Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas

When Buses Drive Themselves: The Quiet AV Revolution

This episode of Transportopia explores Imagry [https://imagry.co/]'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 [https://imagry.co/] CEO Eran Ofir about mapless, on-board autonomy, safety testing, real-world deployments, and how autonomous buses could reduce congestion and reshape cities.  Show Notes IMAGRY https://imagry.co/ [https://imagry.co/] VIDEOS L3 Autonomous Bus on Public Roads (Israel) https://youtu.be/jnaTUn7PvFw [https://youtu.be/jnaTUn7PvFw] Mixed Car/Bus Demo Drives https://youtu.be/TzxnC8D7h5M [https://youtu.be/TzxnC8D7h5M] San Jose Urban Driving https://youtu.be/hu_xPdBHhX8 [https://youtu.be/hu_xPdBHhX8] NCAP Safety Testing https://youtu.be/XRuFQDkYa5Q [https://youtu.be/XRuFQDkYa5Q] ARTICLES PAVE Campaign — 5 Questions with Eran Ofir https://pavecampaign.org/5-questions-with-eran-ofir-ceo-of-imagry/ [https://pavecampaign.org/5-questions-with-eran-ofir-ceo-of-imagry/] The Curbivore — To Map or Not to Map https://www.thecurbivore.com/p/to-map-or-not-to-map [https://www.thecurbivore.com/p/to-map-or-not-to-map] New Polis — The Journey of Autonomous Buses https://newpolis.media/the-journey-of-autonomous-buses-interview-with-eran-ofir-ceo-of-imagry/ [https://newpolis.media/the-journey-of-autonomous-buses-interview-with-eran-ofir-ceo-of-imagry/] S&P Global — Congress Weighs AV Safety Law https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2026/2/as-congress-weighs-autonomous-vehicle-safety-law-industry-split-on-proof-points-97424966 [https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2026/2/as-congress-weighs-autonomous-vehicle-safety-law-industry-split-on-proof-points-97424966]

News and Views: A Century-Old Subway Promise Finally Delivered

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 of American transit right now — from century-old promises finally delivered to experiments that may be failing and voters who still back long-term rail investment. Sources: 1. Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Breaks Ground — ABC7 NY / Governor's Office of New York, June 8, 2026 https://abc7ny.com/post/second-ave-subway-project-governor-hochul-announce-phase-avenue-expansion/19256113/ [https://abc7ny.com/post/second-ave-subway-project-governor-hochul-announce-phase-avenue-expansion/19256113/] 2. Illinois NITA Act Takes Effect — Chicago Sun-Times, June 1, 2026 https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/06/01/nita-rta-transit-law-cta-metra-pace [https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/06/01/nita-rta-transit-law-cta-metra-pace] 3. Brightline on the Verge of Bankruptcy — Streetsblog USA, June 5, 2026 https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/06/05/fridays-headlines-are-getting-dim [https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/06/05/fridays-headlines-are-getting-dim] 4. SMART Measure B Passes — KQED, June 2–3, 2026 https://www.kqed.org/news/12085563/early-returns-show-strong-support-for-smart-tax-extension-in-sonoma-marin [https://www.kqed.org/news/12085563/early-returns-show-strong-support-for-smart-tax-extension-in-sonoma-marin]

Take the Train: Confessions of a G-Train Devotee

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 the system moves to OMNY. She also dispels myths about subway safety and urges newcomers: take the train. SHOW NOTES — REFERENCES & LINKS The MTA — mta.info [https://www.mta.info/] (official site, all NYC subway info) The G train service page the notorious service change closings for 2026— https://www.mta.info/article/service-changes-g-line-2026 [https://www.mta.info/article/service-changes-g-line-2026] OMNY (tap-to-pay) — omny.info [https://omny.info/] (MTA’s contactless fare system) End of the MetroCard — https://www.mta.info/press-release/mta-partners-iconic-culinary-vendors-celebrate-end-of-metrocard [https://www.mta.info/press-release/mta-partners-iconic-culinary-vendors-celebrate-end-of-metrocard] (MTA’s official MetroCard sunset announcement*) New York City Transit Museum — nytransitmuseum.org [https://www.nytransitmuseum.org/] (the place to go for token, MetroCard, and subway history) Austin, Texas Capital Metro (Cap Metro) — capmetro.org [https://www.capmetro.org/] (Austin’s public transit agency) Cap MetroRail Red Line — capmetro.org/rail [http://httpscapmetro.org/rail] (the commuter rail line referenced in the episode)

News and Views May 26. 2026: Build America 250: $580B Reauthorization Shapes Transit's Next Five Years

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 transit intersect — and teases a ride-along episode in New York City with his daughter coming next week. SOURCES / SHOW NOTES 1. BUILD America 250 Act Advances — House T&I Committee, May 22, 2026 https://democrats-transportation.house.gov/news/press-releases/tandi-committee-approves-build-america-250-act [https://democrats-transportation.house.gov/news/press-releases/tandi-committee-approves-build-america-250-act] 2. NYC Congestion Pricing One-Year Results — WBUR Here & Now, May 18, 2026 https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/05/18/nyc-congestion-pricing [https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/05/18/nyc-congestion-pricing] 3. CalTrans Studies 140 MPH "Bullet Buses" — Streetsblog USA, May 18, 2026 https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/high-speed-rail-california-22267442.php [https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/high-speed-rail-california-22267442.php] 4. APTA Mobility Conference & International Bus Roadeo — APTA Passenger Transport, May 2026 https://aptapassengertransport.com/apta-kicks-off-mobility-conference-in-salt-lake-city/ [https://aptapassengertransport.com/apta-kicks-off-mobility-conference-in-salt-lake-city/]

Inside the Wild World of Transit Fandom

In this episode of Transportopia, Rick L'Amie dives into transit fandom—from viral personalities like Francis Bourgeois [https://www.instagram.com/francis_bourgeois43/] and creators like Miles in Transit [https://www.youtube.com/c/milesintransit] 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, memory, and design bring people together. Show Notes / Links Transit Fandom Articles The New Yorker - Where Transit Fans Unite https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/where-transit-fans-unite [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/where-transit-fans-unite]   San Francisco Standard - Muni and BART superfans https://sfstandard.com/2025/11/13/muni-bart-public-transit-fans-merch/ [https://sfstandard.com/2025/11/13/muni-bart-public-transit-fans-merch/]   Creators Francis Bourgeois Instagram https://www.instagram.com/francis_bourgeois43/ [https://www.instagram.com/francis_bourgeois43/]   Miles in Transit YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MilesinTransit [https://www.youtube.com/@MilesinTransit] Seniac YouTube https://youtu.be/QdAMHBmx_m0?si=IePBQY13DXrnbaF_ [https://youtu.be/QdAMHBmx_m0?si=7akC6k2McK5JVunO] Saugat Transit https://www.saugatransit.com [https://www.saugatransit.com] Saugat Transit Instagram https://www.instagram.com/saugatransit/ [https://www.instagram.com/saugatransit/] Games and Simulations Mini Metro https://dinopoloclub.com/games/mini-metro/ [https://dinopoloclub.com/games/mini-metro/] Subway Builder https://www.subwaybuilder.com [https://www.subwaybuilder.com] Metro Board - Design Rules Co. https://www.designrules.co/ [https://www.designrules.co/]