Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas

This Bonus News and Views episode covers three major Chicago transit stories: the CTA’s expansion of its frequent bus network to increase ridership and reduce wait times, a $10 million pilot deploying non-law enforcement crisis specialists on rail lines to address homelessness and mental health crises, and the creation of a new regional transit authority (NITA) that consolidates CTA, Metra, and Pace governance.

We explain why...

In this episode Rick L'Amie interviews Indigo Rosenberg of San Francisco Transit Riders about Eyes on Board, a live map and anonymous survey documenting harassment on public transit.

The project collects location, time, route, and short descriptions while offering an educational campaign to define harassment and suggest bystander responses.

The conversation shows how lived experiences limit mobility, explains why reporting matters,...

In this episode of Transportopia News and views, our bonus episode between full programs: Congress failed to renew $38.6 billion in annual transportation advance appropriations, while critics accuse the administration of sitting on another $1.9 billion in transit funds. The Transportation Secretary has moved to remove bike lanes from federal safety guidance and seek funding limits, despite research showing protected bike lanes impr...

Design Rules Company co-founders Kirill Safin and Emily Perkins Rock talk about Metroboard, a live moving subway map that began when a new LA Metro station changed how they experienced the city. They describe the makers’ journey from aerospace to Kickstarter success, building a product that blends design, real-time transit data, and emotional connections to place.

The episode covers Metroboard’s origins, customer storie...

Transportopia News and Views, our bonus episode between full shows, covers a federal shift in bus funding that now favors low-emission buses over zero-emission models and Sacramento's decision to study bus rapid transit to the airport instead of costly light rail.

Host Rick L'Amie also examines transit agencies converting station land into housing, Oklahoma City's push for a transit sales tax before congestion worsens, and a playfu...

Transportopia host Rick L'Amie visits with Streetsblog USA journalist Ren Zaro Fitzgerald, a young transit reporter and content creator. They discuss the importance of transit safety, funding challenges, innovative grassroots initiatives, and the future of transportation technology. This episode offers insights into community-led transit improvements and policy debates shaping urban mobility.

Show Notes

Streets Blog - https://stree...

The 2026 World Cup unexpectedly boosted public transit in U.S. host cities, producing record ridership for systems such as Sound Transit and BART after federal grants funded extra service.

Despite this success, proposed federal funding cuts threaten to reverse gains, leaving uncertainty about whether the ridership spike will persist once tournament-related service and attention fade.

Podcast host Rick L'Amie explores these topics i...

A forward-thinking 16-year-old named Kenyen Coleman founded something called The Drive Time Movement - an impressive effort to use data to push for better public transit and community change. His website offers calculators and a free advocacy toolkit that make commute time, true car costs, and environmental impact personal and actionable.

This episode follows Kenyen’s journey, the tools he built, and what he hopes for the fut...

The Transportopia News and Views Bonus episode between full shows examines four major transit stories: a record-breaking ridership surge during the 2026 World Cup across U.S. host cities; Brightline’s narrow escape from missed payments as it wrestles with $5.5 billion in debt; the near-certainty that the 21st Century Road to Housing Act will become law, linking zoning and transit planning; and a public feud between Amtrak and...

This encore episode of Transportopia features Professor Anastasia Lukaitou‑Sideris discussing transit safety after a high‑profile incident in Charlotte. The conversation with Host Rick L'Amie focuses on how design, lighting, visibility, targeted staffing, technology, and community partnerships can reduce both crime and the fear of crime for riders and operators.

Professor Lukaitou‑Sideris highlights practical steps agencies can tak...

The World Cup drove unprecedented transit ridership across U.S. host cities, while New York unveiled an $8 billion redesign for Penn Station that mixes grandeur with controversy. Meanwhile, a proposed federal bill could cut transit funding just as Bogota launches its long-awaited metro, highlighting the stakes for transit investment and political will.

Transportopia News and Views with Rick L'Amie - our bonus episode between full e...

This episode of Transportopia explores Imagry's camera-and-AI autonomous bus system and its focus on solving the global shortage of bus drivers and improving public transit. The Israeli-based tech startup with offices in San Jose, CA will soon launch its first US autonomous bus deployments in Florida and Nevada.

Host Rick L'Amie interviews Imagry CEO Eran Ofir about mapless, on-board autonomy, safety testing, real-world deployments...

In this bonus News and Views episode, Rick L'Amie breaks down four major transit stories: the historic groundbreaking for Phase 2 of the 2nd Avenue Subway in East Harlem, Illinois’ creation of a powerful new regional transit authority, Brightline’s looming bankruptcy, and Sonoma-Marin voters extending rail funding for SMART.

Taken together these stories show how public, private, and local choices are shaping the future ...

Transportopia host Rick L'Amie rides the G and 7 with his daughter Lauren as she describes life as a longtime New York City transit rider. They discuss the quirky G train jog, seasonal shutdowns, and the city’s 24-hour subway that makes car-free living possible.

Lauren reflects on moving from Austin, selling her car, and how transit shapes daily life — from schlepping furniture on the train to mourning the MetroCard as ...

This episode of Transportopia News and Views breaks down the biggest surface transportation bill in years, New York’s congestion pricing first-year results, California’s controversial 140 mph bullet-bus study, and the winners of the 2026 International Bus Roadeo in Salt Lake City.

Host Rick L’Amie connects policy headlines with real-world practice, highlighting how funding, results, speed, and the people who run t...

In this episode of Transportopia, Rick L'Amie dives into transit fandom—from viral personalities like Francis Bourgeois and creators like Miles in Transit to virtual communities on Roblox, simulation games like Mini Metro and Subway Builder, and transit-inspired art and collectibles.

He explores how these hobbies create emotional connections to cities, transform transit into visual culture and community, and show how movement...

In this episode of Transportopia News and Views we cover three major transport moves: Los Angeles opened new Purple Line subway stations under Wilshire Boulevard, New York City redesigned the Manhattan approach to the Brooklyn Bridge to separate cyclists and pedestrians and announced plans for a 10-mile bike boulevard in Brooklyn, and Denver advanced plans for bus rapid transit on Colorado Boulevard.

These stories show real momentu...

This Encore episode of Transportopia features Aaron Weinstein, founder of Transit CX, in a conversation about transforming public transit through customer experience. They define CX in the transit context and explore the full door-to-door rider journey, from trip planning and first-mile access to on-board comfort, accessibility, and post-trip interactions.

Aaron and host Rick L'Amie discuss tools like journey mapping, qualitative r...

This episode of Transportopia News and Views covers four key transit stories: the federal government releasing nearly $60 million for New York's 2nd Avenue subway extension, MARTA launching its Rapid A-Line BRT in Atlanta, Mayor Zoran Mamdani postponing full implementation of his Fast and Free Buses pledge due to budget constraints, and Sacramento Regional Transit studying a redevelopment of a park-and-ride into a mixed-use, transi...