Nathan
@kalinsky.bsky.social
he/him | Urban Studies student in Baltimore | Mostly transit, urbanism, and Baltimore stuff | Opinions mine, likes/reposts/follows ≠ endorsement.
Baltimore, Charles St and North Ave
January 14, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Baltimore, Charles St and North Ave
The suburban transit experience:
try to book a microtransit trip, it fails to book twice
give up and walk 20 minutes to an hourly bus
bus isn't tracking
bus shows up 3 minutes early
try to book a microtransit trip, it fails to book twice
give up and walk 20 minutes to an hourly bus
bus isn't tracking
bus shows up 3 minutes early
January 14, 2026 at 5:59 PM
The suburban transit experience:
try to book a microtransit trip, it fails to book twice
give up and walk 20 minutes to an hourly bus
bus isn't tracking
bus shows up 3 minutes early
try to book a microtransit trip, it fails to book twice
give up and walk 20 minutes to an hourly bus
bus isn't tracking
bus shows up 3 minutes early
New Baltimore Metro railcars are in service!
January 7, 2026 at 9:12 PM
New Baltimore Metro railcars are in service!
Meant to post this last night but my first transit ride of 2026. This year marks what will likely be the last year of service for the aging Budd cars on the Baltimore Metro, as new Hitachi railcars enter service hopefully in the coming weeks.
January 2, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Meant to post this last night but my first transit ride of 2026. This year marks what will likely be the last year of service for the aging Budd cars on the Baltimore Metro, as new Hitachi railcars enter service hopefully in the coming weeks.
The Bay Bridge should not be rebuilt, full stop. At the upper range of $17bn, the new bridges would be the most expensive built in *human history.* There is zero need for 8 lanes across the Chesapeake, just maintain the spans we have. Mindboggling that the MDTA approved this.
Pedestrian and bike path could add $1 billion to new Bay Bridge’s cost
Bay Bridge pedestrian path could add $1 billion to cost
Preliminary estimates for a future replacement to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge show the proposal for a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists could add more than $1 billion to the overall project cost.
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The Bay Bridge should not be rebuilt, full stop. At the upper range of $17bn, the new bridges would be the most expensive built in *human history.* There is zero need for 8 lanes across the Chesapeake, just maintain the spans we have. Mindboggling that the MDTA approved this.
Local lawmakers need to begin work on a congestion pricing zone and VMT tax for AVs, these things are going to choke our streets and tank transit ridership if we aren't careful.
Waymo driverless rides coming to Baltimore, Moore touts "long, proud tradition of embracing innovation"
Waymo driverless rides coming to Baltimore, Moore touts "long, proud tradition of embracing innovation"
Baltimore has been added to the list of U.S. cities that will welcome autonomous ride-hailing service Waymo to its streets.
www.cbsnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Local lawmakers need to begin work on a congestion pricing zone and VMT tax for AVs, these things are going to choke our streets and tank transit ridership if we aren't careful.
Baltimore being #3 and BWI being #6 really speaks volumes for the necessity of the MARC Growth and Transformation Plan, faster and more frequent electrified service will be a game changer.
Top destinations for Amtrak riders @ DC Union Station in 2024:
1 NY
2 Phila
3 Balto
4 Newark Penn
5 Wilmngtn
6 BWI
7 RVA Stples Ml
8 Metroprk
9 Trentn
10 Norflk
11 New Havn
12 Stamfrd
13 Charlottsvlle
14 Boston South
15 RVA Main St
16 Chicago
www.bizjournals.com/washington/n...
1 NY
2 Phila
3 Balto
4 Newark Penn
5 Wilmngtn
6 BWI
7 RVA Stples Ml
8 Metroprk
9 Trentn
10 Norflk
11 New Havn
12 Stamfrd
13 Charlottsvlle
14 Boston South
15 RVA Main St
16 Chicago
www.bizjournals.com/washington/n...
Here are the most popular Amtrak destinations from D.C.'s Union Station - Washington Business Journal
It's no secret that Penn Station is the most popular rail destination from D.C. But Union Station's other top destinations offer at least a few surprises.
www.bizjournals.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Baltimore being #3 and BWI being #6 really speaks volumes for the necessity of the MARC Growth and Transformation Plan, faster and more frequent electrified service will be a game changer.
Five billion dollars for a fairly unremarkable 4 lane cable-stayed highway bridge. It's not just transit projects, this country is incapable of building any modern infrastructure.
Key Bridge rebuild expected to cost billions more than preliminary estimate
Key Bridge rebuild expected to cost billions more than preliminary estimate
The new bridge is now expected to open by the end of 2030 and cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion — more than twice initial estimates — Bruce Gartner, executive director of the Maryland Transportation...
buff.ly
November 18, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Five billion dollars for a fairly unremarkable 4 lane cable-stayed highway bridge. It's not just transit projects, this country is incapable of building any modern infrastructure.
Ridiculous and cowardly move. The risks of *not* aggressively pursuing redistricting are so much higher than the "risk" of legal challenges against it, as more and more republican states redraw their maps.
What a buffoon. Entirely specious arguments. Bill Ferguson is begging for a primary. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Top Maryland Democrat torpedoes state’s redistricting push
“The Senate is choosing not to move forward with mid-cycle redistricting,” he writes.
www.politico.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Ridiculous and cowardly move. The risks of *not* aggressively pursuing redistricting are so much higher than the "risk" of legal challenges against it, as more and more republican states redraw their maps.
Reposted by Nathan
Attention: for all you housing lovers along the Northeast Corridor - Baltimore’s City Council just passed single-stair reform AND repealed residential parking minimums AND reduced setback requirements one-after-another this evening
October 27, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Attention: for all you housing lovers along the Northeast Corridor - Baltimore’s City Council just passed single-stair reform AND repealed residential parking minimums AND reduced setback requirements one-after-another this evening
The 31 Av bike boulevard in Astoria, this city is genuinely incredible
October 16, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The 31 Av bike boulevard in Astoria, this city is genuinely incredible
The 14th Street busway at Union Square in New York, this could be Baltimore Street if we were brave enough.
October 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The 14th Street busway at Union Square in New York, this could be Baltimore Street if we were brave enough.
The northeast is the single greatest region in the world, I left home at 6:45 AM and 5 hours later I am in Flushing Queens after taking a high speed train and an express subway line
October 13, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The northeast is the single greatest region in the world, I left home at 6:45 AM and 5 hours later I am in Flushing Queens after taking a high speed train and an express subway line
Good morning from the Amtrak NextGen Acela, my first ride on the new trainsets.
October 13, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Good morning from the Amtrak NextGen Acela, my first ride on the new trainsets.
Sketched out the 1968 Baltimore Region Rapid Transit System plan in Subway Builder. The game simulates about 122,000 daily riders on the system's five lines and 62 stations.
October 12, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Sketched out the 1968 Baltimore Region Rapid Transit System plan in Subway Builder. The game simulates about 122,000 daily riders on the system's five lines and 62 stations.
Trying to take transit in Baltimore City on a Saturday evening is so painful, Navy and 65 don't show, nothing is tracking.
October 4, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Trying to take transit in Baltimore City on a Saturday evening is so painful, Navy and 65 don't show, nothing is tracking.
MDOT MTA's request for proposals for new 70% low floor LRVs for the Central Light Rail line is out. The base order includes 52 LRVs, with options for up to 50 additional LRVs for the Baltimore Red Line project.
September 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
MDOT MTA's request for proposals for new 70% low floor LRVs for the Central Light Rail line is out. The base order includes 52 LRVs, with options for up to 50 additional LRVs for the Baltimore Red Line project.
In spite of a tough state budget year, today's MTA Maryland service changes modestly expand transit service in the Baltimore region. This is in stark constrast to the 20% SEPTA service cuts which went into effect in Philadelphia today. The public transit death spiral is an avoidable policy choice.
August 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
In spite of a tough state budget year, today's MTA Maryland service changes modestly expand transit service in the Baltimore region. This is in stark constrast to the 20% SEPTA service cuts which went into effect in Philadelphia today. The public transit death spiral is an avoidable policy choice.
Nova LFS articulated on the 70?
August 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Nova LFS articulated on the 70?
Really am not liking the proliferation of privately operated automated license plate readers. It'd be one thing if they were county operated and integrated into automated traffic enforcement, but they're owned and maintained by an AI surveillance firm, seems rife for abuse.
August 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Really am not liking the proliferation of privately operated automated license plate readers. It'd be one thing if they were county operated and integrated into automated traffic enforcement, but they're owned and maintained by an AI surveillance firm, seems rife for abuse.
Challenge: post your last photo taken in DC to show what a hell-hole it is
August 11, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Challenge: post your last photo taken in DC to show what a hell-hole it is
A 56 year old GP39H-2, originally built in for the B&O in 1969, still in active service on the MARC Penn Line.
July 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A 56 year old GP39H-2, originally built in for the B&O in 1969, still in active service on the MARC Penn Line.
Reposted by Nathan
That would be neat if it worked particularly well at all. Unfortunately for everyone, most of all Jacksonville, the "Ultimate Urban Circulator" doesn't.
Here's my experience of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's NAVI "autonomous" shuttle system:
medium.com/@marcuscnels...
Here's my experience of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's NAVI "autonomous" shuttle system:
medium.com/@marcuscnels...
July 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM
That would be neat if it worked particularly well at all. Unfortunately for everyone, most of all Jacksonville, the "Ultimate Urban Circulator" doesn't.
Here's my experience of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's NAVI "autonomous" shuttle system:
medium.com/@marcuscnels...
Here's my experience of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's NAVI "autonomous" shuttle system:
medium.com/@marcuscnels...
Truly incredible how the more I read about this godawful bill the worse it gets, these idiots triggered $500bn/10y in statutory PAYGO cuts to Medicare by blowing up the deficit. Quite literally one of the worst bills of all time.
July 4, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Truly incredible how the more I read about this godawful bill the worse it gets, these idiots triggered $500bn/10y in statutory PAYGO cuts to Medicare by blowing up the deficit. Quite literally one of the worst bills of all time.