Kevin Xu Shen 沈志文
@kevshen.bsky.social
transportation, policy, planning, and onwards. 🚌 fighting for clean air and a just world. now at
@UCSUSA, recently at @MIT. he/him. views my own.
@UCSUSA, recently at @MIT. he/him. views my own.
Promising solutions? Weight-based user fees, diesel tax, are a promising start, but most definitely not letting the trucking industry off the hook for the $150b/year in damages they cause--
November 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Promising solutions? Weight-based user fees, diesel tax, are a promising start, but most definitely not letting the trucking industry off the hook for the $150b/year in damages they cause--
Meanwhile, the trucking industry has the audacity to advocate for contributing even less by taking out the federal excise tax, and pointing the finger at everyone else to make up the difference.
November 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Meanwhile, the trucking industry has the audacity to advocate for contributing even less by taking out the federal excise tax, and pointing the finger at everyone else to make up the difference.
But on net, this is a huge victory for transit across state and in Chicagoland, and couldn't have been done without advocates like the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition! And that's not even to mention the other beneficial parts of the bill!
October 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
But on net, this is a huge victory for transit across state and in Chicagoland, and couldn't have been done without advocates like the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition! And that's not even to mention the other beneficial parts of the bill!
Progressive sources like the the House-proposed mark-to-market tax for billionaires (taxing income from assets the same as all other income) could've mitigated inequitable impacts, but didn't make it into the final bill.
October 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Progressive sources like the the House-proposed mark-to-market tax for billionaires (taxing income from assets the same as all other income) could've mitigated inequitable impacts, but didn't make it into the final bill.
One of the big topics these past couple months was regressivity- I pulled some national data to check it out: The sources that passed are less regressive than the Senate-proposed retail delivery fee, but still tax poor people at higher rates.
October 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
One of the big topics these past couple months was regressivity- I pulled some national data to check it out: The sources that passed are less regressive than the Senate-proposed retail delivery fee, but still tax poor people at higher rates.
Though, that's counterbalanced by a $1B/year increase in tolls to fund tollway capital projects (aka more road). So the road lobby also eked out a victory for themselves.
October 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Though, that's counterbalanced by a $1B/year increase in tolls to fund tollway capital projects (aka more road). So the road lobby also eked out a victory for themselves.
The biggest source of funding, redirecting around $870M a year of fuel tax revenue from roadways to transit by itself is a climate win and much needed recognition of the importance of cleaner, affordable, and equitable transportation options, and is a long-time advocate ask.
October 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The biggest source of funding, redirecting around $870M a year of fuel tax revenue from roadways to transit by itself is a climate win and much needed recognition of the importance of cleaner, affordable, and equitable transportation options, and is a long-time advocate ask.
Reposted by Kevin Xu Shen 沈志文
I've expanded this thread into a blog post here: bsky.app/profile/ucsu...
In 2018 Musk won a bid for high-speed transit in Chicago. He tried to sell the city on technology that didn’t exist and his proposal was never built. He lied and showed little regard for public services. "We are now seeing the consequences of putting someone like that in a position of power."
Blog:
Blog:
Transportation Professionals Saw Elon Musk’s Lies and Disdain for the Public Firsthand.
We can't sit on the sidelines now.
blog.ucs.org
March 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I've expanded this thread into a blog post here: bsky.app/profile/ucsu...
Key take on NEPA: we must protect it from current attacks, and much more is needed, especially for harmful projects like highway expansions.
The current process gives a crucial route to public engagement, but depends on if a project is deemed to have "significant impacts", often a subjective Q.
The current process gives a crucial route to public engagement, but depends on if a project is deemed to have "significant impacts", often a subjective Q.
March 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Key take on NEPA: we must protect it from current attacks, and much more is needed, especially for harmful projects like highway expansions.
The current process gives a crucial route to public engagement, but depends on if a project is deemed to have "significant impacts", often a subjective Q.
The current process gives a crucial route to public engagement, but depends on if a project is deemed to have "significant impacts", often a subjective Q.