Yonah Freemark
@yonahfreemark.com
Transport / Housing / Land Use / Politics / @urbaninstitute.bsky.social / Le progrès ne vaut que s’il est partagé par tous / yonahfreemark.com / thetransportpolitic.com
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Where is transit expansion happening around the world? Basically everywhere!
Brand new on The Transport Politic: The hundreds of metro, light rail, bus, & aerial tram projects planned to open in 2026. 🛤️ 🚋 🚌
www.thetransportpolitic.com/2026/01/20/t...
Brand new on The Transport Politic: The hundreds of metro, light rail, bus, & aerial tram projects planned to open in 2026. 🛤️ 🚋 🚌
www.thetransportpolitic.com/2026/01/20/t...
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
NEW: Of the 19 states that voted for Harris over Trump in 2024, there's now only one where state officials are contracting with ICE's 287(g) program.
Massachusetts.
The other blue states have either quit the program, or outright banned participation in it.
My colleague looked at what's happening:
Massachusetts.
The other blue states have either quit the program, or outright banned participation in it.
My colleague looked at what's happening:
Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts
Luis Perez waited 53 and a half years to be freed from prison. When his day finally came, on Jan. 16, 2025, he could practically feel the warmth and quiet... Read More
boltsmag.org
February 9, 2026 at 6:16 PM
NEW: Of the 19 states that voted for Harris over Trump in 2024, there's now only one where state officials are contracting with ICE's 287(g) program.
Massachusetts.
The other blue states have either quit the program, or outright banned participation in it.
My colleague looked at what's happening:
Massachusetts.
The other blue states have either quit the program, or outright banned participation in it.
My colleague looked at what's happening:
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
They’re rounding up and imprisoning even legal workers:
February 9, 2026 at 1:52 PM
They’re rounding up and imprisoning even legal workers:
The federal government continues its assault on infrastructure investment
The Trump administration plans to appeal a temporary court order that blocks the federal government from withholding funds for a $16 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River
Trump Administration to Appeal Court Order on NY-NJ Tunnel Funds
The Trump administration plans to appeal a temporary court order that blocks the federal government from withholding funds for a $16 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River.
bloom.bg
February 9, 2026 at 3:11 AM
The federal government continues its assault on infrastructure investment
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...
The end of DOE’s grid work in Puerto Rico
The Trump administration has canceled all eight of the remaining awards devoted to distributed energy on the island.
www.latitudemedia.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
After 15 years of construction, Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown light rail—Line 5—finally opened today. The 19 km, 25-station, $13 b line includes a subway section & creates an east-west connection across the city. It is expected to carry 123,000 daily. An extension to the west is under construction.
February 8, 2026 at 5:03 PM
After 15 years of construction, Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown light rail—Line 5—finally opened today. The 19 km, 25-station, $13 b line includes a subway section & creates an east-west connection across the city. It is expected to carry 123,000 daily. An extension to the west is under construction.
Huge deal in LA. Council member Raman will challenge Mayor Bass. She’s a DSA member who’s been focused on housing policy. She also happens to have an urban planning degree.
"Nithya Raman, who has been compared to Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, presents a significant challenge to the incumbent, Mayor Karen Bass." NYT gets the scoop
Rising Progressive Star Shakes Up Race for Los Angeles Mayor
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Huge deal in LA. Council member Raman will challenge Mayor Bass. She’s a DSA member who’s been focused on housing policy. She also happens to have an urban planning degree.
After the Paris 24 opening ceremony, the Milan 26 opening felt weak & uncreative. No effort to use the city as a stage, no effort to play with convention. The rotating paint tubes were a nice touch.
February 7, 2026 at 4:53 PM
After the Paris 24 opening ceremony, the Milan 26 opening felt weak & uncreative. No effort to use the city as a stage, no effort to play with convention. The rotating paint tubes were a nice touch.
Major news in NYC: NY secretary of state won a court order blocking the Trump admin from freezing funds for the new Hudson tunnel, the Gateway project.
February 7, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Major news in NYC: NY secretary of state won a court order blocking the Trump admin from freezing funds for the new Hudson tunnel, the Gateway project.
The US president's petty effort to blackmail Democrats to get a station & airport named after him are directly contributing to infrastructure project delays, cost increases, and job eliminations.
INBOX: Hudson River Tunnel construction officially stopped amid Trump admin funding interference.
This hours before a TRO hearing in Manhattan
This hours before a TRO hearing in Manhattan
Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Suspended Due to Lack of Federal Funding
mailchi.mp
February 6, 2026 at 3:50 PM
The US president's petty effort to blackmail Democrats to get a station & airport named after him are directly contributing to infrastructure project delays, cost increases, and job eliminations.
TL;DR Donald Trump is blackmailing the country in exchange for naming rights
Trump wanted Dulles Airport and Penn Station named after him as condition of releasing rail tunnel funds
Funding for the Gateway Project has been held up since October.
www.politico.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:53 PM
TL;DR Donald Trump is blackmailing the country in exchange for naming rights
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Today we have US transit data for all of 2025, & DC's WMATA was officially the fastest-growing major US agency, with ridership up 8.7%!
The LIRR (NY, 6.4%), King County Metro (Seattle, +6.5%) & SEPTA (Philly, +4.7%) performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit lost riders🧵
The LIRR (NY, 6.4%), King County Metro (Seattle, +6.5%) & SEPTA (Philly, +4.7%) performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit lost riders🧵
February 6, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Today we have US transit data for all of 2025, & DC's WMATA was officially the fastest-growing major US agency, with ridership up 8.7%!
The LIRR (NY, 6.4%), King County Metro (Seattle, +6.5%) & SEPTA (Philly, +4.7%) performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit lost riders🧵
The LIRR (NY, 6.4%), King County Metro (Seattle, +6.5%) & SEPTA (Philly, +4.7%) performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit lost riders🧵
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
flatly impeachable conduct
Punchbowl reports Trump will release Gateway funds if Schumer agrees to rename Dulles and Penn Station for Trump.
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
Trump wants Dulles and Penn Station renamed for him
Trump offered to release the funding for the Gateway infrastructure project if Schumer agrees to support renaming Dulles and Penn Station after Trump.
punchbowl.news
February 5, 2026 at 11:40 PM
flatly impeachable conduct
A self-absorbed megalomaniac in action
Punchbowl reports Trump will release Gateway funds if Schumer agrees to rename Dulles and Penn Station for Trump.
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
punchbowl.news/article/whit...
Trump wants Dulles and Penn Station renamed for him
Trump offered to release the funding for the Gateway infrastructure project if Schumer agrees to support renaming Dulles and Penn Station after Trump.
punchbowl.news
February 5, 2026 at 11:30 PM
A self-absorbed megalomaniac in action
If I'm interpreting these data correctly, high-speed rail services departing from or arriving in Hong Kong (pop. 7.5 million) are now achieving ridership levels equivalent to the entire Amtrak system.
Some cool graphics from Bloomberg on the high speed rail network connecting Hong Kong
February 5, 2026 at 11:28 PM
If I'm interpreting these data correctly, high-speed rail services departing from or arriving in Hong Kong (pop. 7.5 million) are now achieving ridership levels equivalent to the entire Amtrak system.
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Yesterday, in a blatantly partisan move, the White House instructed the US DOT & the CDC to cut $1.5 b in grants, exclusively in Blue states.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
Exclusive | White House instructs DOT, CDC to cut $1.5B in grants for Dem states, citing ‘waste and mismanagement’
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told the DOT Wednesday to cancel more than $943 million, while the CDC was ordered to nix at least $602 million meant for California, Colorado, Illinois an…
nypost.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Yesterday, in a blatantly partisan move, the White House instructed the US DOT & the CDC to cut $1.5 b in grants, exclusively in Blue states.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
Yesterday, in a blatantly partisan move, the White House instructed the US DOT & the CDC to cut $1.5 b in grants, exclusively in Blue states.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
Exclusive | White House instructs DOT, CDC to cut $1.5B in grants for Dem states, citing ‘waste and mismanagement’
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told the DOT Wednesday to cancel more than $943 million, while the CDC was ordered to nix at least $602 million meant for California, Colorado, Illinois an…
nypost.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Yesterday, in a blatantly partisan move, the White House instructed the US DOT & the CDC to cut $1.5 b in grants, exclusively in Blue states.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
The grants appear to be being cut because they support poor neighborhoods, non-English speakers, queer people, or efforts to combat climate change.
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Indian government allocated $32 b for capital expenditures on its railways in 2026. This includes initial funds for 7 additional high-speed lines on 2,500 mi, adding to the 316 mi Mumbai–Ahmedabad Line, now under construction (the US Northeast Corridor is 450 mi). www.railjournal.com/passenger/hi...
February 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Indian government allocated $32 b for capital expenditures on its railways in 2026. This includes initial funds for 7 additional high-speed lines on 2,500 mi, adding to the 316 mi Mumbai–Ahmedabad Line, now under construction (the US Northeast Corridor is 450 mi). www.railjournal.com/passenger/hi...
Indian government allocated $32 b for capital expenditures on its railways in 2026. This includes initial funds for 7 additional high-speed lines on 2,500 mi, adding to the 316 mi Mumbai–Ahmedabad Line, now under construction (the US Northeast Corridor is 450 mi). www.railjournal.com/passenger/hi...
February 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Indian government allocated $32 b for capital expenditures on its railways in 2026. This includes initial funds for 7 additional high-speed lines on 2,500 mi, adding to the 316 mi Mumbai–Ahmedabad Line, now under construction (the US Northeast Corridor is 450 mi). www.railjournal.com/passenger/hi...
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Fantastic story by @conordougherty.bsky.social about the conundrum at the center of the housing crisis: people trying to buy a home to build a nest egg need housing prices to come down, while the people who already own need prices to go up so that nest egg can grow. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Voters Say Housing Prices Are Too High. Trump Wants Them Higher.
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Fantastic story by @conordougherty.bsky.social about the conundrum at the center of the housing crisis: people trying to buy a home to build a nest egg need housing prices to come down, while the people who already own need prices to go up so that nest egg can grow. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
FY26 US govt spending bill that Congress just agreed to mostly funds agencies as in FY25, though it:
—Reinforced DOGE’s 24% cut to HUD staff
—Reduced resources for rail substantially, including recissions of $950m for high-speed rail grants
—Reduced spending for transit, increased it for highways
—Reinforced DOGE’s 24% cut to HUD staff
—Reduced resources for rail substantially, including recissions of $950m for high-speed rail grants
—Reduced spending for transit, increased it for highways
appropriations.house.gov
February 4, 2026 at 4:31 AM
FY26 US govt spending bill that Congress just agreed to mostly funds agencies as in FY25, though it:
—Reinforced DOGE’s 24% cut to HUD staff
—Reduced resources for rail substantially, including recissions of $950m for high-speed rail grants
—Reduced spending for transit, increased it for highways
—Reinforced DOGE’s 24% cut to HUD staff
—Reduced resources for rail substantially, including recissions of $950m for high-speed rail grants
—Reduced spending for transit, increased it for highways
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023.
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
February 3, 2026 at 5:27 PM
The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023.
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
She’s asking about the Epstein victims
And
He’s telling @kaitlancollins.bsky.social to smile. I want to scream.
And
He’s telling @kaitlancollins.bsky.social to smile. I want to scream.
Trump attacks CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for asking a question about Epstein survivors
February 3, 2026 at 10:21 PM
She’s asking about the Epstein victims
And
He’s telling @kaitlancollins.bsky.social to smile. I want to scream.
And
He’s telling @kaitlancollins.bsky.social to smile. I want to scream.
Text of lawsuit by Gateway project vs. US government for failure to fund the cross-Hudson tunnel.
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
www.gatewayprogram.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Text of lawsuit by Gateway project vs. US government for failure to fund the cross-Hudson tunnel.
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
The key issue: The US government suspended funding for this vital infrastructure project because that project used DBE contracting, but the DBE contracting was *required* by the US DOT's own rules!
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
The White House is holding this project hostage—unconstitutionally, as it was funded by Congress—because:
(a) it followed contracting rules the Trump admin doesn’t like, but which were the law when the project was contracting.
(b) Sen. Schumer likes the project.
(c) Something, something immigration.
(a) it followed contracting rules the Trump admin doesn’t like, but which were the law when the project was contracting.
(b) Sen. Schumer likes the project.
(c) Something, something immigration.
BREAKING -- the Gateway Development Commission filed suit against the Trump administration in the Court of Federal Claims tonight, accusing the feds of breach of contract in their ongoing refusal to fund the Hudson River Tunnel
Gateway Development Commission sues Trump for breach of contract over Hudson River Tunnel cash
The Gateway Development Commission sued the federal government late Monday, after months of the Trump administration’s refusal to distribute money approved by Congress for the construction of…
www.nydailynews.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:44 AM
The White House is holding this project hostage—unconstitutionally, as it was funded by Congress—because:
(a) it followed contracting rules the Trump admin doesn’t like, but which were the law when the project was contracting.
(b) Sen. Schumer likes the project.
(c) Something, something immigration.
(a) it followed contracting rules the Trump admin doesn’t like, but which were the law when the project was contracting.
(b) Sen. Schumer likes the project.
(c) Something, something immigration.