The Overhead Wire
@theoverheadwire.com
Jeff Wood is the host of the Talking Headways podcast and the publisher of The Overhead Wire daily newsletter. http://theoverheadwire.com
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The Overhead Wire
@theoverheadwire.com
· Nov 14
Hey everyone! For those who might not be familiar with our work, The Overhead Wire is a daily newsletter that's been sending since 2006. We go through about 1,500 news items on cities each day and pull out the most interesting ones and tag them by topic and city for our link archive. (1/x)
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
Prague's Metro Plan is released - one outlet say 150km of new tram lines are planned - iprpraha.cz/metropolitni... It's a cool map and interactive website. Can translate to English using Google.
Metropolitní plán
Metropolitní plán jako nový územní plán pro Prahu brání nekontrolovanému rozšiřování města do okolní krajiny. Stanovuje jasné limity pro výšku budov, chrání ty stávající a navrhuje nová veřejná prostr...
iprpraha.cz
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Prague's Metro Plan is released - one outlet say 150km of new tram lines are planned - iprpraha.cz/metropolitni... It's a cool map and interactive website. Can translate to English using Google.
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Just watched this, really interesting look at Hong Kong’s success at property development and transit expansion.
November 8, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Just watched this, really interesting look at Hong Kong’s success at property development and transit expansion.
30 routes with ten minute headways is amazing. We should use that as the frequent standard instead of 15 really
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
November 7, 2025 at 7:33 AM
30 routes with ten minute headways is amazing. We should use that as the frequent standard instead of 15 really
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
CTA plans 24-hour service on Orange Line to Midway, thanks to mass transit bailout
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Talking Headways Podcast: Why Are We Going Backwards? - usa.streetsblog.org/2025/11/06/t... via @usa.streetsblog.org, @theoverheadwire.com, @t4america.bsky.social, and @corrigansalerno.bsky.social
Talking Headways Podcast: Why Are We Going Backwards? — Streetsblog USA
A very special discussion about why America keeps building highways, how President Trump is targeting transit and how we can all get a better federal transportation bill if we want it.
usa.streetsblog.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Talking Headways Podcast: Why Are We Going Backwards? - usa.streetsblog.org/2025/11/06/t... via @usa.streetsblog.org, @theoverheadwire.com, @t4america.bsky.social, and @corrigansalerno.bsky.social
I talked about a couple of recent transit wins and give some thoughts on the NYC mayoral race and why I think it resonates for many. For the many, not the few - theoverheadwire.com/2025/11/for-...
For the Many, Not the Few - The Overhead Wire
I know that everyone is talking about the mayoral race in New York City and I’ll get to that in a second, but I do also want to marvel over what has happened in the last few weeks pertaining to transi...
theoverheadwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I talked about a couple of recent transit wins and give some thoughts on the NYC mayoral race and why I think it resonates for many. For the many, not the few - theoverheadwire.com/2025/11/for-...
New #TalkingHeadways podcast! @corrigansalerno.bsky.social of @t4america.bsky.social joins the show to talk about getting federal transportation policy right! link.theoverheadwire.com/u8gwm @usa.streetsblog.org
Talking Headways Podcast: Why Are We Going Backwards? — Streetsblog USA
A very special discussion about why America keeps building highways, how President Trump is targeting transit and how we can all get a better federal transportation bill if we want it.
link.theoverheadwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
New #TalkingHeadways podcast! @corrigansalerno.bsky.social of @t4america.bsky.social joins the show to talk about getting federal transportation policy right! link.theoverheadwire.com/u8gwm @usa.streetsblog.org
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Why do builders put up giant McMansions, when zoning allows a fourplex? TLDR: A host of regulations make fourplexes lose money.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Why do builders put up giant McMansions, when zoning allows a fourplex? TLDR: A host of regulations make fourplexes lose money.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
This is a great piece on efforts to envision a truly transformational regional rail system for So Cal. Looks at all these publicly-owned tracks! We should have have 15 minute peak service running under overhead wires powered by 100% renewable energy.
November 6, 2025 at 12:03 AM
This is a great piece on efforts to envision a truly transformational regional rail system for So Cal. Looks at all these publicly-owned tracks! We should have have 15 minute peak service running under overhead wires powered by 100% renewable energy.
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Word on the street is that there are a bunch of new folks joining Bluesky right now, so it seems like a good time to re-share my first & biggest STARTER PACK of urbanists & city-making organizations from across the world. Hope you’ll consider following the excellent accounts here. And please share!
October 16, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Word on the street is that there are a bunch of new folks joining Bluesky right now, so it seems like a good time to re-share my first & biggest STARTER PACK of urbanists & city-making organizations from across the world. Hope you’ll consider following the excellent accounts here. And please share!
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
After weeks of delays and rider complaints, Metro restored signal priority to the popular Red Line light rail route in downtown Houston. bit.ly/4qLjCIC
November 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
After weeks of delays and rider complaints, Metro restored signal priority to the popular Red Line light rail route in downtown Houston. bit.ly/4qLjCIC
Wednesday's Most Read # 1 - Empire of Dirt link.theoverheadwire.com/w6yqt @slate.com @henrygrabar.bsky.social
It’s One of the Most Valuable Things in America. It Can Crash the Economy. And It’s Beneath Every Home.
A new book by journalist Mike Bird argues that the real culprit behind the housing crisis isn’t buildings—it’s the land below them.
link.theoverheadwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Wednesday's Most Read # 1 - Empire of Dirt link.theoverheadwire.com/w6yqt @slate.com @henrygrabar.bsky.social
Wednesday's Most Read # 2 - States Advance Single-Stairway Reforms to Expand Housing link.theoverheadwire.com/bftqu @pewresearch.org Pew Research
States Advance Single-Stairway Reforms to Expand Housing
Lawmakers across the United States are turning to a relatively simple but potentially effective reform to ease the nation’s housing shortage: Allow small and medium-sized apartment buildings to have a...
link.theoverheadwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Wednesday's Most Read # 2 - States Advance Single-Stairway Reforms to Expand Housing link.theoverheadwire.com/bftqu @pewresearch.org Pew Research
Wednesday's Most Read # 3 - Noah Kazis Discusses the “Radical” Structure of the Fair Housing Act link.theoverheadwire.com/pfuak University of Michigan Law
5Qs: Noah Kazis Discusses the “Radical” Structure of the Fair Housing Act | University of Michigan Law School
The federal Fair Housing Act deserves wider recognition for the powerful logic at its core, according to Professor Noah Kazis.
link.theoverheadwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Wednesday's Most Read # 3 - Noah Kazis Discusses the “Radical” Structure of the Fair Housing Act link.theoverheadwire.com/pfuak University of Michigan Law
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Zohran wasn’t the only big winner yesterday. Housing has a great day at the ballot box. my latest for @dwell.bsky.social www.dwell.com/article/affo...
Affordable Housing Plans Were the Real Winners of the 2025 Election
Zohran Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze contributed to his watershed win as New York City’s mayor-elect, part of a national trend to address the housing crisis with the ballot.
www.dwell.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Zohran wasn’t the only big winner yesterday. Housing has a great day at the ballot box. my latest for @dwell.bsky.social www.dwell.com/article/affo...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Is there anything that Caltrain did recently that might be instructive to other agencies? Something about wires?
Caltrain popularity among riders at all time high: https://blog.bayareametro.gov/posts/caltrain-popularity-among-riders-all-time-high!
Caltrain popularity among riders at all time high
Caltrain released the results of its 2025 customer satisfaction survey last week, with the rail agency receiving a record high satisfaction rating of 4.41 out of 5, up from 4.02 in 2024.
blog.bayareametro.gov
November 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Is there anything that Caltrain did recently that might be instructive to other agencies? Something about wires?
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Zohran Mamdani's focus on public transportation - and on affordability in general - paid off in a big way. Lots of fascinating insights in this map (free link)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Zohran Mamdani's focus on public transportation - and on affordability in general - paid off in a big way. Lots of fascinating insights in this map (free link)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Same rally. Same megaphone. ☺️
November 5, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Same rally. Same megaphone. ☺️
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
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 The Overhead Wire
Mary Sheffield will become the first woman elected mayor of Detroit, CNN projects. Follow live updates. https://cnn.it/4oRiL7z
November 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Mary Sheffield will become the first woman elected mayor of Detroit, CNN projects. Follow live updates. https://cnn.it/4oRiL7z
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
This is way closer than I’d like it to be but Charlotte appears set to unlock an absolutely massive infrastructure plan with the 1% sales tax increase with billions for public transit and roads up by just shy of 8k votes with almost all precincts in.
November 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM
This is way closer than I’d like it to be but Charlotte appears set to unlock an absolutely massive infrastructure plan with the 1% sales tax increase with billions for public transit and roads up by just shy of 8k votes with almost all precincts in.
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Quite literally the opposite of a windshield view taking power at City Hall. Finally.
November 5, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Quite literally the opposite of a windshield view taking power at City Hall. Finally.