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 20
How to Use The Overhead Wire Archive
YouTube video by TheOverheadWire
www.youtube.com
I put together a video explainer about how to use our news link archive! We've collected and categorized over 100,000 items since 2013 and I hope folks get a chance to check it out. www.youtube.com/watch?v=arUe...
Wednesday's Most Read # 1 - This Bill Would Give Your Community More Money To Build Its Own Transportation Future link.theoverheadwire.com/n3g4w @usa.streetsblog.org @keawilson.bsky.social
This Bill Would Give Your Community More Money To Build Its Own Transportation Future — Streetsblog USA
States monopolize federal transportation funding even though local and regional governments oversee most of our nation's roads. It's time for that to change, a new bill argues.
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Wednesday's Most Read # 1 - This Bill Would Give Your Community More Money To Build Its Own Transportation Future link.theoverheadwire.com/n3g4w @usa.streetsblog.org @keawilson.bsky.social
Wednesday's Most Read # 2 - With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet link.theoverheadwire.com/f4pre @404media.co
With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet
Ring's 'Search Party' is dystopian surveillance accelerationism.
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Wednesday's Most Read # 2 - With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet link.theoverheadwire.com/f4pre @404media.co
Wednesday's Most Read # 3 - The Best Tactics for Tackling Speeders link.theoverheadwire.com/wd6gt Bloomberg CityLab @davidzipper.bsky.social
The Best Tactics for Tackling Speeders
Drivers who exceed speed limits are the cause of about one-third of all crash deaths in the US. To slow them down and save lives, cities have several effective tools.
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Wednesday's Most Read # 3 - The Best Tactics for Tackling Speeders link.theoverheadwire.com/wd6gt Bloomberg CityLab @davidzipper.bsky.social
Follow along if you're just joining or have been here a while!
I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.
February 11, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Follow along if you're just joining or have been here a while!
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I don’t know how many people join Bluesky each day, but my sense is that more & more people are discovering the outstanding community/conversation here (best on social media) about better cities. I still think STARTER PACKS are a superpower. I’ve made many, but here’s my first again. Please share.
Lafayette CA being Lafayette - they have a BART station but think they are semi-rural - "A majority of the feedback focused on preserving the city’s semi-rural character...Specifically, many addressed a desire to not look like Walnut Creek. lamorindaweekly.com/articles/202...
Lafayette council discusses new objective design standards — Lamorinda Weekly
Lafayette Senior Planner Alry Cassidy introduced Objective Design Standards (ODS) to the City Council during its Jan. 12 meeting, before turning the presentation over to Monica Szydlik, Senior Associa...
lamorindaweekly.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Lafayette CA being Lafayette - they have a BART station but think they are semi-rural - "A majority of the feedback focused on preserving the city’s semi-rural character...Specifically, many addressed a desire to not look like Walnut Creek. lamorindaweekly.com/articles/202...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Ben Ogden of Vermont skied powerfully, finishing just behind Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway. It was the first Olympic medal for a U.S. men's cross-country skier since 1976. n.pr/3ZuVXQx
American Ben Ogden wins silver, breaking 50 year medal drought for U.S. men's cross-country skiing
Ben Ogden of Vermont skied powerfully, finishing just behind Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway. It was the first Olympic medal for a U.S. men's cross-country skier since 1976.
n.pr
February 10, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Ben Ogden of Vermont skied powerfully, finishing just behind Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway. It was the first Olympic medal for a U.S. men's cross-country skier since 1976. n.pr/3ZuVXQx
Tuesday's Most Read # 1 - What's The Matter With Texas (And Florida)? link.theoverheadwire.com/f3aj4 Future of Where w Bill Fulton
What's The Matter With Texas (And Florida)?
The two biggest Southern states aren't attracting people from other states like they used to -- and they're highly dependent on immigrants for population growth. Meanwhile, the Carolinas are booming.
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Tuesday's Most Read # 1 - What's The Matter With Texas (And Florida)? link.theoverheadwire.com/f3aj4 Future of Where w Bill Fulton
Tuesday's Most Read # 2 - Startup unveils groundbreaking tech that could transform gas stations across US: 'We sell time' link.theoverheadwire.com/mtd3v The Cool Down
Startup unveils groundbreaking tech that could transform gas stations across US: 'We sell time'
One of the biggest hurdles to widespread electric vehicle adoption may be closer to being solved.
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Tuesday's Most Read # 2 - Startup unveils groundbreaking tech that could transform gas stations across US: 'We sell time' link.theoverheadwire.com/mtd3v The Cool Down
Tuesday's Most Read # 3 - Speck: Traffic Safety or Culture War? Trump’s Desire to ‘Own The Libs’ Undermines Safety link.theoverheadwire.com/7chxp @usa.streetsblog.org
Traffic Safety or Culture War? Trump's Desire to 'Own The Libs' Undermines Safety — Streetsblog USA
Why is the federal government truly playing politics over rainbow crosswalks when human lives are at stake?
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Tuesday's Most Read # 3 - Speck: Traffic Safety or Culture War? Trump’s Desire to ‘Own The Libs’ Undermines Safety link.theoverheadwire.com/7chxp @usa.streetsblog.org
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Aaand there you go: Trump’s sudden about-face on the most important Canada-US border crossing came after meeting with the billionaire family that owns the rival bridge. Nice scoop, confirming suspicions of everyone who has followed this file and is familiar with Trump www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/w...
Bridge Owner Lobbied Administration Before Trump Blasted Competing Span to Canada
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Aaand there you go: Trump’s sudden about-face on the most important Canada-US border crossing came after meeting with the billionaire family that owns the rival bridge. Nice scoop, confirming suspicions of everyone who has followed this file and is familiar with Trump www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/w...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
have never seen popular public opinion shift so fast about a surveillance product than the fallout from ring's super bowl "search party" ad. they'll teach this in advertising courses one day. chef's kiss baby www.404media.co/with-ring-am...
With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet
Ring's 'Search Party' is dystopian surveillance accelerationism.
www.404media.co
February 10, 2026 at 3:14 PM
have never seen popular public opinion shift so fast about a surveillance product than the fallout from ring's super bowl "search party" ad. they'll teach this in advertising courses one day. chef's kiss baby www.404media.co/with-ring-am...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
so red tag them. these facilities were not designed for habitation. they don't have adequate insulation, ventilation, sanitation. they don't have the same use.
shut these inhumane warehouses down for the numerous code and public health violations
shut these inhumane warehouses down for the numerous code and public health violations
Crucially, many local governments are furious with ICE over these purchases, because they were not consulted or even told. Because they are federal property now, it's taking a commercial property off the tax rolls while likely imposing dramatic additional infrastructure costs.
February 9, 2026 at 10:09 PM
so red tag them. these facilities were not designed for habitation. they don't have adequate insulation, ventilation, sanitation. they don't have the same use.
shut these inhumane warehouses down for the numerous code and public health violations
shut these inhumane warehouses down for the numerous code and public health violations
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Oh wow, congress making moves to support single stair and point access blocks
February 10, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Oh wow, congress making moves to support single stair and point access blocks
Post a banger that isn't in English... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDdT...
February 10, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Post a banger that isn't in English... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDdT...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Great poster for Star Wars by Mark Englert
February 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Great poster for Star Wars by Mark Englert
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
"He said he has been locked in the same large, cold and damp room for 4½ months with more than 70 men. He said detainees are constantly hungry because meals served at tables in the centre of the room offer only child-sized portions." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
"He said he has been locked in the same large, cold and damp room for 4½ months with more than 70 men. He said detainees are constantly hungry because meals served at tables in the centre of the room offer only child-sized portions." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
Why are construction costs exploding faster than inflation? Because use of consultants is skyrocketing, even though in-house staff save 6x their cost.
But CA High Speed Rail bucks the trend, with staff/consultant ratios flipped since a 2018 audit called out understaffing. #JustTransitionForCaltrans
But CA High Speed Rail bucks the trend, with staff/consultant ratios flipped since a 2018 audit called out understaffing. #JustTransitionForCaltrans
February 9, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Why are construction costs exploding faster than inflation? Because use of consultants is skyrocketing, even though in-house staff save 6x their cost.
But CA High Speed Rail bucks the trend, with staff/consultant ratios flipped since a 2018 audit called out understaffing. #JustTransitionForCaltrans
But CA High Speed Rail bucks the trend, with staff/consultant ratios flipped since a 2018 audit called out understaffing. #JustTransitionForCaltrans
Bus only scarves are back! We were briefly sold out but just got another order. Find them here theoverheadwire.com/2025/02/new-...
Updated: Bus Scarves are Back! - The Overhead Wire
One of the things we’ve been talking about for a while is figuring out a reward for podcast listeners and long time guests. The idea of a supporter soccer scarf designed for transportation nerds was w...
theoverheadwire.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Bus only scarves are back! We were briefly sold out but just got another order. Find them here theoverheadwire.com/2025/02/new-...
Monday's Most Read # 1 - I’m walking here! A new model maps foot traffic in New York City link.theoverheadwire.com/pk4dc MIT News
I’m walking here! A new model maps foot traffic in New York City
MIT researchers built a complete model of pedestrian activity in New York City, the first such comprehensive effort for any U.S. city. The model could help planners decide where to invest in pedestria...
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Monday's Most Read # 1 - I’m walking here! A new model maps foot traffic in New York City link.theoverheadwire.com/pk4dc MIT News
Monday's Most Read # 2 - Some Waymos Get Assistance From Remote Workers in the Philippines When They’re Stuck link.theoverheadwire.com/yc7ge @sfist.bsky.social
Some Waymos Get Assistance From Remote Workers in the Philippines When They’re Stuck
During a hearing on self-driving vehicles in Washington DC Wednesday, a Waymo executive said that remote workers as far away as the Philippines are guiding the robotaxis when they encounter difficult ...
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Monday's Most Read # 2 - Some Waymos Get Assistance From Remote Workers in the Philippines When They’re Stuck link.theoverheadwire.com/yc7ge @sfist.bsky.social
Monday's Most Read # 3 - The High Cost of Throwing Things Away link.theoverheadwire.com/7qamp Ethos
The High Cost of Throwing Things Away
Our garbage-fueled culture is a problem. It's a leading contributor to climate change, and that's just the tip of the trashberg.
link.theoverheadwire.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Monday's Most Read # 3 - The High Cost of Throwing Things Away link.theoverheadwire.com/7qamp Ethos
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by The Overhead Wire
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 The Overhead Wire
