Singapore is a transit mecca. As someone coming from the US, it challenges a lot of the assumptions we often hear about how transit “should” work. A few observations…🧵

Best sign ever from Alberta teachers strike.

Public transit investments have failed to provide the right incentives for infrastructure to get completed in an affordable and timely manner. Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.

May you never fiddle with a @SFBART ticket machine adding cash in $1 and $$0.05 increments ever again. #creditcardsontransit

Flying to Victoria today and I’m shocked at how poor the transit is serving YYJ. One hourly bus line, the 88, runs on Saturdays - and still forces a transfer to get to downtown on the 70 at Mctavish Exch. It’s not a timed connection, so at 4pm, it’s a 55min transfer! 😞

This is such a big deal and kudos to all the organizations that were part of bringing out riders to speak up in support of transit funding. NOW let’s pass this measure!!!

Many TBM naming competitions are silly, but “Diggy Scardust” stands apart. It is probably the most clever name ever given to a tunnel boring machine. I do not foresee ever topping it. Thinking about getting some posters (or t-shirts) made. Who wants one?

What can California learn from transit in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan? Join us for a @seamlessbayarea webinar next week with me and two esteemed guests! @CPCSTranscom

San Mateo County representatives must sign on to the regional transportation funding measure to save BART, Caltrain, and all Bay Area public transit! Join this rally next Tuesday to make sure they hear our message.

With California’s SB 125 Transit Transformation Task Force nearing completion in the coming months, the state has a unique window to advance critical reforms. Let’s not shy away from creating stronger government in California--inspired by South Korea's incredible success. 11/11

California’s new approach to the State Rail Plan, laying out a clear long-term service-based vision, and is a strong first step. Korea demonstrates that, in addition to a clear, common vision, aligned strong institutions with sufficient expertise and capacity are key to success.

What can California learn? To achieve a world-class rail network & seamless regional transit, with ridership growing at 10–15% annually, stronger state and regional governance is essential. That means clearly defined mandates, roles, & responsibilities, and greater capacity.

Korea has built a cohesive institutional framework capable of delivering a high-quality, seamless public transportation network. The deep alignment of state, regional, local, and academic institutions toward shared goals has proven effective.

3⃣ Effective metropolitan-level governance that ensures coordination across South Korea’s five major urban agglomerations, where 80% of the population resides. The newly created 'MTC' regional coordination authority is overseeing K-Pass the country's new regional transit passes.

2⃣Integrated and focused public research institutions, like Korea Transport Institiute (KOTI), targeting specific government objectives and drawing from international best practices; and

These institutions provide the mandate, capacity, and authority needed to carry out public goals, with clearly defined roles & responsibilities. Specifically, Korea has: 1⃣An empowered national authority (MOLIT) leading planning and overseeing a national rail provider (Korail)

I’ve come to understand that South Korea’s strong government is not merely about ambitious politicians making bold promises—it also involves a network of empowered national and regional agencies and research institutions working collectively to implement those visions.

“When the government makes a decision to build a project,” a research professor from University of Seoul told me, “all levels of government come together to make it happen.”

As a recent example of South Korea's strong, government is the ambitious GTX regional rail project--three new high-speed rail lines crossing the Seoul region at over 180km/hr. The project was announced in 2017, construction began in 2018, & the first line, GTX-A, opened in 2024.

"Strong government" is absolutely essential to being able to deliver transformative, cost-effective transportation projects--this is one of the conclusions from my research trip to South Korea. But what does strong government mean? 1/x @seamlessbayarea

Time for CalExit!