Sandy Johnston
@sandypsj.bsky.social
Transit geek. Planner. Cat dad. Cubs fan. Deputy Director of Regional Transit Planning at MBTA. Blogging much less than I'd like at www.itineranturbanist.wordpress.com.
Opinions my own.
Opinions my own.
People in my "progressive" neighborhood NIMBY'd a *senior affordable housing development* into reducing its units from 71 to 41. Just an absolute moral travesty. (Rogerson/Beaufort project in JP)
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 AM
People in my "progressive" neighborhood NIMBY'd a *senior affordable housing development* into reducing its units from 71 to 41. Just an absolute moral travesty. (Rogerson/Beaufort project in JP)
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
A developer is offering to do 1/3 more affordable units than required—and 130% more than have been produced in the 18 year history of Evanston’s policy—for zero actual budget outlay from the city, and Council is saying do less
Kelly says she asked about seeing it at the 15%, less tax discounted level, rather than the 20% level. Developer guy behind me sighs *heavily*.
Kelly should propose big projects she likes. Pitch proactive upzonings of the sites. Or hell, support quadplexes everywhere. Oh wait.
Kelly should propose big projects she likes. Pitch proactive upzonings of the sites. Or hell, support quadplexes everywhere. Oh wait.
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 AM
A developer is offering to do 1/3 more affordable units than required—and 130% more than have been produced in the 18 year history of Evanston’s policy—for zero actual budget outlay from the city, and Council is saying do less
The small town industry scene is starting to really come together
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
The small town industry scene is starting to really come together
Really interesting analysis from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social about how building housing, in general, benefits the ability of families to live in a city. pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
Chicago's downtown family boom
And what it can tell us about building family-friendly cities
pencillingout.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Really interesting analysis from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social about how building housing, in general, benefits the ability of families to live in a city. pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
Fighters vs institutionalists is one of the most important axes for understanding macro or micro politics and there's never been a worse time to be an uncritical institutionalist.
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Fighters vs institutionalists is one of the most important axes for understanding macro or micro politics and there's never been a worse time to be an uncritical institutionalist.
Mad respect for these 🔥🔥🔥YIMBY comments by my sister-in-law's dad about the Solano Ave. rezoning in Berkeley.
www.berkeleyside.org/2025/11/07/b...
www.berkeleyside.org/2025/11/07/b...
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Mad respect for these 🔥🔥🔥YIMBY comments by my sister-in-law's dad about the Solano Ave. rezoning in Berkeley.
www.berkeleyside.org/2025/11/07/b...
www.berkeleyside.org/2025/11/07/b...
Let me distract you from bad politics with a really cool Conrail-themed garden railroad
www.facebook.com/share/1H8kXm...
www.facebook.com/share/1H8kXm...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Let me distract you from bad politics with a really cool Conrail-themed garden railroad
www.facebook.com/share/1H8kXm...
www.facebook.com/share/1H8kXm...
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
RIF Update: The proposed appropriations legislation would invalidate RIFs conducted between 10/1/25 and 1/30/26. (Section 120). It does not include any provisions invalidating RIFs pre-10/1/25 or preventing future RIFs conducted after 1/30/26.
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
RIF Update: The proposed appropriations legislation would invalidate RIFs conducted between 10/1/25 and 1/30/26. (Section 120). It does not include any provisions invalidating RIFs pre-10/1/25 or preventing future RIFs conducted after 1/30/26.
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
The long awaited Rapido RDC is here!
November 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The long awaited Rapido RDC is here!
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
This aligns with my experience talking to a lot of staff at environmental organizations who understand the necessity for land use and permitting reform but can't bring along senior leadership or donors. bsky.app/profile/robi...
Interesting to see @meganwachspress.bsky.social observe that the Sierra Club’s staff were clear-eyed about the need for clean energy development while the *members/small-dollar donor base* were more resistant to it.
I was at the Sierra Club during the period described in this article and although I have my criticisms, it gets the issues in the Club fundamentally wrong. A 🧵
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
November 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
This aligns with my experience talking to a lot of staff at environmental organizations who understand the necessity for land use and permitting reform but can't bring along senior leadership or donors. bsky.app/profile/robi...
I...what?
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I...what?
The fact that Parks and Rec's depiction of public meetings is 1,000% accurate really undermines a lot of dogma and that breaks brains
November 5, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The fact that Parks and Rec's depiction of public meetings is 1,000% accurate really undermines a lot of dogma and that breaks brains
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Riders want one thing and it's [25kv 60hz electric humming sounds]
November 5, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Riders want one thing and it's [25kv 60hz electric humming sounds]
Multiple Commuter Rail schemes at North Station this morning
November 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Multiple Commuter Rail schemes at North Station this morning
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Charlotte's transport referendum has won.
1% sales tax increase is expected to generate $19 billion/20 years, funding:
—Transit (40%): Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line light rail, Gold Line extension, Blue Line extension
—Road projects (40%)
—Bus improvements, creating frequent bus network (20%)
1% sales tax increase is expected to generate $19 billion/20 years, funding:
—Transit (40%): Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line light rail, Gold Line extension, Blue Line extension
—Road projects (40%)
—Bus improvements, creating frequent bus network (20%)
Just with early vote reporting, Charlotte's transportation sales tax referendum is currently up 55–45%. But I caution this is just the early vote!
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Charlotte's transport referendum has won.
1% sales tax increase is expected to generate $19 billion/20 years, funding:
—Transit (40%): Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line light rail, Gold Line extension, Blue Line extension
—Road projects (40%)
—Bus improvements, creating frequent bus network (20%)
1% sales tax increase is expected to generate $19 billion/20 years, funding:
—Transit (40%): Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line light rail, Gold Line extension, Blue Line extension
—Road projects (40%)
—Bus improvements, creating frequent bus network (20%)
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Where are we on housing policy this election evening?
—NIMBY NJ Gubernatorial candidate loses decisively.
—Mamdani, promising to pause rent increase & develop 200k affordable units, wins NYC decisively.
—All pro-housing referendums in NYC likely passed.
—Housing funding passed in Columbus & Denver.
—NIMBY NJ Gubernatorial candidate loses decisively.
—Mamdani, promising to pause rent increase & develop 200k affordable units, wins NYC decisively.
—All pro-housing referendums in NYC likely passed.
—Housing funding passed in Columbus & Denver.
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Where are we on housing policy this election evening?
—NIMBY NJ Gubernatorial candidate loses decisively.
—Mamdani, promising to pause rent increase & develop 200k affordable units, wins NYC decisively.
—All pro-housing referendums in NYC likely passed.
—Housing funding passed in Columbus & Denver.
—NIMBY NJ Gubernatorial candidate loses decisively.
—Mamdani, promising to pause rent increase & develop 200k affordable units, wins NYC decisively.
—All pro-housing referendums in NYC likely passed.
—Housing funding passed in Columbus & Denver.
An outbound waits at the western edge of Framingham station as an inbound train approaches around the curve
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
An outbound waits at the western edge of Framingham station as an inbound train approaches around the curve
Morning multimodal action at Green Street
November 4, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Morning multimodal action at Green Street
Does anyone have suggestions for a helmet-mounted rearview mirror? Angles are weird on a recumbent for a handlebar mount.
November 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Does anyone have suggestions for a helmet-mounted rearview mirror? Angles are weird on a recumbent for a handlebar mount.
Open Centre Street on the trike!
November 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Open Centre Street on the trike!
Time to stare out the window and wait for spring
Wow. Just wow.
November 2, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Time to stare out the window and wait for spring
Cats don't care about baseball drama
November 2, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Cats don't care about baseball drama
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
