JackTatt 🇨🇦
@jacktatttran.bsky.social
MASc. Graduate from UofT CivMin who researched public transport fare and service integration @TAL_UofT.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Pinned
Up now: speeding up the very slow Finch West LRT and other surface transit routes. Councillor Bravo asks what speed limits have been set for the Finch vehicles. Staff say top vehicle speeds are generally capped at 60 km/h, with 25 km/h limits when approaching stops or going through intersections.
The 25km/hr intersection speed limit makes no sense and is too low. These are suburban multilane traffic-light controlled intersections. Trams should travel at near full speed through them just as general car traffic does.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
rest easy nala :(
January 4, 2026 at 4:09 AM
rest easy nala :(
I don’t know if Mpls is different, but other transit fare cards go negative as part of a “last trip” feature where you can finish a trip even if it brings your balance below $0 before it gets blocked from further travel. Then you can reload the card to continue using it after you reach destination.
Hey Mpls transit nerds
How can a go-to card with years before expiration end up with a negative balance on it?
How can a go-to card with years before expiration end up with a negative balance on it?
January 4, 2026 at 3:01 AM
I don’t know if Mpls is different, but other transit fare cards go negative as part of a “last trip” feature where you can finish a trip even if it brings your balance below $0 before it gets blocked from further travel. Then you can reload the card to continue using it after you reach destination.
Sorry but I hope the #EglintonEast LRT is NOT built. An at-grade fully median LRT would not deliver worthwhile travel time improvements over the existing curb bus lanes for the 903 and potential lanes for Sheppard East. Median BRT with aggressive TSP could speed it up at higher frequency than LRT.
Everyone who covered Toronto transit politics a decade ago is ripping out their hair right now
For those with short memories, a proposed LRT was seen as a grievous insult and the residents of Scarborough *deserved* a subway that would — checks notes — take much longer
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
For those with short memories, a proposed LRT was seen as a grievous insult and the residents of Scarborough *deserved* a subway that would — checks notes — take much longer
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Scarborough residents say they're being left out of transit improvements in the city | CBC News
With major transit improvements making progress across Toronto, some Scarborough residents say they’re being left behind.
www.cbc.ca
January 3, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Sorry but I hope the #EglintonEast LRT is NOT built. An at-grade fully median LRT would not deliver worthwhile travel time improvements over the existing curb bus lanes for the 903 and potential lanes for Sheppard East. Median BRT with aggressive TSP could speed it up at higher frequency than LRT.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Incredibly dense bus stop spacing is brought to you by the transit planning in 1910-40s. Most of today's bus stops have been in place since the formation of the Chicago Surface Lines (the former streetcar operator)
January 2, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Incredibly dense bus stop spacing is brought to you by the transit planning in 1910-40s. Most of today's bus stops have been in place since the formation of the Chicago Surface Lines (the former streetcar operator)
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
The same mistake is happening in Windsor and elsewhere. Mississauga is the only place the province hasn’t botched this. Ontario is ignoring its own planning rules, moving hospitals to greenfield sites far from transit and urban cores. nextmetro.substack.com/p/an-urgent-... #ONpoli
An Urgent and Avoidable Transit Mistake in Waterloo Region.
A Transit-Forward Town Takes A Step Back.
nextmetro.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:25 PM
The same mistake is happening in Windsor and elsewhere. Mississauga is the only place the province hasn’t botched this. Ontario is ignoring its own planning rules, moving hospitals to greenfield sites far from transit and urban cores. nextmetro.substack.com/p/an-urgent-... #ONpoli
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
I have said this before, but I do wish one prominent tech YouTuber would do a BTS tour with a transit agency, showing off all the tech that makes its stuff work. Even just the various systems on a bus today is wild. It'd go a long way to help the image of public transit.
January 2, 2026 at 2:44 PM
I have said this before, but I do wish one prominent tech YouTuber would do a BTS tour with a transit agency, showing off all the tech that makes its stuff work. Even just the various systems on a bus today is wild. It'd go a long way to help the image of public transit.
Unpopular opinion but honestly @octranspo.com needs fare zones. The City of Ottawa is a monolith bigger than any other city in Canada and closer in size to multi-city metropolitan regions like Greater Montreal (with four zones) and Metro Vancouver (with three zones). Same fare for all is unfair!
Congratulations on the second most expensive transit system in Canada after York Region Transit.
January 2, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Unpopular opinion but honestly @octranspo.com needs fare zones. The City of Ottawa is a monolith bigger than any other city in Canada and closer in size to multi-city metropolitan regions like Greater Montreal (with four zones) and Metro Vancouver (with three zones). Same fare for all is unfair!
Congratulations on the second most expensive transit system in Canada after York Region Transit.
January 2, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Congratulations on the second most expensive transit system in Canada after York Region Transit.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Free public transports is not à good idea, the article is in French but it explains very well why it is better to make it free for a specific part of the population and massively invest. fnaut.fr/la-gratuite-...
La gratuité des transports urbains : bonne ou mauvaise idée ?
La gratuité des transports urbains : bonne ou mauvaise idée ? - La voix des usagers
fnaut.fr
November 8, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Free public transports is not à good idea, the article is in French but it explains very well why it is better to make it free for a specific part of the population and massively invest. fnaut.fr/la-gratuite-...
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Waterloo Region is about to shoot itself in the foot with a new hospital decision, so I wrote a blog post on why locating hospitals is so important, and the *many* better places they could put this one.
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
An Urgent and Avoidable Transit Mistake in Waterloo Region.
A Transit-Forward Town Takes A Step Back.
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Waterloo Region is about to shoot itself in the foot with a new hospital decision, so I wrote a blog post on why locating hospitals is so important, and the *many* better places they could put this one.
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
King Street and Queen Street in Toronto could and should be like this, just with tram wires and snow in winter. Cars can use Richmond and Adelaide. Parking has already been removed and loading bay access can be maintained as with Sydney’s George Street. We already have the trams, just need to do it!
Plan your city for people, and you get people.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
December 31, 2025 at 4:01 PM
King Street and Queen Street in Toronto could and should be like this, just with tram wires and snow in winter. Cars can use Richmond and Adelaide. Parking has already been removed and loading bay access can be maintained as with Sydney’s George Street. We already have the trams, just need to do it!
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Plan your city for people, and you get people.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
December 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Plan your city for people, and you get people.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Sydney pedestrianised George Street, controversially replacing lanes of traffic with a Light Rail line in 2019. The city has never looked back.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Something that I've noticed in #yeg that's different from other cities in Canada I've lived in (MTL, Waterloo, Ottawa, Toronto) is how they clear snow on arterials.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
December 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Something that I've noticed in #yeg that's different from other cities in Canada I've lived in (MTL, Waterloo, Ottawa, Toronto) is how they clear snow on arterials.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
They push the snow to the centre, creating a median out of snow. Slows cars down and more accessible curbs.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
...particularly if they plan to do the same thing in #Montreal. Building a transfer station (say, in Laval), even one connected to downtown by the REM light-metro, will add at least 15 minutes, making for a 95-minute trip (60 + 15 +20).
Europe has it right. Fast trains need to connect downtowns...
Europe has it right. Fast trains need to connect downtowns...
December 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
...particularly if they plan to do the same thing in #Montreal. Building a transfer station (say, in Laval), even one connected to downtown by the REM light-metro, will add at least 15 minutes, making for a 95-minute trip (60 + 15 +20).
Europe has it right. Fast trains need to connect downtowns...
Europe has it right. Fast trains need to connect downtowns...
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
For perspective, all of these ridership numbers (including NYC) are very poor by international standards.
London 14M (1.556)
Tokyo 40M (1.081)
Buenos Airies 13.5M (0.985)
Paris 11M (0.887)
Vancouver 1.56M (0.639)
London 14M (1.556)
Tokyo 40M (1.081)
Buenos Airies 13.5M (0.985)
Paris 11M (0.887)
Vancouver 1.56M (0.639)
December 29, 2025 at 10:07 PM
For perspective, all of these ridership numbers (including NYC) are very poor by international standards.
London 14M (1.556)
Tokyo 40M (1.081)
Buenos Airies 13.5M (0.985)
Paris 11M (0.887)
Vancouver 1.56M (0.639)
London 14M (1.556)
Tokyo 40M (1.081)
Buenos Airies 13.5M (0.985)
Paris 11M (0.887)
Vancouver 1.56M (0.639)
P.S. those onboard passenger information PIDs are super useful. Listing as many as the next 5 stops and the route name/destination not something useless like #TTC logo, “Welcome Aboard” message, an driver’s operator ID number @marcebuna.info @redesigningttc.bsky.social @ttcriders.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 5:19 AM
P.S. those onboard passenger information PIDs are super useful. Listing as many as the next 5 stops and the route name/destination not something useless like #TTC logo, “Welcome Aboard” message, an driver’s operator ID number @marcebuna.info @redesigningttc.bsky.social @ttcriders.bsky.social
The exceptions to #FreeTransit being a waste prove the rule. I was on holiday in Whistler and the Fairmont shuttle bus was not reliable so I took @bctransit.com 4/5 back. This pair of interlined routes is free connecting the base of both mountains, the pedestrianized village, and key residences. 1/2
December 30, 2025 at 4:54 AM
The exceptions to #FreeTransit being a waste prove the rule. I was on holiday in Whistler and the Fairmont shuttle bus was not reliable so I took @bctransit.com 4/5 back. This pair of interlined routes is free connecting the base of both mountains, the pedestrianized village, and key residences. 1/2
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
And I just realized that I still have a #GiftLink 🎁 to share.
#ToPoli #OnPoli
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
#ToPoli #OnPoli
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
December 21, 2025 at 1:39 PM
And I just realized that I still have a #GiftLink 🎁 to share.
#ToPoli #OnPoli
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
#ToPoli #OnPoli
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
rebuilding this bridge, on easy terrain is expected to cost the same as the much more challenging Messina straight bridge. american infrastructural incompetence is a huge problem.
an additional space for ped/bikes is just a symptom of a much deeper disease
an additional space for ped/bikes is just a symptom of a much deeper disease
Adding a pedestrian lane to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at a cost of $1 billion as a treat for cycling organizations is a concise illustration of how the groups drive up infrastructure costs
Maryland set to nearly double the size of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
After years of discussion, Maryland is moving forward with a plan to put eight lanes of traffic on the long span.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
rebuilding this bridge, on easy terrain is expected to cost the same as the much more challenging Messina straight bridge. american infrastructural incompetence is a huge problem.
an additional space for ped/bikes is just a symptom of a much deeper disease
an additional space for ped/bikes is just a symptom of a much deeper disease
We cannot build a subway affordable under the worldwide heritage of a big box grocery store and suburban homes, while Italy can affordable did under a millennia old actual World Heritage site!
Anglosphere transit infrastructure has serious cost problems!
@chittimarco.bsky.social @jedwinmok.com
Anglosphere transit infrastructure has serious cost problems!
@chittimarco.bsky.social @jedwinmok.com
Rome opens long-awaited Colosseum subway station, with displays of unearthed artifacts
Rome Colosseum subway station opens with artifact display
Rome opened two subway stations on Tuesday — one deep beneath the Colosseum — that mix the modernity of high-tech transport with artifacts from an ancient era.
www.ctvnews.ca
December 17, 2025 at 12:45 AM
We cannot build a subway affordable under the worldwide heritage of a big box grocery store and suburban homes, while Italy can affordable did under a millennia old actual World Heritage site!
Anglosphere transit infrastructure has serious cost problems!
@chittimarco.bsky.social @jedwinmok.com
Anglosphere transit infrastructure has serious cost problems!
@chittimarco.bsky.social @jedwinmok.com
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
"....the case is being watched carefully from other places, where light rail developments have caused significant disruptions to businesses."
This has potential to make governments right around Australia shy away from future light rail investments.
We are sometimes our own worst enemy.
This has potential to make governments right around Australia shy away from future light rail investments.
We are sometimes our own worst enemy.
The move clears the way for businesses to seek compensation from the NSW government after the project hampered traders in the city's CBD for four years.
Court win for traders seeking compensation over Sydney light rail
The move clears the way for businesses to seek compensation from the NSW government after the project hampered traders in the city's CBD for four years.
www.abc.net.au
December 17, 2025 at 12:14 AM
"....the case is being watched carefully from other places, where light rail developments have caused significant disruptions to businesses."
This has potential to make governments right around Australia shy away from future light rail investments.
We are sometimes our own worst enemy.
This has potential to make governments right around Australia shy away from future light rail investments.
We are sometimes our own worst enemy.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
From MP Heath MacDonald
"Please see the following letter that clarifies the misinformation being circulated about Bill C-9 Combating Hate Act.
C-9 focuses on actions, not opinions, and explicitly distinguishes criminal conduct from lawful speech."
I tried to find a better copy.
"Please see the following letter that clarifies the misinformation being circulated about Bill C-9 Combating Hate Act.
C-9 focuses on actions, not opinions, and explicitly distinguishes criminal conduct from lawful speech."
I tried to find a better copy.
December 17, 2025 at 12:20 AM
From MP Heath MacDonald
"Please see the following letter that clarifies the misinformation being circulated about Bill C-9 Combating Hate Act.
C-9 focuses on actions, not opinions, and explicitly distinguishes criminal conduct from lawful speech."
I tried to find a better copy.
"Please see the following letter that clarifies the misinformation being circulated about Bill C-9 Combating Hate Act.
C-9 focuses on actions, not opinions, and explicitly distinguishes criminal conduct from lawful speech."
I tried to find a better copy.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Chow says she wants to make sure the signal priority is entirely in place and working on the surface section of Eglinton before the LRT (finally) opens. "I do not want to see Eglinton Crosstown to be fast underground but slow above ground."
December 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Chow says she wants to make sure the signal priority is entirely in place and working on the surface section of Eglinton before the LRT (finally) opens. "I do not want to see Eglinton Crosstown to be fast underground but slow above ground."
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
This internecine finger-pointing is ridiculous. The TTC is 100% controlled by the City of Toronto. When are they going to work together?
Councillor Brad Bradford asks if city hall's "Vision Zero policy" is to blame for slow Finch West LRT speeds through intersections.
Staff say the speed through intersections and approaching stops is an "operational requirement that's been defined by the TTC."
Staff say the speed through intersections and approaching stops is an "operational requirement that's been defined by the TTC."
December 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
This internecine finger-pointing is ridiculous. The TTC is 100% controlled by the City of Toronto. When are they going to work together?
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Councillor Crisanti asks what "aggressive signal priority" actually means. Staff say the current signal priority is pretty basic and only extends green times. New approach could see things like LRTs getting to go ahead of left-turning cars.
December 16, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Councillor Crisanti asks what "aggressive signal priority" actually means. Staff say the current signal priority is pretty basic and only extends green times. New approach could see things like LRTs getting to go ahead of left-turning cars.