Reece Martin
@rmtransit.bsky.social
Writer, Learning Enthusiast, Urbanist, Optimist, Traveller, Canadian.
Passionate about making the world better.
https://cinqpersonnes.substack.com/
https://nextmetro.substack.com/
Passionate about making the world better.
https://cinqpersonnes.substack.com/
https://nextmetro.substack.com/
Pinned
Reece Martin
@rmtransit.bsky.social
· May 17
RMTransit -> Reece Martin
I was recently in a car driving around Toronto and something felt totally off, nobody was trying to aggressively pass me, and everyone was . . . Driving the speed limit? So curious why that is, obviously not the omnipresent speed cameras of course!
November 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I was recently in a car driving around Toronto and something felt totally off, nobody was trying to aggressively pass me, and everyone was . . . Driving the speed limit? So curious why that is, obviously not the omnipresent speed cameras of course!
I wrote a long post about why we should stop subsidizing car factories and start subsidizing open technologies (less). Read it now:
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
A New Industrial Policy for the Greater Good, Today.
Some wonky policy thoughts on technology, industrial policy, and Canada.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I wrote a long post about why we should stop subsidizing car factories and start subsidizing open technologies (less). Read it now:
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
Does anyone following me work in video at CBC?
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Does anyone following me work in video at CBC?
This is exactly what we don't need in transit advocacy. "being able to see the trains come and go is cooler visually"
The Quebec coroner literally recommended doors in Montreal because so many people are killed on the metro.
The Quebec coroner literally recommended doors in Montreal because so many people are killed on the metro.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This is exactly what we don't need in transit advocacy. "being able to see the trains come and go is cooler visually"
The Quebec coroner literally recommended doors in Montreal because so many people are killed on the metro.
The Quebec coroner literally recommended doors in Montreal because so many people are killed on the metro.
This is random but, the Henson razor is great. A high quality safety razor that means I'm not sending my money to the ol consumer good megaconglomerate, there is no plastic, and it's made in Canada!
November 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
This is random but, the Henson razor is great. A high quality safety razor that means I'm not sending my money to the ol consumer good megaconglomerate, there is no plastic, and it's made in Canada!
It's a real indictment of Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto that none of them have retrofitted a single platform screen door decades after it started happening in Asia. Its the kind of thing that honestly makes Canada feel like a less developed country.
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 AM
It's a real indictment of Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto that none of them have retrofitted a single platform screen door decades after it started happening in Asia. Its the kind of thing that honestly makes Canada feel like a less developed country.
Its remarkable the way Albertan cities took their fairly good public transit systems from around 2010, and has basically wasted them. Its also amazing the lack of progress beyond in rail. It's honestly a major reason I wouldn't move to Edmonton or Calgary.
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Its remarkable the way Albertan cities took their fairly good public transit systems from around 2010, and has basically wasted them. Its also amazing the lack of progress beyond in rail. It's honestly a major reason I wouldn't move to Edmonton or Calgary.
Reposted by Reece Martin
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on the City’s Neighbourhood Retail Initiative.
www.linkedin.com/posts/mayor-...
www.linkedin.com/posts/mayor-...
We’re cutting red tape so neighbourhood shops can be gathering spots - like a café. Or a convenience store, dry cleaner, or a doctor’s office.
These are the local businesses that make a… | Olivia Ch...
We’re cutting red tape so neighbourhood shops can be gathering spots - like a café. Or a convenience store, dry cleaner, or a doctor’s office.
These are the local businesses that make a neighbourhoo...
www.linkedin.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on the City’s Neighbourhood Retail Initiative.
www.linkedin.com/posts/mayor-...
www.linkedin.com/posts/mayor-...
A lot of people have asked me to collaborate on videos over the years, but I don't generally do that type of project. One of the best creators I know Paige Saunders (of CBC fame) on the other hand is starting to just that. Send me a message for more info!
youtu.be/zqaIJc39ExI?...
youtu.be/zqaIJc39ExI?...
How Canada got stuck building low-speed rail | CBC Creator Network
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
A lot of people have asked me to collaborate on videos over the years, but I don't generally do that type of project. One of the best creators I know Paige Saunders (of CBC fame) on the other hand is starting to just that. Send me a message for more info!
youtu.be/zqaIJc39ExI?...
youtu.be/zqaIJc39ExI?...
This map is remarkably bad
They used to have a greyed out small version on the map in the late 2000s.
November 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
This map is remarkably bad
I really would love the NDP to go through this transition and become a big tent party for progressives.
November 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I really would love the NDP to go through this transition and become a big tent party for progressives.
My new post in Ottawa suggests how to improve and develop the O-Train network. I'd be curious to see a map of what the full buildout would look like if anyone wants to take that on!
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
Ottawa Can Get Back to Amazing Transit.
Redemption for a once great transit city?
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
My new post in Ottawa suggests how to improve and develop the O-Train network. I'd be curious to see a map of what the full buildout would look like if anyone wants to take that on!
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
open.substack.com/pub/nextmetr...
I have a mini plan for the future of the O-Train network and its very satisfying. Includes:
-Rail from airport to downtown
-L2 Electrification
-Trans Ottawa River Rail
-Speed Improvements
-Screen Doors and Automation
-0 New tunnels
-Rail from airport to downtown
-L2 Electrification
-Trans Ottawa River Rail
-Speed Improvements
-Screen Doors and Automation
-0 New tunnels
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 AM
I have a mini plan for the future of the O-Train network and its very satisfying. Includes:
-Rail from airport to downtown
-L2 Electrification
-Trans Ottawa River Rail
-Speed Improvements
-Screen Doors and Automation
-0 New tunnels
-Rail from airport to downtown
-L2 Electrification
-Trans Ottawa River Rail
-Speed Improvements
-Screen Doors and Automation
-0 New tunnels
Ahhh Mt Dennis also on map
Interesting that GOs new maps have our new rapid transit lines* on them, this is good and a reminder that Metrolinx actually has good way finding on the stuff they control
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Ahhh Mt Dennis also on map
Reposted by Reece Martin
In some far future America, our descendants are amazed that we allowed private freight train companies to just block major city streets for unlimited amounts of time, with trains that weren't even moving. (SE 11th Ave. in Portland).
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
In some far future America, our descendants are amazed that we allowed private freight train companies to just block major city streets for unlimited amounts of time, with trains that weren't even moving. (SE 11th Ave. in Portland).
Some interesting reading material
November 5, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Some interesting reading material
Reposted by Reece Martin
Filming the awesome infrastructure under construction is bittersweet, knowing that we’re going to get less of it in the next four years. Possibly much less.
November 4, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Filming the awesome infrastructure under construction is bittersweet, knowing that we’re going to get less of it in the next four years. Possibly much less.
Reflective of an unambitious plan that doesn’t even appear to be thought out
I want to know how a station in the middle of the line gets 15 minute frequency when all other stations on the line get a train every 20 minutes.
November 5, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Reflective of an unambitious plan that doesn’t even appear to be thought out
Interesting that GOs new maps have our new rapid transit lines* on them, this is good and a reminder that Metrolinx actually has good way finding on the stuff they control
November 5, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Interesting that GOs new maps have our new rapid transit lines* on them, this is good and a reminder that Metrolinx actually has good way finding on the stuff they control
This is good, but I’m not sure why they’ve called it equitable frequent service. It’s literally just better service.
These plans for expanded MARC rail service in Maryland are great.
But, as a long-time DMV resident, I'd like to note they are very similar to the ones released maybe 15 years ago of which the only result was weekend service on the Penn Line.
But, as a long-time DMV resident, I'd like to note they are very similar to the ones released maybe 15 years ago of which the only result was weekend service on the Penn Line.
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
This is good, but I’m not sure why they’ve called it equitable frequent service. It’s literally just better service.
I wish we had the initiative to run different numbers of escalators in the up-and-down direction depend depending on the time of day like so many other cities since we don’t, I’m posting this.
November 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I wish we had the initiative to run different numbers of escalators in the up-and-down direction depend depending on the time of day like so many other cities since we don’t, I’m posting this.
Enshittification is Not New.
Another thing that we think is novel, but really isn't.
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Reece Martin
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...
If you want high speed rail in CA it’s really imperative you read Marco, and especially today’s piece. CA doesn’t just need to build high speed rail, but an institutional-political machine that can. I don’t see hard issues being addressed, and some serious problems are being dismissed too quickly.
November 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
If you want high speed rail in CA it’s really imperative you read Marco, and especially today’s piece. CA doesn’t just need to build high speed rail, but an institutional-political machine that can. I don’t see hard issues being addressed, and some serious problems are being dismissed too quickly.
Really feels like Transport Canada is asleep at the throttle for rail development in this country.
November 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Really feels like Transport Canada is asleep at the throttle for rail development in this country.