Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas

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/]

News and Views: Wilshire's Subway Is Here: LA's Big Leap Under the Car Capital

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 momentum — built infrastructure arriving and planning progressing — improving safety, access, and alternatives to car travel across U.S. cities. Visit transportopia.org [http://www.transportopia.org] for show notes, links and podcast extras. And please like us wherever you get your podcasts.

Encore Episode: Inside the CX Revolution with Aaron Weinstein

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 research, and NPS, how agencies are using CX to shape budgets and culture, and the importance of hearing riders and acting on their feedback. The episode highlights progress, real-world examples, and challenges ahead for making transit more user-centered. Apologies dear listeners for the lower audio quality. It was our first full episode and we were still learning the podcast production ropes! Learn more at Aaron's website, TransitCX.org [https://www.transitcx.org/] Follow Transportopia at transportopia.org [https://www.transportopia.org/]

News and Views Bonus Episode: Victory in Court: 2nd Avenue Subway Funding Unfrozen

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, transit-oriented district. Together these stories highlight the tension between ambitious transit goals and the financial and political realities that shape what gets built and when. Visit transportopia.org [https://www.transportopia.org/] for the blog and other resources.