" of supply-and-demand.
just flat out refuse to believe developers
and corporate landlords will often ignore
the "law" of supply-and-demand.
June 30, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Supply and demand isn’t something you can “ignore”. If a seller tries to demand a price far above the market price, it just won’t sell.
Developers and landlords don’t have this mystical power to demand whatever amount they want. It only seems like that if you live in a tight housing market.
Developers and landlords don’t have this mystical power to demand whatever amount they want. It only seems like that if you live in a tight housing market.
Reposted by Chris Livett
The US is unusual in believing that nonsensical boundaries, like those of the City of Los Angeles, are as permanent as mountains.
Britain revises the boundaries of 1000-year old shires whenever they stop making sense.
Britain revises the boundaries of 1000-year old shires whenever they stop making sense.
June 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The US is unusual in believing that nonsensical boundaries, like those of the City of Los Angeles, are as permanent as mountains.
Britain revises the boundaries of 1000-year old shires whenever they stop making sense.
Britain revises the boundaries of 1000-year old shires whenever they stop making sense.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Great column. If you include Hamilton and Niagara, the population south of the GTA is approximately the same as Alberta. Yet we never discuss the economic powerhouse that is Southern Ontario and have no plan for how to improve any aspect of it.
My column this week: the grim reality of getting around in southern Ontario. Recently a bright future, there’s the catastrophic failure of Deutsche Bahn, lack of metrolinx ambition, no leadership from Ford & silly distractions w tunnels & bike lane attacks. Ford to city: enjoy the traffic.
Shawn Micallef: How Doug Ford and Metrolinx dimmed Toronto’s once-bright transit future
Neither the provincial transit agency nor its political boss has given any sign they want to transform the system so it works as good as the world’s best.
www.thestar.com
June 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Great column. If you include Hamilton and Niagara, the population south of the GTA is approximately the same as Alberta. Yet we never discuss the economic powerhouse that is Southern Ontario and have no plan for how to improve any aspect of it.
The key part of the GO Expansion/RER project is to turn train schedules like the one on the left into the one on the right
Regular 15-min or better service, 7 days a week
This is a service that’s attractive to both existing and potential riders
Regular 15-min or better service, 7 days a week
This is a service that’s attractive to both existing and potential riders
Melbourne and Sydney are cities of similar population. Compare almost any two railway stations and you'll find Sydney has more train services at most times of the week - especially on weekends and evenings when more and more people want to travel. It's time we caught up.
June 20, 2025 at 12:53 AM
The key part of the GO Expansion/RER project is to turn train schedules like the one on the left into the one on the right
Regular 15-min or better service, 7 days a week
This is a service that’s attractive to both existing and potential riders
Regular 15-min or better service, 7 days a week
This is a service that’s attractive to both existing and potential riders
Reposted by Chris Livett
well at least you didn't try
June 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
well at least you didn't try
Reposted by Chris Livett
And English was a great asset to the Toronto Board of Trade who ignored his (and others) policy work there and instead are happy to cheer on Doug Fords 401 Tunnel and other non-problem-solving politcs.
Last comment: The fact that Jonathan English who has now written up *two* coherent regional rail plans (arguably two more than Metrolinx) and released them to the public isn't running Metrolinx is crazy. I think that neither feature "GO" branding is interesting.
urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/07...
urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/07...
June 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
And English was a great asset to the Toronto Board of Trade who ignored his (and others) policy work there and instead are happy to cheer on Doug Fords 401 Tunnel and other non-problem-solving politcs.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Last comment: The fact that Jonathan English who has now written up *two* coherent regional rail plans (arguably two more than Metrolinx) and released them to the public isn't running Metrolinx is crazy. I think that neither feature "GO" branding is interesting.
urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/07...
urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/07...
June 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Last comment: The fact that Jonathan English who has now written up *two* coherent regional rail plans (arguably two more than Metrolinx) and released them to the public isn't running Metrolinx is crazy. I think that neither feature "GO" branding is interesting.
urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/07...
urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/07...
Reposted by Chris Livett
Union Station’s train shed should be removed or relocated. It’s outdated, unloved, and constraining transit in a major global city. Ironically, Doug Ford could pull it off with no political cost. Heritage matters—but not at the expense of mobility.
nexttoronto.substack.com/p/the-union-... #Metrolinx
nexttoronto.substack.com/p/the-union-... #Metrolinx
The Union Station Train Shed Should Go.
A historical structure that hurts Toronto.
nexttoronto.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Union Station’s train shed should be removed or relocated. It’s outdated, unloved, and constraining transit in a major global city. Ironically, Doug Ford could pull it off with no political cost. Heritage matters—but not at the expense of mobility.
nexttoronto.substack.com/p/the-union-... #Metrolinx
nexttoronto.substack.com/p/the-union-... #Metrolinx
Reposted by Chris Livett
Just asked a California transit manager if the state's Zero Emission Bus mandate is causing them to run less service than they otherwise would.
He said: "Yes, definitely."
A diesel bus only has to get 4 ppl out of cars to be better for the planet than an electric bus.
Hmm.
He said: "Yes, definitely."
A diesel bus only has to get 4 ppl out of cars to be better for the planet than an electric bus.
Hmm.
May 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Just asked a California transit manager if the state's Zero Emission Bus mandate is causing them to run less service than they otherwise would.
He said: "Yes, definitely."
A diesel bus only has to get 4 ppl out of cars to be better for the planet than an electric bus.
Hmm.
He said: "Yes, definitely."
A diesel bus only has to get 4 ppl out of cars to be better for the planet than an electric bus.
Hmm.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Toronto currently doesn't allow their transit priority system to insert a transit phase for streetcars going straight, even though the system is able to. Streetcars need to wait for left turns.
If the City also disallows phase insertion on LRT lines that would be an insult to ON taxpayers.
If the City also disallows phase insertion on LRT lines that would be an insult to ON taxpayers.
Ever sat in a streetcar, stuck at a red light, while cars turning left zoom past? Now imagine that happening on the brand-new Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRT lines that cost billions of dollars.
April 8, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Toronto currently doesn't allow their transit priority system to insert a transit phase for streetcars going straight, even though the system is able to. Streetcars need to wait for left turns.
If the City also disallows phase insertion on LRT lines that would be an insult to ON taxpayers.
If the City also disallows phase insertion on LRT lines that would be an insult to ON taxpayers.
Reposted by Chris Livett
Really proud to have written a piece in the Globe and Mail with @wklumpen.bsky.social about why investing in transit is a great approach to soften the blow of the trade war!
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: Canada’s real comparative advantage is public transit. That should be our trade-war strategy
This country stands head-and-shoulders above the United States when it comes to urban transportation, and the trade war offers a powerful opportunity
www.theglobeandmail.com
April 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Really proud to have written a piece in the Globe and Mail with @wklumpen.bsky.social about why investing in transit is a great approach to soften the blow of the trade war!
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...