Transit advocates are watching with concern as several high-profile transit projects across America face uncertain futures under the Trump administration, from New York's congestion pricing to California's high-speed rail.

• NYC's congestion pricing has shown remarkable early success with 70% fewer honking complaints, 50% fewer traffic injuries, and increased transit ridership
• The MTA's $500 million annual revenue from congestion pricing funds critical improvements to accessibility, bus frequency, and subway infrastructure
• California High-Speed Rail construction continues despite funding threats, with $14 billion already invested and 15,000 jobs created
• San Antonio's Green Line BRT project would deliver vital 10-15 minute frequency service along a 12-mile corridor in America's largest city without rail
• Virginia's railway expansion includes crucial bottleneck improvements to the Long Bridge, which operates at 95% capacity
• Austin's highway cap project faces uncertainty with rising costs reaching $1.4 billion while the underlying I-35 expansion proceeds unimpeded
• Projects across the country face delays and funding challenges as previously awarded grants undergo review

Share your thoughts on which transit projects in your area might be at risk and which projects you think should be prioritized! We'd love to hear from you in the comments.

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The saga of high-speed rail in Texas takes another dramatic turn as the Trump administration revokes $60 million in funding previously allocated to Amtrak for the Texas Central project. Despite this setback, we explore why the Dallas-Houston line might actually be closer to reality than ever before.

• Texas high-speed rail initiatives date back to the 1990s when Southwest Airlines played a significant role in derailing early efforts
• Texas Central, the current iteration of the project, would connect Dallas to Houston in 90 minutes using trains capable of 205 mph
• After years of lawsuits, Texas Central gained crucial eminent domain authority by being classified as a utility
• Amtrak briefly took over the project in 2024 before Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pulled federal funding
• A private investment firm, Kleinheinz Capital Partners, has stepped in as lead investor just one day after federal funding was withdrawn
• The project could potentially be finalized by year-end with construction taking approximately 80-86 months
• Despite organized opposition groups like "Texans Against High Speed Rail," the project now has all legal frameworks in place

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Urban Lab, a Kansas City-based urbanist group, hopes to inspire city leaders to reimagine streets, developments, and public spaces. Founded by architect Matt Hasek, this grassroots organization has grown organically by creating compelling visual representations that help people see how urban spaces could be different.

• Kansas City has more highway miles per capita than nearly anywhere else in the United States
• The city once had 350 miles of streetcar, now reduced to just 2.2 miles of streetcar
• Urban Lab creates detailed visualizations of specific Kansas City locations rather than generic urban spaces
• Their work includes reimagining the historic Plaza area, the Grand Boulevard corridor, and proposals for highway removal
• One of their designs is currently being implemented by the city, with 80-85% of their model likely to be realized
• Urban Lab's process focuses on both building on existing momentum and introducing new concepts to spark conversation
• Their visualizations target both the general public and city officials who can implement change

You can learn more about Urban Lab here. 

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Swyft Cities has developed a revolutionary transit concept called Whoosh that combines the benefits of gondolas with autonomous vehicles to create a flexible, efficient transit solution for short urban trips.

• Not a traditional gondola but an autonomous vehicle system using overhead cables
• Vehicles operate independently, picking up passengers at ground level and traveling directly to destinations without intermediate stops
• Costs approximately $5-20 million per mile compared to billions for light rail
• Developed while solving mobility challenges for Google's corporate campuses
• Fills the transit gap between bus capacity (1,200 passengers/hour) and light rail (8,000+ passengers/hour)
• Perfect for 1-5 mile trips which represent 50-55% of all daily travel
• Modular design allows systems to start small (3-4 stations) and expand incrementally
• Can be constructed quickly with first operational systems expected by 2027
• Works best in commercial corridors, entertainment districts, and medium-density areas
• Enables development of walkable, mixed-use districts without car dependency

If you're interested in learning more about Swyft Cities and the Whoosh system, visit swyftcities.com or find them on social media platforms X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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Kansas City's streetcar system has transformed downtown with $4 billion in development since opening in 2016, and now two major extensions will nearly triple the system's reach to the university district and riverfront.

• 2.2-mile downtown streetcar line has carried over 14 million passengers since 2016
• Extensions will add 3.5 miles south to University of Missouri-Kansas City and 0.7 miles north to the riverfront
• Fleet expanding from 6 to 14 streetcars to maintain 10-12 minute service frequencies
• Comprehensive infrastructure improvements include new water/sewer lines, sidewalks, and green spaces
• Downtown residential population has grown to approximately 36,000 people
• Maintenance facility tour revealed specialized equipment for streetcar upkeep
• Ridership profile expected to diversify with more students and recreational users
• Mixed-traffic operations require ongoing adaptations including some parking removal
• Some sections of the extensions will feature dedicated transit lanes


Check out the Kansas City Streetcar at kcstreetcar.org or find them on all social media platforms at @kcstreetcar to keep up with their progress.

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Happy April everyone!

Oh Arlington, Texas — the shimmering crown jewel of American urban planning, where the concept of “public transit” strikes fear and loathing into the very soul of its leaders. Truly, a masterclass in how not to move people around.

Let’s start with the obvious: no buses. No trains. Not even a lonely streetcar to pretend someone cared. But hey, they do have a microtransit experiment, in the form of VIA, which is basically Uber with a city-branded logo. Revolutionary! Nothing says “world-class public transit” like handing people a voucher code and hoping they figure it out. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, this host city is really going to FAFO. 

Want to walk? Adorable. Arlington sidewalks are optional—just like their commitment to multimodal transportation. And biking? Sure, if you enjoy the thrill of dodging pickup trucks moving at 85 mph on roads designed exclusively for vehicular domination.

But don’t worry, you can get to the Cowboys game as long as you drive. Or teleport. Or rent a camel. Because even when there’s a football game and thousands of cars crawling toward JerryWorld like a scene from Mad Max, mobility is a DIY project.

In conclusion, Arlington’s transit system is a bold experiment in pretending transit doesn’t exist. A true pioneer in the field of "Let’s Just Not." Five stars — for comedy value. Zero stars for everything else.

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We attend South by Southwest's transportation track to discover what this cutting-edge collection of thought leaders envisions as the future of mobility.

Key Takeaways:
• Electric vehicles are a critical part of the future but may not be enough
• Battery technology advancements through AI aim to improve efficiency for both EVs and flying vehicles
• American EV leadership isn't competitive when compared to China's rapid advancement
• Autonomous buses could address driver shortages but still require human attendants for passenger assistance
• Personal flying vehicles (eVTOLs) will offer 15-minute flight times across cities
• Successful rail networks require long-term planning beyond political cycles
• Transportation solutions need to be flexible, adaptable, and designed for diverse populations

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The Chicago Red Line extension is finally breaking ground after fifty years of planning, promising to transform mobility for underserved communities on Chicago's far south side with a $5.7 billion investment in transit infrastructure.

• Five and a half mile extension from 95th Street to 130th Street serving Altgeld Gardens
• Four new stations bringing rail service to approximately 100,000 residents
• Project costs over $1 billion per mile, with $2 billion coming from federal grants
• Expected to reduce commute times by 30 minutes and generate $1.7 billion in development
• Construction begins 2025 with projected opening in 2029
• Debates continue about whether BRT or commuter rail alternatives could have provided similar benefits at lower costs
• Political concerns about transit funding and the potential for future administrations to target high-cost urban projects

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Texas legislators have introduced bills that could slash DART funding by up to 50%, threatening the survival of Dallas's transit system in one of America's fastest-growing regions. 

• Six Dallas suburban cities initially supported cutting DART funding by 25%, with Plano leading the charge
• Unable to get enough board votes, Plano representatives took their fight to the Texas Legislature
• House Bill 3187 would reduce the sales tax funding and allow diversion of additional money to non-transit projects
• If passed, this bill could effectively cut DART funding by 44-50%, making system survival impossible
• The Dallas Area Transit Alliance (DATA) is organizing concerned citizens to fight these cuts

Contact your state representatives and join DATA to help protect public transit funding in Texas. Visit DATA's links in the description to get involved.

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This episode highlights our challenge of exploring Dallas exclusively via public transit. Our journey reveals the good and bad of navigating a major city without a car while incorporating the unique sights of the Dallas landscape. 

- Testing DART's capabilities in real-time 
- Encountering Dallas's landmarks, including the zoo and Bishop Arts District 
- Our experiences with transit frequency and efficiency 
- Observations on the lack of direct transit routes and bus connections 
- Insights into the history and transformation of Dallas neighborhoods 
- Recommendations for future transit adventures and improvements 

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