Transit Tangents

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. 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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

If you like this episode, please consider leaving a rating. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so via our Patreon.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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

Check out our new merchandise store for Transit Tangents swag! Support us on Patreon for early episodes, Discord access, and stickers sent directly to you.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 

If you'd like to support the show and help us continue our transit explorations, please consider joining us on Patreon! 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Exciting developments are on the horizon in Minneapolis-St Paul. We dive into the new Gold Line BRT and its potential to redefine transit in the area, exploring its benefits and limitations compared to similar lines. 

• Overview of the Gold Line and its dedicated infrastructure 
• Comparison of Gold Line with B-Line and their operational differences 
• Importance of transit-oriented development along the Gold Line route 
• Insights into ridership expectations and community impact 
• Discussion on how urban planning can influence future transit projects 

If you enjoyed this conversation and want to help us grow, please consider supporting our show via Patreon or checking out our merch store! 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Brightline's success in Florida not only enhances travel between Miami and Orlando but also spurs potential advancements in the state's public transit system. As the Sunshine Corridor expansion plans unfold, the discussion uncovers how private initiatives can effectively stimulate public investments and reshape commuting in the region.

• Overview of Brightline's operational success and ridership growth 
• The positive impact of Brightline on public transit perceptions in Florida 
• The current state and planned expansions of Orlando's SunRail system 
• Insights on funding structures for future transit projects 
• Exploration of public-private partnerships and their role in transportation development

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show