Jarrett Walker
@humantransit.bsky.social
Public transit planning consultant and commentator. Author of the book “Human Transit” and the blog HumanTransit.org. The consulting firm is jarrettwalker.com. Also obsessed with literature and plants.
Portland: Highly damaging transit service cuts may be coming in the next year. Still no sign of a plan on how to prevent them.
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
Planned Bus and MAX Service Cuts
Due to a growing budget gap, we must cut some TriMet service starting in November 2025.
trimet.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Portland: Highly damaging transit service cuts may be coming in the next year. Still no sign of a plan on how to prevent them.
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
This is a great outline of the transit picture in the US.
Here's a new 25-min interview of me on the @transportopia.bsky.social podcast. We talked about the new edition of my book Human Transit, as well as transit politics, rural transit, and driverless public transit. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Transportopia Episode 10 Reimagining Public Transit: Insights from Jarrett Walker
Podcast Episode · Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas · 11/18/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:32 PM
This is a great outline of the transit picture in the US.
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
tax the empty (lots)
November 16, 2025 at 9:56 PM
tax the empty (lots)
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
Tune in to the Transportopia podcast for a new 25-min interview with urbanist and transit planning guru @humantransit.bsky.social Jarrett Walker about the new edition of his book Human Transit, transit politics, rural transit, and driverless public transit. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Transportopia Episode 10 Reimagining Public Transit: Insights from Jarrett Walker
Podcast Episode · Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas · 11/18/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Tune in to the Transportopia podcast for a new 25-min interview with urbanist and transit planning guru @humantransit.bsky.social Jarrett Walker about the new edition of his book Human Transit, transit politics, rural transit, and driverless public transit. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Here's a new 25-min interview of me on the @transportopia.bsky.social podcast. We talked about the new edition of my book Human Transit, as well as transit politics, rural transit, and driverless public transit. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Transportopia Episode 10 Reimagining Public Transit: Insights from Jarrett Walker
Podcast Episode · Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas · 11/18/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Here's a new 25-min interview of me on the @transportopia.bsky.social podcast. We talked about the new edition of my book Human Transit, as well as transit politics, rural transit, and driverless public transit. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The suburban transit agencies trying to secede from Dallas's DART are basing their plans on unrealistic visions of "microtransit." Nearby Arlington, Texas already shows the limits of that. Good @dallasobserver.com piece. www.dallasobserver.com/news/dart-co...
What Will Replace DART if Cities End Their Contracts?
Two cities allowing voters to elect to leave DART in May have offered microtransit systems as an alternative. They're flawed.
www.dallasobserver.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The suburban transit agencies trying to secede from Dallas's DART are basing their plans on unrealistic visions of "microtransit." Nearby Arlington, Texas already shows the limits of that. Good @dallasobserver.com piece. www.dallasobserver.com/news/dart-co...
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
Game-changing for US transit, allowing for the 2-minute, all day headways we see in other countries
Major announcement in just-posted board documents: DC's Metro is moving fast toward automation.
Over 15 years, Metro plans full automation & platform screen doors, which the agency says will improve safety, reliability, & travel times—at reduced costs.
www.wmata.com/about/board/...
Over 15 years, Metro plans full automation & platform screen doors, which the agency says will improve safety, reliability, & travel times—at reduced costs.
www.wmata.com/about/board/...
November 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Game-changing for US transit, allowing for the 2-minute, all day headways we see in other countries
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
Something no one prepares you for when you publish a book is how deeply moved you'll be when anyone tells you they've read it. I keep tearing up and making it really weird, sorry everyone
November 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Something no one prepares you for when you publish a book is how deeply moved you'll be when anyone tells you they've read it. I keep tearing up and making it really weird, sorry everyone
Our fun two-day course in public transit network design comes to Washington DC, Jan 15-16 (right after the @trb.org annual meeting). Please share! humantransit.org/2025/11/our-...
Our Transit Network Design Course Comes to Washington DC — Human Transit
Our firm’s two-day intensive course in transit network design is an “inexcusably fun” way to go deep into how transit networks work and learn the craft of designing them. It’s great not just for work...
humantransit.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Our fun two-day course in public transit network design comes to Washington DC, Jan 15-16 (right after the @trb.org annual meeting). Please share! humantransit.org/2025/11/our-...
I'm beginning to suspect that the Trump administration wants a major increase in homelessness because they believe the resulting horrors will all be blamed on big city mayors.
So many of their recent actions on food support, housing support, and healthcare all point this way.
So many of their recent actions on food support, housing support, and healthcare all point this way.
Some news: tomorrow at 9am, Ted Koppel + CBS Sunday Morning will air a two-part story on the devastating surge of full-time workers being pushed into homelessness.
I'll be interviewed along with two families from There Is No Place for Us. It would mean a lot if you'd watch and help spread the word.
I'll be interviewed along with two families from There Is No Place for Us. It would mean a lot if you'd watch and help spread the word.
November 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I'm beginning to suspect that the Trump administration wants a major increase in homelessness because they believe the resulting horrors will all be blamed on big city mayors.
So many of their recent actions on food support, housing support, and healthcare all point this way.
So many of their recent actions on food support, housing support, and healthcare all point this way.
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
Lots of buzz about the "affordability agenda," and how we get there.
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
No car? No problem. Building apartments near public transit could help address the housing crisis
Quantavia Smith, who was often homeless for a decade, now has a studio apartment in Los Angeles with easy access to public transit.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Lots of buzz about the "affordability agenda," and how we get there.
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
POLITICO Pro: Trump administration proposals seek to eliminate transit funding
DOT recently sent two proposals to the White House budget office seeking to pare back transit money.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
Illinois transit reform bill: “Illinois state lawmakers just removed minimum parking space requirements for developments near transit hubs [and transit corridors], a major win for housing affordability and production statewide.” www.illinoispolicy.org/housing-gets...
Housing gets boost by easing parking lot mandates near transit
The Illinois General Assembly just eliminated parking minimums for developments near transit hubs. That flexibility should boost housing.
www.illinoispolicy.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Illinois transit reform bill: “Illinois state lawmakers just removed minimum parking space requirements for developments near transit hubs [and transit corridors], a major win for housing affordability and production statewide.” www.illinoispolicy.org/housing-gets...
Glad to see some campaigns to reform academic publishing.
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Universities in 'battle of the century' with journal publisher Elsevier
One New Zealand university told its staff all universities in New Zealand and Australia would "lose some degree of access" to the publisher's 1600 titles from the start of next year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Glad to see some campaigns to reform academic publishing.
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Allowing corporations to stand between research and the people who need it is the worst kind of unproductive, innovation-discouraging activity.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Reposted by Jarrett Walker
We dropped a new report re: train operations, everyone’s favorite topic. There’s some backstory that we will get too. But, the basic takeaway is modern train systems have moved away from two-person train ops. New York should, too! transitcosts.com/Train_Operat...
transitcosts.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
We dropped a new report re: train operations, everyone’s favorite topic. There’s some backstory that we will get too. But, the basic takeaway is modern train systems have moved away from two-person train ops. New York should, too! transitcosts.com/Train_Operat...
Another piece about how Los Angeles isn't "dense enough for transit" by someone for whom buses seem to be invisible. LA is plenty dense for great transit, but most of it will logically be better, more useful buses. Let go of bus-erasure and possibilities appear! commonedge.org/authors/gerh...
Gerhard W. Mayer – Common Edge
commonedge.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Another piece about how Los Angeles isn't "dense enough for transit" by someone for whom buses seem to be invisible. LA is plenty dense for great transit, but most of it will logically be better, more useful buses. Let go of bus-erasure and possibilities appear! commonedge.org/authors/gerh...
Another story of on-demand transit (or "microtransit") hype. The cute and responsive technology works in a tiny rural town, so they propose to do it in the big city, where it will be overwhelmed. Big cities need big transit, not these distractions.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
November 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Another story of on-demand transit (or "microtransit") hype. The cute and responsive technology works in a tiny rural town, so they propose to do it in the big city, where it will be overwhelmed. Big cities need big transit, not these distractions.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
Waymo is not ready for this.
November 13, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Waymo is not ready for this.
Nobody wants to accept that they've worked for years to build nothing.
So it hurts when an infrastructure project dies. It hurts for the planners, engineers, and politicians.
We need more discussion of this process, because when it's repressed, it becomes a bad reason projects should never die.
So it hurts when an infrastructure project dies. It hurts for the planners, engineers, and politicians.
We need more discussion of this process, because when it's repressed, it becomes a bad reason projects should never die.
After years of delay and months of very bad news, ODOT staff will ask their bosses if it's finally time to pull the plug.
bikeportland.org/2025/11/11/i...
bikeportland.org/2025/11/11/i...
Is this the end? State transportation commission could defund I-5 Rose Quarter project
Project staff call the question after eight years of planning and little progress to show for it.
bikeportland.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Nobody wants to accept that they've worked for years to build nothing.
So it hurts when an infrastructure project dies. It hurts for the planners, engineers, and politicians.
We need more discussion of this process, because when it's repressed, it becomes a bad reason projects should never die.
So it hurts when an infrastructure project dies. It hurts for the planners, engineers, and politicians.
We need more discussion of this process, because when it's repressed, it becomes a bad reason projects should never die.
My book Human Transit (2024 revised edition) is 50% off at Island Press, along with many other great books.
A great holiday gift for transit-curious friends.
Print books only (because giving ebooks is no fun!)
islandpress.org/books/human-...
A great holiday gift for transit-curious friends.
Print books only (because giving ebooks is no fun!)
islandpress.org/books/human-...
Human Transit, Revised Edition
islandpress.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
My book Human Transit (2024 revised edition) is 50% off at Island Press, along with many other great books.
A great holiday gift for transit-curious friends.
Print books only (because giving ebooks is no fun!)
islandpress.org/books/human-...
A great holiday gift for transit-curious friends.
Print books only (because giving ebooks is no fun!)
islandpress.org/books/human-...
The free fares debate has reached the United Arab Emirates. I’m quoted in @thenationalnews.com saying what I usually say. www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/202....
Could free public buses work in the UAE? | The National
Faster and more connected service could be better goal, say experts
www.thenationalnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The free fares debate has reached the United Arab Emirates. I’m quoted in @thenationalnews.com saying what I usually say. www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/202....
Do cities with metros have higher transit use? Well, of course, but that doesn't mean the metros cause the transit use, or that no other transit service matters. Amazed that someone can still publish this in an academic journal in 2025 ... 1/
techxplore.com/news/2025-11...
techxplore.com/news/2025-11...
November 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Do cities with metros have higher transit use? Well, of course, but that doesn't mean the metros cause the transit use, or that no other transit service matters. Amazed that someone can still publish this in an academic journal in 2025 ... 1/
techxplore.com/news/2025-11...
techxplore.com/news/2025-11...
Denver area transit agency bans advertising covering windows.
www-denverpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.denv...
www-denverpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.denv...
RTD bans ads covering windows of metro Denver buses and trains
The prohibition means losing revenue at a time when agency officials are grappling with financial constraints.
www-denverpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org
November 11, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Denver area transit agency bans advertising covering windows.
www-denverpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.denv...
www-denverpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.denv...
This cliffhanger should be national news.
Katie Wilson is up 91 votes in the Seattle Mayor's race as Wilson-mentum continues to pay dividends.
Wilson-mentum is real.
The gap in the Seattle Mayor's race has narrowed to just 4,300 votes, or 1.88%.
The gap in the Seattle Mayor's race has narrowed to just 4,300 votes, or 1.88%.
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
This cliffhanger should be national news.