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.
Very cool--the Great Plains Transportation Museum, at Wichita Union Station, has positioned a Santa Fe 4-8-4 on an overpass over a major street. What better advertising? www.gptm.us
February 12, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Very cool--the Great Plains Transportation Museum, at Wichita Union Station, has positioned a Santa Fe 4-8-4 on an overpass over a major street. What better advertising? www.gptm.us
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
This is an incredibly cool new construction two-flat in Woodlawn--rather than the usual two stacked full-floor units, there's a duplexed quasi-SFH and a smaller studio-type unit that acts like an ADU.
February 10, 2026 at 6:40 PM
This is an incredibly cool new construction two-flat in Woodlawn--rather than the usual two stacked full-floor units, there's a duplexed quasi-SFH and a smaller studio-type unit that acts like an ADU.
TIL there was a little electric railroad serving a hotel in the heart of the Adirondacks localwiki.org/hsl/Paul_Smi...
Paul Smith's Electric Railroad - Historic Saranac Lake - LocalWiki
localwiki.org
February 10, 2026 at 4:35 PM
TIL there was a little electric railroad serving a hotel in the heart of the Adirondacks localwiki.org/hsl/Paul_Smi...
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Freight Train on the Luce Electric Short Line
2800 Central Ave. NE
Source: Hennepin County Library
2800 Central Ave. NE
Source: Hennepin County Library
February 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Freight Train on the Luce Electric Short Line
2800 Central Ave. NE
Source: Hennepin County Library
2800 Central Ave. NE
Source: Hennepin County Library
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Very excited to say that the stars have aligned and NYU Marron/Transit Costs Project have landed a grant that will fund a second edition of Momentum, which will apply the high-throughput framework to major regional rail networks beyond the NY area.
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
The NYU-Marron report on electrification is out: It pairs electrification and other components to develop a high-throughput infrastructure design framework, which slashes time off of existing commuter and inter-city passenger rail services. We call it Momentum -- transitcosts.com/wp-content/u...
February 9, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Very excited to say that the stars have aligned and NYU Marron/Transit Costs Project have landed a grant that will fund a second edition of Momentum, which will apply the high-throughput framework to major regional rail networks beyond the NY area.
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
@amtrak.com President Roger Harris, on the Transit Unplugged podcast, says the railroad aims to retire all of its OG Acela trainsets by the end of the year (2026).
The new Acelas are performing well with some expected "teething pains."
The new Acelas are performing well with some expected "teething pains."
February 9, 2026 at 3:21 PM
@amtrak.com President Roger Harris, on the Transit Unplugged podcast, says the railroad aims to retire all of its OG Acela trainsets by the end of the year (2026).
The new Acelas are performing well with some expected "teething pains."
The new Acelas are performing well with some expected "teething pains."
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
New paper finds that US bike deaths have "trended toward lower-density suburban areas" rather than central cities
Those killed tend to be poor and non-white.
Lesson: The suburbanization of poverty could be contributing to the surging number of cyclist fatalities.
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Those killed tend to be poor and non-white.
Lesson: The suburbanization of poverty could be contributing to the surging number of cyclist fatalities.
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
February 8, 2026 at 3:26 PM
New paper finds that US bike deaths have "trended toward lower-density suburban areas" rather than central cities
Those killed tend to be poor and non-white.
Lesson: The suburbanization of poverty could be contributing to the surging number of cyclist fatalities.
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Those killed tend to be poor and non-white.
Lesson: The suburbanization of poverty could be contributing to the surging number of cyclist fatalities.
doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Springsteen fans will get a kick out of today's Connections
February 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Springsteen fans will get a kick out of today's Connections
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
You want your Gateway project funding? Here’s the price. 🤡
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
February 5, 2026 at 11:19 PM
You want your Gateway project funding? Here’s the price. 🤡
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
Whoa, big deal in RI
RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, one of the longest serving department heads in state government, is retiring later this month
February 4, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Whoa, big deal in RI
Fascinating that Cedar Rapids, IA managed to funnel all of the railroads running through its downtown--lines from four different Class I carriers--into a single trunk.
rail.guide#14.18/41.978...
rail.guide#14.18/41.978...
February 4, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Fascinating that Cedar Rapids, IA managed to funnel all of the railroads running through its downtown--lines from four different Class I carriers--into a single trunk.
rail.guide#14.18/41.978...
rail.guide#14.18/41.978...
I might say something stronger than "temporarily closed" about the Rock Island...
(ok, it's just for the historic Iowa City station building, but this is funny)
www.google.com/maps/@41.653...
(ok, it's just for the historic Iowa City station building, but this is funny)
www.google.com/maps/@41.653...
February 3, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I might say something stronger than "temporarily closed" about the Rock Island...
(ok, it's just for the historic Iowa City station building, but this is funny)
www.google.com/maps/@41.653...
(ok, it's just for the historic Iowa City station building, but this is funny)
www.google.com/maps/@41.653...
I knew the Rock Island repowered their Alco FAs with EMD engines, but I didn't realize they swapped the FA's prime movers into EMD switchers, leaving them surpassingly ugly, even by the standards of the Rock's crazy fleet pbase.com/rocksosalla/...
NW-1m by Mike Sosalla Rock Island Railroad photo site
pbase.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:39 PM
I knew the Rock Island repowered their Alco FAs with EMD engines, but I didn't realize they swapped the FA's prime movers into EMD switchers, leaving them surpassingly ugly, even by the standards of the Rock's crazy fleet pbase.com/rocksosalla/...
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Be the change: @chicagocta.bsky.social's full slate of summer internship opportunities are posted. First batch of applications are due on Friday. www.transitchicago.com/careers/
Careers - Info & Job Postings - CTA
www.transitchicago.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Be the change: @chicagocta.bsky.social's full slate of summer internship opportunities are posted. First batch of applications are due on Friday. www.transitchicago.com/careers/
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
California seems to be building a massive amount of renewable energy and storage while not building a massive volume of new data centres.
That seems to be having the effect of actual drops in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly as batteries cut deep into gas
That seems to be having the effect of actual drops in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly as batteries cut deep into gas
Solar and Batteries Are Squeezing Out Natural Gas in California
The state's power emissions fell 8% last year, even as they rose almost everywhere else.
www.distilled.earth
February 1, 2026 at 7:13 PM
California seems to be building a massive amount of renewable energy and storage while not building a massive volume of new data centres.
That seems to be having the effect of actual drops in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly as batteries cut deep into gas
That seems to be having the effect of actual drops in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly as batteries cut deep into gas
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
January 30, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Eyes On the Street: Days After the Storm, Boston’s Sidewalks Are An Inaccessible Mess - mass.streetsblog.org/2026/01/29/e...
Eyes On the Street: Days After the Storm, Boston's Sidewalks Are An Inaccessible Mess - Streetsblog Massachusetts
Thousands of different property owners are responsible for clearing the city's sidewalks, and there's considerable variation in sidewalk accessibility after winter storms.
mass.streetsblog.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Eyes On the Street: Days After the Storm, Boston’s Sidewalks Are An Inaccessible Mess - mass.streetsblog.org/2026/01/29/e...
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
anyways. to be a bit more productive, as professor omar wasow notes, "almost no protests are witnessed in person." they are witnessed via images--via media--and, yes, via journalists. that is how information spreads.
you want your images to spread.
www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
you want your images to spread.
www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #61: The State of the Resistance
Samantha interviews Professor Omar Wasow, challenging him to reflect on the first year of the second Trump administration. What forms of resistance have worked? What forms have been less successful? W...
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:55 AM
anyways. to be a bit more productive, as professor omar wasow notes, "almost no protests are witnessed in person." they are witnessed via images--via media--and, yes, via journalists. that is how information spreads.
you want your images to spread.
www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
you want your images to spread.
www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Fascinating artifact! (as Shabazz says in the replies, this is from 1937)
Want to get depressed on a Thursday evening? Grab some scotch and look at old "original intent" maps of transit systems.
Here is PATH from the 70s-- right after the Port Authority took over the struggling system. Imagine what the region would look like today if this were implemented. 😥
Here is PATH from the 70s-- right after the Port Authority took over the struggling system. Imagine what the region would look like today if this were implemented. 😥
January 30, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Fascinating artifact! (as Shabazz says in the replies, this is from 1937)
Cool timelapse from the Oregonian of salvage efforts for the P&W train derailed in Toledo, OR
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtk...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtk...
Timelapse: Crews work to free 3 locomotives stranded on Oregon trestle
YouTube video by The Oregonian
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Cool timelapse from the Oregonian of salvage efforts for the P&W train derailed in Toledo, OR
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtk...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtk...
McGinnis looks good on an F40.
youtu.be/Milp7MI0QxI?...
youtu.be/Milp7MI0QxI?...
NEW HAVEN F40! MBTA's Newest Heritage Unit - 1/28/2026
YouTube video by South Coast Rail Videos
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 11:43 PM
McGinnis looks good on an F40.
youtu.be/Milp7MI0QxI?...
youtu.be/Milp7MI0QxI?...
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
Even bigger cities could make real use of this. I think Austin has a grand total of one route with 10 minute headways off peak (and only 3-4 during the peak). San Antonio is roughly in the same boat.
January 28, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Even bigger cities could make real use of this. I think Austin has a grand total of one route with 10 minute headways off peak (and only 3-4 during the peak). San Antonio is roughly in the same boat.
I enjoyed this piece. One thing I'd like to add to the "moonshot" agenda that really feels very achievable: there should be a federal program to support really good service on key corridors in smaller cities. Something I wrote about years ago. itineranturbanist.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/b...
January 28, 2026 at 6:10 PM
I enjoyed this piece. One thing I'd like to add to the "moonshot" agenda that really feels very achievable: there should be a federal program to support really good service on key corridors in smaller cities. Something I wrote about years ago. itineranturbanist.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/b...
Reposted by Sandy Johnston
More people are saying we need to institutionalize FRA Fed-State Partnership grants in a similar way to CIG. Although 1) funding needs to rigorously tied to driving ridership, 2) NEC project inventory needs to follow service-driven needs
January 27, 2026 at 11:51 PM
More people are saying we need to institutionalize FRA Fed-State Partnership grants in a similar way to CIG. Although 1) funding needs to rigorously tied to driving ridership, 2) NEC project inventory needs to follow service-driven needs