Inside the Wild World of Transit Fandom

News and Views - When the World Cup Rode Transit: Record Crowds, Real Impact

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 episodes - breaks down these top stories and what they mean for the future of public transportation. SOURCES / SHOW NOTES 1. World Cup Drives Record Transit Ridership — APTA Passenger Transport / Metro Magazine, June 2026 https://aptapassengertransport.com/bay-area-partnership-a-success-for-world-cup-opener-record-breaking-ridership/ [https://aptapassengertransport.com/bay-area-partnership-a-success-for-world-cup-opener-record-breaking-ridership/] 2. Penn Station $8B Redesign Unveiled — PBS NewsHour, June 10, 2026 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/new-yorks-penn-station-to-get-8-billion-remodel-with-columns-sunlight-and-trumps-name [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/new-yorks-penn-station-to-get-8-billion-remodel-with-columns-sunlight-and-trumps-name] 3. BUILD America 250 Act Analysis — Urban Institute, June 11, 2026 https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/congresss-transportation-reauthorization-bill-would-drastically-underfund-transit-and [https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/congresss-transportation-reauthorization-bill-would-drastically-underfund-transit-and] 4. Bogotá Tests First Rail Metro — High Speed via NJTOD, June 1, 2026 https://www.highspeed.blog/bogota-gets-its-metro/?ref=high-speed-newsletter [https://www.highspeed.blog/bogota-gets-its-metro/?ref=high-speed-newsletter]

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/]