@dereksagehorn.bsky.social
Interested in figuring out how to build better housing, transit and cities. Construction lawyer for CAHSR; advocate for East Bay for Everyone. Oakland.
"The speed of utility relocation is entirely subject to the utility owner's control."
cdn.sjjpa.com/wp-content/u...
cdn.sjjpa.com/wp-content/u...
November 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
"The speed of utility relocation is entirely subject to the utility owner's control."
cdn.sjjpa.com/wp-content/u...
cdn.sjjpa.com/wp-content/u...
They also have a Santa Maria grill on site?!
November 17, 2025 at 5:08 AM
They also have a Santa Maria grill on site?!
Got a peak into the Tilden Steam Train roundhouse today.
November 17, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Got a peak into the Tilden Steam Train roundhouse today.
When you’ve been reliably modernizing your rail network for 100 years through programmatic investment, electrifying a single track foothill line with at-grade crossings is still a good investment apparently.
November 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
When you’ve been reliably modernizing your rail network for 100 years through programmatic investment, electrifying a single track foothill line with at-grade crossings is still a good investment apparently.
14th Ave and E. 12th are mostly zoned CC-2 (115 DUs per acre) and 65' locally -- before any state density bonuses.
Anyone saying existing land use is a problem for Clinton/San Antonio hasn't looked at the zoning map or the planning code and is just vibing.
Anyone saying existing land use is a problem for Clinton/San Antonio hasn't looked at the zoning map or the planning code and is just vibing.
November 14, 2025 at 7:09 PM
14th Ave and E. 12th are mostly zoned CC-2 (115 DUs per acre) and 65' locally -- before any state density bonuses.
Anyone saying existing land use is a problem for Clinton/San Antonio hasn't looked at the zoning map or the planning code and is just vibing.
Anyone saying existing land use is a problem for Clinton/San Antonio hasn't looked at the zoning map or the planning code and is just vibing.
Growing pains for California Railroad Commission of 1879.
From William Deverell’s “Railroad Crossing: Californians and the Railroad 1850-1910.”
From William Deverell’s “Railroad Crossing: Californians and the Railroad 1850-1910.”
November 13, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Growing pains for California Railroad Commission of 1879.
From William Deverell’s “Railroad Crossing: Californians and the Railroad 1850-1910.”
From William Deverell’s “Railroad Crossing: Californians and the Railroad 1850-1910.”
The sheer optimism of this passage.
November 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The sheer optimism of this passage.
FTA's guidance on utility coordination ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.do...
www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.do...
November 11, 2025 at 3:32 PM
FTA's guidance on utility coordination ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.do...
www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.do...
This is the National Highway Construction Cost Index — not transit — but it’s a proxy for any concrete heavy transit project.
A project trying to finalize its capital stack over 5 years is going to get wrecked in this environment, especially if it hasn’t reached 30-60% design.
A project trying to finalize its capital stack over 5 years is going to get wrecked in this environment, especially if it hasn’t reached 30-60% design.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This is the National Highway Construction Cost Index — not transit — but it’s a proxy for any concrete heavy transit project.
A project trying to finalize its capital stack over 5 years is going to get wrecked in this environment, especially if it hasn’t reached 30-60% design.
A project trying to finalize its capital stack over 5 years is going to get wrecked in this environment, especially if it hasn’t reached 30-60% design.
That’s right
November 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
That’s right
Where a 5 year service and capital plans fit into long term and annual service planning.
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Where a 5 year service and capital plans fit into long term and annual service planning.
Utah Transit Authority's 5 Year Capital Plan makes a good argument for the benefits of multi-year framework agreements for transportation capital construction funding.
rideuta.legistar.com/MeetingDetai...
rideuta.legistar.com/MeetingDetai...
November 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Utah Transit Authority's 5 Year Capital Plan makes a good argument for the benefits of multi-year framework agreements for transportation capital construction funding.
rideuta.legistar.com/MeetingDetai...
rideuta.legistar.com/MeetingDetai...
From the October edition:
Observe how obliquely Reason discusses a 90% cost increase for a private, mixed-finance rail project.
Observe how obliquely Reason discusses a 90% cost increase for a private, mixed-finance rail project.
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
From the October edition:
Observe how obliquely Reason discusses a 90% cost increase for a private, mixed-finance rail project.
Observe how obliquely Reason discusses a 90% cost increase for a private, mixed-finance rail project.
Bob Poole's Reason Surface Transportation newsletter remains a mix of interesting news and unintentional comedy.
November 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Bob Poole's Reason Surface Transportation newsletter remains a mix of interesting news and unintentional comedy.
OakDOT with the patch job 👍
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 AM
OakDOT with the patch job 👍
“Who lives here, votes here.” - Calvin Welch
November 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
“Who lives here, votes here.” - Calvin Welch
Just picked one YIMBY group and here is their top leg priority for 2025
prosperitycalifornia.org/legislation/
prosperitycalifornia.org/legislation/
November 3, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Just picked one YIMBY group and here is their top leg priority for 2025
prosperitycalifornia.org/legislation/
prosperitycalifornia.org/legislation/
YIMBYs famously oppose MoCo style housing finance, rezoning commercial land to allow apartments, infrastructure financing, transit construction
November 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
YIMBYs famously oppose MoCo style housing finance, rezoning commercial land to allow apartments, infrastructure financing, transit construction
More of this please
November 1, 2025 at 10:26 PM
More of this please
I hate Urbanists Halloween. What do you mean you’re a bakfiets Y-wing pilot?
November 1, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I hate Urbanists Halloween. What do you mean you’re a bakfiets Y-wing pilot?
Real grim stuff from a nonprofit staff attorney and former UCSD urban studies lecturer
October 31, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Real grim stuff from a nonprofit staff attorney and former UCSD urban studies lecturer
The assumption here is that there is compelling research or data for the existing land use or that there is no need to justify the status quo.
October 31, 2025 at 8:49 PM
The assumption here is that there is compelling research or data for the existing land use or that there is no need to justify the status quo.
Proposal from Mayor: allow 4 units by-right
Counter-proposal from professional brownstoner and planners: only allow two units to protect "legacy homeowners"
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/10/31/a...
Counter-proposal from professional brownstoner and planners: only allow two units to protect "legacy homeowners"
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/10/31/a...
October 31, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Proposal from Mayor: allow 4 units by-right
Counter-proposal from professional brownstoner and planners: only allow two units to protect "legacy homeowners"
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/10/31/a...
Counter-proposal from professional brownstoner and planners: only allow two units to protect "legacy homeowners"
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/10/31/a...