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Jeff Wood is the host of the Talking Headways podcast and the publisher of The Overhead Wire daily newsletter. http://theoverheadwire.com Sign up for our 19 year old daily newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/theoverheadwire/trial
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đź’ĄThe Netherlands' largest pension fund, has sold its shares in Tesla, Meta, and Alphabet (Google). The fund with US $569 billion equivolent in assets is "directing more money to companies and projects that help to improve society and the environment." #Divest www.reuters.com/markets/euro...

New from AMPO: US DOT “working quickly to ensure that planning actions” on state & metro plans “are in compliance with the DOT orders,” eg related to issues like prioritizing birth & marriage; banning DEI & climate change. *Could* be unheard-of fed. meddling in local & state transport choices.

btw, i will tell you this - i have been talking to people all day, and the media is missing, whether intentionally or not, how absolutely, volcanically angry the people who have been fired are, not because they lost their jobs, but because their jobs matter, *to us*

With the cancellation of 08-166 the total money "saved" by cancelling CRP projects is $6.6 million. Some of the projects were nearly finished. If you're a transportation person who relies on NCHRP, TCRP, ACRP, or BTSCRP - talk to your peers about this. Silence isn't going to save us.

If you turn on a VPN and set it to Europe, it’s amazing how much more tech companies are required to alert you to your privacy rights. It’s like night and day. So this isn’t surprising and very gross. We are getting totally abused and many people don’t even know. Make sure to follow @parismarx.com

These + an @austinfootballclub.bsky.social kit 👀🖤💚

Back by popular demand! The heavyweight knit Bike Only scarves are back in stock! Pick one up today before the end of winter! theoverheadwire.com/2025/02/new-...

Fund transit adequately and predictably so agencies can build up in-house capacity, rather than having to outsource critical work to consultants (a practice which numerous studies show actually increases overall project costs!!)

Additionally, in its legal filing, the MTA stated that in order to revoke the VPPP, the USDOT would need to complete a new EIS to demonstrate that re-increasing congestion in the CBD would have no significant impacts on the environment.

This was a really great episode, looking at a big contributor to the hollowing-out of rural economies along with the dearth of retail in many urban areas too

Talking Headways Podcast: How Big Box Stores are Destroying the Fabric of America - usa.streetsblog.org/2025/02/20/t... via @usa.streetsblog.org, @theoverheadwire.com, and @stacyfmitchell.bsky.social

I just hope Amazon puts the focus back on classic James Bond storytelling elements. Like the long history of villains that are grossly wealthy, insecure egomaniacs desperate to validate their fragile egos with wild schemes to control the media, governments, and space itself.

Here's the public reception to the US DOT's announcement that it will "review" funding for the California High-Speed Rail project.

New #TalkingHeadways podcast episode! @stacyfmitchell.bsky.social of the Institute for Local Self Reliance joins to talk about "The Great Grocery Squeeze". But we go even deeper on deregulation, stores that force you to drive further, and tax policy. bit.ly/4iahBRw @usa.streetsblog.org

Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations is reporting that the US DOT has paused the approvals of changes to regional short-term transportation plans (STIPs). Unclear why DOT is requiring general counsel review of STIP amendments. This could delay investment in projects nationwide.

GET DOWN TO UNION STATION TOMORROW

Outside the "norm" for most people, but an absolutely delightful article on alternate commute / transportation methods! <looking up "A German Requiem"...>

The DOGE firings have nothing to do with “efficiency” or “cutting waste.” They’re a direct push to weaken federal agencies perceived as liberal. This was evident from the start, and now the data confirms it: targeted agencies overwhelmingly those seen as more left-leaning. 🧵⬇️

LA Electric Rail supporters: show up to LAUS tomorrow at 9 with pro-CA High Speed Rail signs. We will not allow Trump and Musk to kill high speed rail! CA politicians must stand strong and finish the project. #BuildHSR #IWillRide

Alfred you are the best

A majority of Californians support High Speed Rail. A majority of CA's High Speed Rail funding has come from our state, not the feds. We are going to build High Speed Rail, no matter what Trump and Musk say. ktla.com/news/califor...

By a 42-6 vote, the Washington Senate just approved a bill directing the state to adopt standards for passenger and freight elevators that are more reflective of global standards, including a specific requirement to allow smaller elevators in buildings with fewer than 25 units.

today's NYC congestion pricing was just the appetizer. tomorrow is about to get so much more stupid

Ok, but real talk? The sort of low-engagement persuadable Trump voter you need to flip is not going to sit through a serious policy argument, and would not understand it if they did. “He’s calling himself a king” they can understand. So run with it.

Wednesday's Most Read # 1 - Some local governments say they won’t follow new Colorado laws requiring denser housing, less parking bit.ly/3D0h85h @cprnews.bsky.social @nbminor.bsky.social

Wednesday's Most Read # 2 - The surprising theory that explains modern American life: Why don't you move? bit.ly/41pXzvB @vox.com @rachelmcohen.bsky.social @yappelbaum.bsky.social

Wednesday's Most Read # 3 - Transit nightmare: Thousands of Baltimore kids can’t get to school on time bit.ly/3QqG5do @thebaltimorebanner.com

A new University of Michigan study says people use ride hailing over transit for the difference in travel time. A response to this should be speeding up transit, not tearing out bus lanes. We know for example that ridership goes up on the Van Ness corridor because of the BRT - bit.ly/4hWhOaK

The more things change the more they stay the same - in 2008 Proposition 1A passed 53-47 approving the state building an HSR line. A poll now finds support for continuing to use state funds for HSR at 54-46. You can say whatever else but Californians still want an HSR system.

I mentioned this on Monday's... Climate resilience planning (that got stripped because of EO) makes us safer and is of great monetary value because we don't spend money to have something flood again. Now enter FEMA deciding not to enforce flood rules on public infrastructure... nyti.ms/3Qn89yf

Murphy offers some weasel words at the end to make it seem like he isn’t fully MAGA aligned here but

Insane that it wasn't already illegal to park in bike lanes by default, but glad we're finally here

“Wokeness” means paying attention to what’s going on & caring about it, which is a large part of any research. The US is a leader in medical research. These cuts diminish our standing in the world & not just the scientific community.

This is a quick and easy way to email your Congressional representative and US Senators to tell them to fight for the University of California. Higher ed is under attack. Stand up. Fight back!

We had our highest Saturday ridership since the pandemic this past weekend! Between the Chinese New Year Parade and NBA All-Star Weekend Saturday we had 139,475 exits across the system. Highest ridership stations: Powell: 20K exits Montgomery: 14K Embarcadero: 11K

More people ride the NYC subway each day than all domestic air travel.

MTA to Feds: Drop dead

Emerson Poll - 54% of Californians think HSR is a good use of state funds. Need some positive news today... emersoncollegepolling.com/february-202...

Absolutely lol'ing at the notion the toll was set to fund the MTA's capital budget and not reduce traffic when the enacted toll is just 60% of the revenue target toll and has produced a sharp reduction in traffic. ANYWAYS

in his statement "cancelling" congestion pricing, sean duffy calls people who ride the subway "an elite few" and i just feel as a communication professional that they gotta decide if they're going with that or crime-ridden drug den homeless shelter

I know words don't matter anymore, but "user-fees" is literally the first thing they said they'd prioritize:

I introduced new legislation to speed up permits for public transit projects, including high speed rail. When transit agencies build bus or rail lines, they’re often delayed by local governments or utilities that delay or fail to grant a permit. It’s a big problem & causes delays/cost escalation.🧵

New York should keep congestion pricing up & running while @govkathyhochul.bsky.social & AG Tish James sue the feds over this action

We need to organize a protest right fucking now. This is blatantly illegal. Trump has zero authority to do this. Over my dead fucking body.

Begging journalists to stop doing this. The debate about how much they're saving is giving inaccurate credit. Any headline connecting this illegal destruction of our government with savings is doing PR work for the admin. You do not have to highlight "savings" to illustrate they're liars.

Maybe looking to elected officials is the wrong way to go, says @maryharris.bsky.social slate.com/news-and-pol...

Day 19 - Albert W Johnson #BlackHistoryMonth