Jedwin Mok
@jedwinmok.com
Transport Planner & Researcher
Creative Director | cityux.com
Research Lead | infrastoryinsights.com
https://youtu.be/vAygH6SZg28?si=lY-5xtbZl6yPv823
Creative Director | cityux.com
Research Lead | infrastoryinsights.com
https://youtu.be/vAygH6SZg28?si=lY-5xtbZl6yPv823
Pinned
Jedwin Mok
@jedwinmok.com
· Dec 5
NEW PUBLICATION: “Understanding the Drivers of Transit Construction Costs in Canada”
The first from me, Balthazar Crane, @chittimarco.bsky.social, and Amer Shalaby.
So why are transit projects so expensive in Canada? Here’s what we found: 1/🧵
stateofcitiessummit.ca/files/041224...
The first from me, Balthazar Crane, @chittimarco.bsky.social, and Amer Shalaby.
So why are transit projects so expensive in Canada? Here’s what we found: 1/🧵
stateofcitiessummit.ca/files/041224...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I'm at the #CUTA2025 conference in Montreal this week. Great presentation by @jedwinmok.com and @chittimarco.bsky.social about escalating transit costs in Canada. What do the countries with highest costs have in common? English is their primary language.
November 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I'm at the #CUTA2025 conference in Montreal this week. Great presentation by @jedwinmok.com and @chittimarco.bsky.social about escalating transit costs in Canada. What do the countries with highest costs have in common? English is their primary language.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Making the Eglinton Crosstown elevated through Scarborough would have made it immensely better
October 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Making the Eglinton Crosstown elevated through Scarborough would have made it immensely better
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I finally completed my second long form post dedicated to the problem of High Speed Rail and the city, or "who goes with whom in the puzzle of traffic separation around large urban areas?"
I hope you enjoy.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
I hope you enjoy.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
The High Speed Rail and the city - part 2
More tracks, but for whom? The case of the Bologna-Castel Bolognese fast quad-tracking and the problem of disentangling mixed traffic.
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I finally completed my second long form post dedicated to the problem of High Speed Rail and the city, or "who goes with whom in the puzzle of traffic separation around large urban areas?"
I hope you enjoy.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
I hope you enjoy.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
The difference in the time it takes a streetcar in Amsterdam vs. Toronto to clear an intersection after servicing a nearside stop.
October 30, 2025 at 1:32 AM
The difference in the time it takes a streetcar in Amsterdam vs. Toronto to clear an intersection after servicing a nearside stop.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Here's a video of the impossible. The UP Express has high platforms and level boarding for passengers. That is supposed make it impossible for mainline North American freight trains to pass. And yet, as this shows, CN freight trains roll past the high platform at Weston multiple times per week.
October 29, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Here's a video of the impossible. The UP Express has high platforms and level boarding for passengers. That is supposed make it impossible for mainline North American freight trains to pass. And yet, as this shows, CN freight trains roll past the high platform at Weston multiple times per week.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Metra of the future:
- electric train where every car has power (faster acceleration)
- lots of doors
- level boarding
- contrast color doors for low vision passengers
- large bike symbols for bike cars
- digital sign showing train destination
- runs every 10 minutes
- electric train where every car has power (faster acceleration)
- lots of doors
- level boarding
- contrast color doors for low vision passengers
- large bike symbols for bike cars
- digital sign showing train destination
- runs every 10 minutes
October 18, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Metra of the future:
- electric train where every car has power (faster acceleration)
- lots of doors
- level boarding
- contrast color doors for low vision passengers
- large bike symbols for bike cars
- digital sign showing train destination
- runs every 10 minutes
- electric train where every car has power (faster acceleration)
- lots of doors
- level boarding
- contrast color doors for low vision passengers
- large bike symbols for bike cars
- digital sign showing train destination
- runs every 10 minutes
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
We have a new website for the Northeast Corridor High-Speed Rail project, with illustrative graphics. nec.transitcosts.com
How to Build High-Speed Rail on the Northeast Corridor
An interactive site presenting the North East Corridor proposal by Marron Institute's Transportation and Land Use Group, authored by Alon Levy.
nec.transitcosts.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
We have a new website for the Northeast Corridor High-Speed Rail project, with illustrative graphics. nec.transitcosts.com
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
many experiences make vancouver feel like a much bigger city than it actually is - like taking skytrain at rush hour.
automation is a key reason a NA region w the population of minneapolis or denver can support a train every 1-2 minutes, something you'd expect in new york, toronto, or mexico city
automation is a key reason a NA region w the population of minneapolis or denver can support a train every 1-2 minutes, something you'd expect in new york, toronto, or mexico city
October 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
many experiences make vancouver feel like a much bigger city than it actually is - like taking skytrain at rush hour.
automation is a key reason a NA region w the population of minneapolis or denver can support a train every 1-2 minutes, something you'd expect in new york, toronto, or mexico city
automation is a key reason a NA region w the population of minneapolis or denver can support a train every 1-2 minutes, something you'd expect in new york, toronto, or mexico city
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
99% of Canadians studies
"We are taking inspiration from international peers!"
Look inside
The international peers
🇺🇸🇬🇧
"We are taking inspiration from international peers!"
Look inside
The international peers
🇺🇸🇬🇧
Des experts estiment que la société pourrait s’inspirer du service postal des États-Unis ou du Royaume-Uni.
Postes Canada pourrait s’inspirer de ses homologues internationaux
www.ledevoir.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
99% of Canadians studies
"We are taking inspiration from international peers!"
Look inside
The international peers
🇺🇸🇬🇧
"We are taking inspiration from international peers!"
Look inside
The international peers
🇺🇸🇬🇧
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Why This “Anti-Car Labyrinth” Is Actually Brilliant youtu.be/WAhlfWt25sA
Why This “Anti-Car Labyrinth” Is Actually Brilliant
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
October 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Why This “Anti-Car Labyrinth” Is Actually Brilliant youtu.be/WAhlfWt25sA
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I would pay to have a regional railway network around Montréal like Sydney has. I would probably go visit some new corners of QC every other weekend.
Do we have a plausible theory why Australia went all in on electric suburban trains from the 1920s, but Canada didn't?
Do we have a plausible theory why Australia went all in on electric suburban trains from the 1920s, but Canada didn't?
LEURA, 108km from Central, is another charming station - everything is so charming up in the Blue Mountains - serving retail strip of cute cafes and shops popular with tourists. It has two platforms cut into the sandstone, accessed from an overhead concourse on a road bridge, with a lift. (1/3)
October 11, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I would pay to have a regional railway network around Montréal like Sydney has. I would probably go visit some new corners of QC every other weekend.
Do we have a plausible theory why Australia went all in on electric suburban trains from the 1920s, but Canada didn't?
Do we have a plausible theory why Australia went all in on electric suburban trains from the 1920s, but Canada didn't?
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
This partly explains the "Medellin miracle" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=m83M... @universidad-eafit.bsky.social @eiturbanmobility.eu
How has Medellín’s cable system changed communities?
YouTube video by Urban Mobility Explained
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:42 AM
This partly explains the "Medellin miracle" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=m83M... @universidad-eafit.bsky.social @eiturbanmobility.eu
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Print this and frame it on the wall with the title, "Why North American Transit Construction Costs are So High"
I just can't get over the differences in scale between Ballard Link's Westlake Station as proposed and the original Westlake Station, off to the left.
October 8, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Print this and frame it on the wall with the title, "Why North American Transit Construction Costs are So High"
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I *love* this new protected intersection. I think it’s the most exciting new bike infrastructure in Montreal since the REV Saint-Denis.
I sure hope there aren’t any major mayoral candidates planning to pause or remove cycling infrastructure. That would be awfully inconvenient right now.
I sure hope there aren’t any major mayoral candidates planning to pause or remove cycling infrastructure. That would be awfully inconvenient right now.
October 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I *love* this new protected intersection. I think it’s the most exciting new bike infrastructure in Montreal since the REV Saint-Denis.
I sure hope there aren’t any major mayoral candidates planning to pause or remove cycling infrastructure. That would be awfully inconvenient right now.
I sure hope there aren’t any major mayoral candidates planning to pause or remove cycling infrastructure. That would be awfully inconvenient right now.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
despite how Lee Myung-bak's legacy turned out, he was a truly CEO mayor who led three big projects of major consequence for Seoul:
1) the Cheonggyecheon creek restoration
2) the bus network reforms
3) support for Platform Screen Doors at Seoul Metro stations
1) the Cheonggyecheon creek restoration
2) the bus network reforms
3) support for Platform Screen Doors at Seoul Metro stations
Every bold urban transformation asks a question: what will people remember—the controversy or legacy?
Showing great leadership, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak bet on the latter, replacing a motorway with a waterway.
Two decades later, absolutely no one regrets the decision or remembers the controversy.
Showing great leadership, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak bet on the latter, replacing a motorway with a waterway.
Two decades later, absolutely no one regrets the decision or remembers the controversy.
October 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
despite how Lee Myung-bak's legacy turned out, he was a truly CEO mayor who led three big projects of major consequence for Seoul:
1) the Cheonggyecheon creek restoration
2) the bus network reforms
3) support for Platform Screen Doors at Seoul Metro stations
1) the Cheonggyecheon creek restoration
2) the bus network reforms
3) support for Platform Screen Doors at Seoul Metro stations
Even in its terribly debilitated state GO Expansion still is the infrastructure project with the highest BCR on the continent. Easily a top national priority.
In any sane developed country this is a 5-year modernization program. Our incompetent institutions live in fear of doing literally anything
In any sane developed country this is a 5-year modernization program. Our incompetent institutions live in fear of doing literally anything
What I mean is that Toronto has a solid thru-running central trunk. It has mostly dealt with core freight conflicts. Mostly has a comprehensive regional network to work with. It just needs to hang the wires, buy the EMUs, raise the platforms, add some extra tracks, grade separations and run trains
I think Toronto regional transit planning is really conceptually quite easy! improve the infrastructure, spam more trains, improve the infrastructure, spam more trains. Like there's not huge trade offs or mega projects you just gotta figure out how to do the basic stuff.
October 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Even in its terribly debilitated state GO Expansion still is the infrastructure project with the highest BCR on the continent. Easily a top national priority.
In any sane developed country this is a 5-year modernization program. Our incompetent institutions live in fear of doing literally anything
In any sane developed country this is a 5-year modernization program. Our incompetent institutions live in fear of doing literally anything
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Reposted.
Pic unrelated
Pic unrelated
October 2, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted.
Pic unrelated
Pic unrelated
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
LinkedIn is the worst
September 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
LinkedIn is the worst
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
scarborough-rouge park just elected neethan shan - adding to a progressive wave of councillors in scarborough.
bus lanes were a key election issue.
the two runner-ups campaigned to rip out bus lanes. they lost.
lesson: don't mess with scarborough's bus lanes. suburban transit riders vote, too.
bus lanes were a key election issue.
the two runner-ups campaigned to rip out bus lanes. they lost.
lesson: don't mess with scarborough's bus lanes. suburban transit riders vote, too.
September 30, 2025 at 2:46 AM
scarborough-rouge park just elected neethan shan - adding to a progressive wave of councillors in scarborough.
bus lanes were a key election issue.
the two runner-ups campaigned to rip out bus lanes. they lost.
lesson: don't mess with scarborough's bus lanes. suburban transit riders vote, too.
bus lanes were a key election issue.
the two runner-ups campaigned to rip out bus lanes. they lost.
lesson: don't mess with scarborough's bus lanes. suburban transit riders vote, too.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Copenhagen's deep metro stations have a very lean fire evacuation strategy.
Most egress capacity is provided by the 8 escalators (4 paths x 2 levels) normally used for vertical circulation with a single additional enclosed fixed stair at one end of the platform.
Most egress capacity is provided by the 8 escalators (4 paths x 2 levels) normally used for vertical circulation with a single additional enclosed fixed stair at one end of the platform.
September 28, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Copenhagen's deep metro stations have a very lean fire evacuation strategy.
Most egress capacity is provided by the 8 escalators (4 paths x 2 levels) normally used for vertical circulation with a single additional enclosed fixed stair at one end of the platform.
Most egress capacity is provided by the 8 escalators (4 paths x 2 levels) normally used for vertical circulation with a single additional enclosed fixed stair at one end of the platform.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
It’s sad that, when it comes to transit construction costs, Quebec follows the Anglosphere pattern instead of being able to build cheaply like France.
We could have a tram in Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay. Multiple trams in Gatineau and Québec City!
We could have a tram in Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay. Multiple trams in Gatineau and Québec City!
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
How This Small City Built Light Rail For Cheap
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
September 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
It’s sad that, when it comes to transit construction costs, Quebec follows the Anglosphere pattern instead of being able to build cheaply like France.
We could have a tram in Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay. Multiple trams in Gatineau and Québec City!
We could have a tram in Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay. Multiple trams in Gatineau and Québec City!
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
A couple of years ago, the ARTM told us that any kind of above ground transsit grade-separated alignment is necessarily unsightly.
Copenhagen didn't get the memo, I guess.
Copenhagen didn't get the memo, I guess.
September 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A couple of years ago, the ARTM told us that any kind of above ground transsit grade-separated alignment is necessarily unsightly.
Copenhagen didn't get the memo, I guess.
Copenhagen didn't get the memo, I guess.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
How This Small City Built Light Rail For Cheap
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
September 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
So glad to be featured in @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social excellent video!
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
The most underappreciated issue in urbanism is the Anglosphere’s transit construction cost problem.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
It’s not just that we’re spending too much money on any particular project.
It’s that we could be getting *much more transit* for the *same amount of money we’re currently spending*.
How This Small City Built Light Rail For Cheap
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
September 22, 2025 at 1:04 AM
So glad to be featured in @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social excellent video!
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
High costs in Canada have been accepted as an inevitability - as projects are descoped & cancelled.
ION & REM show that another way is possible…
…given the humility to abandon our Anglo roots & learn from global best practice.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
NYC: we need a ventilation building for air intake and smoke extraction, so it's at least 40 feet above street level. Actually, we need two for each station.
NFPA 130: extraction/intake should be a couple of feet above street level, so one can't park above it.
Copenhagen:
NFPA 130: extraction/intake should be a couple of feet above street level, so one can't park above it.
Copenhagen:
September 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
NYC: we need a ventilation building for air intake and smoke extraction, so it's at least 40 feet above street level. Actually, we need two for each station.
NFPA 130: extraction/intake should be a couple of feet above street level, so one can't park above it.
Copenhagen:
NFPA 130: extraction/intake should be a couple of feet above street level, so one can't park above it.
Copenhagen: