We explore the revived Baltimore Red Line light rail project with Jerome Horne, Deputy Communications Director, who explains how this 14-mile east-west corridor will transform transportation across the city while potentially healing historical urban scars.

• The Red Line project dates back to 2002 planning but was canceled in 2015 just before construction began
• Governor Wes Moore resurrected the project in 2023, recognizing its vital importance to Baltimore's transportation network
• Three route alternatives are under consideration, balancing tunneled sections versus surface routes
• The project will connect with existing light rail, metro subway, and regional rail systems
• The Red Line could help rectify harm done by the "Highway to Nowhere" that displaced Black communities
• Expected $19 billion economic impact through construction jobs, operations positions, and transit-oriented development
• Community engagement focuses on preventing displacement while encouraging appropriate density
• Jerome shares his personal journey from music education to transit advocacy, starting with an email to a transit CEO at age 10

Learn more about the Baltimore Red Line at redlinemaryland.com or follow @RedLineMaryland on social media.

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Philadelphia's public transit agency, SEPTA, faces devastating 45% budget cuts if Pennsylvania doesn't pass adequate funding, threatening to eliminate 50 bus routes, end rail service at 9 pm, and cancel five suburban rail lines. We are joined by Steve, a Transit advocate from How We Get Around, to discuss the crisis and ongoing fight to save the system.

• SEPTA's funding crisis stems from Act 89's reduction from $450 million to $50 million for public transit statewide
• COVID relief funds temporarily kept service running, but are now depleted
• Proposed cuts would eliminate 50 bus routes and end all rail service at 9 pm
• Five of thirteen suburban rail lines would be canceled entirely, including the busy Paoli-Thorndale line
• Pennsylvania Senate remains the primary obstacle to passing transit funding
• Several Republican senators from transit-served areas have emerged as advocates
• State budget negotiations continue, but without a clear timeline for resolution
• Advocacy groups, including Save the Train, Transit for All PA, and Transit Forward Philadelphia are mobilizing public pressure
• New SEPTA GM Charles Sauer, who started as a trolley operator, brings operational experience to leadership
• Advocates stress the importance of creating permanent funding solutions beyond the current crisis

Contact your Pennsylvania state representatives and senators today to support public transit funding. Visit transitforallpa.org to learn how to get involved.

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Philadelphia, one of America’s oldest cities, blends rich history with a dense, walkable urban core. Its transit system, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), includes subways, trolleys, buses, and regional rail that connect neighborhoods, suburbs, and key destinations like the airport and multiple universities. While aging infrastructure poses challenges, Philly’s compact layout makes it one of the most transit-accessible cities in the U.S. 

• SEPTA's tap-to-pay system proves convenient for making connections across multiple modes
• Roosevelt Boulevard corridor plans include potential BRT, light rail, or subway extensions by 2040
• Historic trolley system provides frequent service but faces capacity challenges with packed cars
• Visiting Camden via PATCO and returning by ferry adds a multistate dimension to Philadelphia transit
• SEPTA faces a critical funding crisis with potential 45% service cuts and fare increases threatening system viability

If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting us through Patreon, buying us a coffee, or checking out our merch store. Don't forget to like this episode and let us know which cities we should check out next!

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America's oldest subway system is experiencing a renaissance. After facing system-wide speed restrictions and a severe deficit of public trust in early 2023, Boston's MBTA has engineered a remarkable turnaround that's transforming how people move throughout the city and beyond.

Andrew Cassidy, MBTA’s Senior Director of Digital Strategy, joins us to share how transparency, leadership changes, and creative rider engagement (including their podcast Spilling the Tea) are driving a remarkable turnaround. From new tap-to-pay fares to expanded commuter rail and ferry service, MBTA is rewriting the playbook on how legacy transit systems can modernize.

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at Boston’s transit—and what it means for the future of American public transportation.

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Boston proves its rank as one of America's premier transit cities through our comprehensive exploration of its historic first subway, vintage trolleys, modern rail lines, and extensive bike infrastructure.

• Visit to the Mattapan Trolley line featuring 1940s streetcars in regular daily service
• Interview with Andrew Cassidy from MBTA about America's first subway, built in 1897
• Exploration of how Boston's transit-oriented development shapes neighborhoods like Back Bay
• Experience with Fenway Park as a model urban stadium without massive parking requirements
• Testing of Boston's outstanding Blue Bikes system
• Observation of how Boston's transit feels like traveling through different decades simultaneously
• Comparison with other cities revealing where Boston ranks on our top cities list

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get early access to our upcoming episodes in Philadelphia, Baltimore and beyond. Check out our merch store or use the "buy us a coffee" link to help keep Transit Tangents running.

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Chris and Louis respond to viewer requests by ranking the eight city tours they've featured on the show. The rankings are based on the quality of public transit, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each system, as well as their experiences in each city. 

The cities being ranked: 

• Austin, TX
• Dallas, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• Houston, TX
• New Orleans, LA
• Washington, D.C.
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Kansas City, MO

Let us know how you would rank these cities. 

Help support Transit Tangents by checking out our Patreon or merch store so we can continue bringing you transit system reviews!

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Columbus, Ohio is undertaking an ambitious $8 billion transit plan known as LinkUS that will transform mobility across the region through 2050. We explore this voter-approved initiative that focuses on BRT corridors, active transportation, and transit-oriented development rather than light rail.

• Three major BRT corridors forming the backbone of the system with plans for more
• Most corridors will feature dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare payment, and signal priority
• 500+ miles of new sidewalks and bikeways planned throughout Columbus
• Focus on transit-oriented development and creating more walkable neighborhoods
• Strong emphasis on equity, with corridors connecting neighborhoods in persistent poverty to essential services
• West Broad Street corridor serves 7 grocery stores, 12 pharmacies, 9 schools, 20 daycares, and 4 hospitals
• East Main Street corridor has 11 of 13 miles in dedicated busways
• All three initial corridors expected to be operational by the early 2030's
• Construction beginning as early as 2026 on the first corridor

If you're in Columbus, visit the LinkUS website to learn more about upcoming public meetings and provide feedback on the plans. You can even experience augmented reality visualizations of the proposed corridors.

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Louis and Chris dive into seven American highways that should be removed to improve city life and reconnect communities divided by urban renewal projects of the past.

• Kansas City's North Loop divides downtown from the historic River Market area, destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses
• Syracuse's I-81 removal project is moving forward with plans to replace the downtown viaduct with a boulevard
• New Orleans' Claiborne Expressway displaced 1,500 people and continues to harm adjacent neighborhoods
• Baltimore's "Highway to Nowhere" spans just 14 city blocks but demolished 900 homes and serves no transportation purpose
• Portland Maine's I-295 occupies valuable waterfront property that could be reclaimed for public use and housing
• Oakland's 980 freeway runs through downtown at below capacity and sits on land that could address the housing crisis
• Milwaukee's I-794 removal proposal has state support and would reconnect neighborhoods to downtown and the waterfront

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Transit projects across the country are making measurable progress despite earlier funding and political challenges. We revisit four transit initiatives from previous episodes to highlight the positive developments that show momentum for public transportation investments.

• SunRail expansion in Orlando has secured the full $6 million needed for project development and environmental studies, with Universal contributing $2 million
• Dynamic testing has begun on Maryland's Purple Line, which is now 76% complete with a projected opening in winter 2027
• Dallas Area Transit Alliance (DATA) successfully fought against legislative attempts to cut DART's budget by 25%
• Austin City Council approved support columns for future I-35 caps downtown and stitches near Airport Boulevard, adopting a phased approach to urban reconnection
• These projects demonstrate the importance of public-private partnerships, grassroots advocacy, and strategic compromise in advancing transit

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Transit Tangents explores Kansas City's public transportation system in a day-long adventure testing buses, bikes, and the streetcar across both Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. We discover a surprising transit network with remarkable architectural treasures and vibrant neighborhoods connected by a completely fare-free system.

• Kansas City operates the largest fare-free transit system in the United States, generating fair ridership but facing funding challenges
• Historic Union Station serves as a magnificent transit hub that narrowly escaped demolition in the city's past
• The Kansas City Streetcar shows consistently strong ridership even before its northern and southern extensions are completed
• MAX bus routes provide relatively reliable service at 20-minute frequencies, while other routes run much less frequently
• The city once had an extensive streetcar network until 1956, with the Country Club line now converted to a linear park
• Multiple areas along transit routes showcase impressive development, from the Spanish-inspired Plaza to the Brookside neighborhood
• Electric bikeshare provides a convenient alternative for short trips between transit routes
• Weather conditions dramatically impact the transit experience, particularly at bus stops with limited shelter
• Highway removal proposals for the North Loop present opportunities to reconnect downtown neighborhoods
• Transit infrastructure crosses state lines with KCATA serving both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the metropolitan area

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