Transit Tangents

Imagine a program where children gain confidence and independence simply by learning to navigate their city using public transit. Tammy Miller, the visionary executive director of ATX Kids Club, joins us on Transit Tangents to share how her Northeast public transit experiences inspired her to create this unique initiative in Austin, Texas. Through year-round adventures and field trips, ATX Kids Cl...

Join us as we embark on a public transit adventure. We navigate San Antonio's multi-tiered bus system, which reveals the importance of buses in a town devoid of a rail network. Alongside insights from the Strong Towns San Antonio chapter , our ride through history and culture takes us to San Antonio's historic Spanish missions, the Pearl District, the Alamo and many more sites. We reflec...

Reeling from the political whiplash of the last few weeks, we look to the future and discuss who Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will choose as her running mate in the 2024 elections. We discuss each contender's transit record and decide who we think would be our best transit champion. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

What if toll roads were the key to sustainable infrastructure? Join us as we uncover the history and modern implications of tolling on U.S. roads. Starting from the origins of turnpikes, we trace the evolution of toll roads through the lens of historical milestones like the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike—the first paved road in the U.S.  From the rise of automated toll collection systems to t...

In this episode, we recount the origins of Amtrak, born out of failing private rail services and saved by the Rail Passengers Service Act of 1970. Despite the hurdles of "manufactured mismanagement" intended to sabotage it, Amtrak emerged resilient. We also dive into our firsthand adventure on the Texas Eagle line from Austin to San Antonio offering a current snapshot of Amtrak travel to...

Can cities really become more livable, convenient, and environmentally sustainable all within a 15-minute walk or bike ride? From the transformation of suburban strip malls into bustling town centers, like Austin’s ACC Highland campus, to Paris's ambitious urban initiatives under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, we spotlight examples of successfully implemented 15-minute city principles. Send us Fan Mail...

What if New York City's streets could finally be free of gridlock and its public transit system fully funded and accessible? On this episode of Transit Tangents, we learn how congestion pricing could revolutionize the MTA and discuss New York Governor Kathy Hochul's recent decision to pause this initiative.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

How has the Olympic Games impacted transit in host cities around the world? On this episode, we dive into recent host cities, the 2024 Paris games happening this summer, and upcoming improvements for the 2028 games in Los Angeles.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Can an urban trail be a transit solution? In this episode, we dive into a few notable urban trails around North America. Learn about the legacy of these projects and how they changed their cities forever.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In the U.S., over 40,000 people die in traffic-related incidents every year. How can we fix this? Vision Zero may be the answer! From traffic calming to road diets, education, and policy decisions, we discuss it all on this episode! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

What is the best form of public transit and why is it a gondola? Others may try to dispute this claim, but in this episode, we explain why you should join the #GondolaGang and convince your friends to do the same.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Is a better, more sustainable suburb possible? In this episode we explore today's suburbs and what could be a better model for the future.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Will the US ever have true high-speed rail? In this episode, we dive into current systems, those under construction, and projects planned for the future.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode, we discuss highway removal projects in Rochester, San Francisco, and Portland. What happened after removing the highways and which cities could be next? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Diving into the alphabet soup of transit, we discuss which is better, BRT (bus rapid transit) or LRT (light rail).  BRT may be cheaper but is it better? Light Rail is the sexier option, but does it always make sense for every city? Find out on this episode of Transit Tangents! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode we dive into transit in the Big Easy, New Orleans. From streetcars to bikes to buses, join us as we explore this incredible city using only public transit.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Chris and Louis are hitting the road from Austin to New Orleans. Listen to this week's episode as we count how many transit and transportation projects along the path are being funded by the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

We interview Carmen Llanes , an Austin mayoral candidate, GAVA community organizer, and activist. We ask her about all things transit in Austin including I-35 expansion and Project Connect. #1 Additional (For the non-Austinites): We PROMISE episodes are coming that are NOT focused on Austin. Stay Tuned! #2 Additional (For the Austinites): Due to time constraints, we did not go as in-depth on Proje...

Cities are grappling with enforcing parking restrictions in bike lanes. Why is this dangerous? How can we fix it? Are citizen bounty programs the answer?  Also, Louis speaks to the Austin City Council about this very issue.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Have you noticed more bus and bike lanes, or narrower car lanes in your city? You may have first-hand experience with a "Road Diet." In this episode, we discuss where these projects are popping up, how they impact cities, and much more.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode, we are joined by Claudia from Yellow Bike Austin as we continue to discuss how you can get involved in your community. Learn about Yellow Bike's mission and how they support the cycling community. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode we interview Adam Powell , a community organizer, advocate, and candidate for Austin City Council - Distrct 7. We discuss his journey in becoming a community organier and explore how to inspire others to stand up for better transit in their communities.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Transit Tangents is joined by Noah from Street Craft , a YouTube channel that explores Solution-oriented approaches to traffic engineering, urban planning, and city design. We ask Noah how he became interested in urbanism and how he thinks we can craft better streets.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode we ask the question, "can you see Salt Lake City in a day using only public transit?" From the bus to the Trax, from the FrontRunner to the mountains, and all of the places in between, find out on this episode of Transit Tangents.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show

By now, even your city has probably been invaded by dockless scooters. What are they? Where did they come from? Are they better than dockable bikes? What is Micro-Mobility? Find out all of this and more in this week's episode.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show