Jedwin Mok
@jedwinmok.com
Transport Planner & Researcher
Creative Director | cityux.com
Research Lead | infrastoryinsights.com
https://youtu.be/vAygH6SZg28?si=lY-5xtbZl6yPv823
Creative Director | cityux.com
Research Lead | infrastoryinsights.com
https://youtu.be/vAygH6SZg28?si=lY-5xtbZl6yPv823
Pinned
Jedwin Mok
@jedwinmok.com
· Dec 5
NEW PUBLICATION: “Understanding the Drivers of Transit Construction Costs in Canada”
The first from me, Balthazar Crane, @chittimarco.bsky.social, and Amer Shalaby.
So why are transit projects so expensive in Canada? Here’s what we found: 1/🧵
stateofcitiessummit.ca/files/041224...
The first from me, Balthazar Crane, @chittimarco.bsky.social, and Amer Shalaby.
So why are transit projects so expensive in Canada? Here’s what we found: 1/🧵
stateofcitiessummit.ca/files/041224...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
We have a consultation problem. I write about a Toronto rec centre that will have taken 14 years to plan, cost at least three times the original budget - and be a bad building.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
What is the cost of consultation?
Toronto recreation centre that started as $40-million project in 2016 has ballooned to nearly $113-million before construction even starts
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:41 PM
We have a consultation problem. I write about a Toronto rec centre that will have taken 14 years to plan, cost at least three times the original budget - and be a bad building.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
What if better cities require short-term sacrifices? 🤔
In our new #UMX video podcast, experts unpack why urban change often meets resistance and how it leads to healthier, more liveable cities.
▶️ Watch now & join the debate 👇
youtu.be/LQ_hg2LI1X4?...
In our new #UMX video podcast, experts unpack why urban change often meets resistance and how it leads to healthier, more liveable cities.
▶️ Watch now & join the debate 👇
youtu.be/LQ_hg2LI1X4?...
Can we transform our cities despite resistance to change? [Podcast]
YouTube video by Urban Mobility Explained
youtu.be
January 15, 2026 at 9:57 AM
What if better cities require short-term sacrifices? 🤔
In our new #UMX video podcast, experts unpack why urban change often meets resistance and how it leads to healthier, more liveable cities.
▶️ Watch now & join the debate 👇
youtu.be/LQ_hg2LI1X4?...
In our new #UMX video podcast, experts unpack why urban change often meets resistance and how it leads to healthier, more liveable cities.
▶️ Watch now & join the debate 👇
youtu.be/LQ_hg2LI1X4?...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
A ton of interesting stuff in here: The Lenox Ave and Broadway station structures look ~rightly sized. The box looks to be about 20% bigger than the platforms, which is a *huge improvement* from the SAS 1 and SAS 2 designs.
They're just massively expensive because they're 100+ feet deep.
BUT...
They're just massively expensive because they're 100+ feet deep.
BUT...
Preliminary data about NYC Subway's 125th St extension from report released yesterday from @mta.info: www.mta.info/document/196...
—Project would attract ~164,000 daily boardings
—Stations would be deep to get under existing lines
—Project estimated at $7.7 b (2027$)
—Earliest revenue service 2032
—Project would attract ~164,000 daily boardings
—Stations would be deep to get under existing lines
—Project estimated at $7.7 b (2027$)
—Earliest revenue service 2032
January 13, 2026 at 10:26 PM
A ton of interesting stuff in here: The Lenox Ave and Broadway station structures look ~rightly sized. The box looks to be about 20% bigger than the platforms, which is a *huge improvement* from the SAS 1 and SAS 2 designs.
They're just massively expensive because they're 100+ feet deep.
BUT...
They're just massively expensive because they're 100+ feet deep.
BUT...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Good piece for people to think through. If you want housing prices to stay where they are now or (gasp) decrease further, we need to reduce construction costs and so you have to pick the pathways to push on. Your menu of options is here.
New piece! Governments have a choice: either lower construction costs today, or have homeprices spike tomorrow. As much as governments might like to, they can't ignore "Q".
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
January 13, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Good piece for people to think through. If you want housing prices to stay where they are now or (gasp) decrease further, we need to reduce construction costs and so you have to pick the pathways to push on. Your menu of options is here.
I’ve just learned about state-issued baby kits and now extremely pissed off to learn that this is no longer a thing.
Inspired by programs in European countries like Finland, the City of Montreal now offers a “baby box” to new parents, distributed through libraries.
Inspirée par des programmes en Europe, Montréal offre maintenant aux nouveaux parents une “Boîte Bienvenue bébé”, distribuée dans les bibliothèques.
Inspirée par des programmes en Europe, Montréal offre maintenant aux nouveaux parents une “Boîte Bienvenue bébé”, distribuée dans les bibliothèques.
January 13, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I’ve just learned about state-issued baby kits and now extremely pissed off to learn that this is no longer a thing.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Update: the new mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has cut this program.
Inspired by programs in European countries like Finland, the City of Montreal now offers a “baby box” to new parents, distributed through libraries.
Inspirée par des programmes en Europe, Montréal offre maintenant aux nouveaux parents une “Boîte Bienvenue bébé”, distribuée dans les bibliothèques.
Inspirée par des programmes en Europe, Montréal offre maintenant aux nouveaux parents une “Boîte Bienvenue bébé”, distribuée dans les bibliothèques.
January 13, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Update: the new mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has cut this program.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Dear North American station designers, this (first two pics) is not how you deal effectively with vertical circulation on a 120-130 ft (35-40 meters) deep station.
It's either the Moscow way (long inclined escalators) or the Barcelona/E-M REM way (elevators-only).
It's either the Moscow way (long inclined escalators) or the Barcelona/E-M REM way (elevators-only).
January 13, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Dear North American station designers, this (first two pics) is not how you deal effectively with vertical circulation on a 120-130 ft (35-40 meters) deep station.
It's either the Moscow way (long inclined escalators) or the Barcelona/E-M REM way (elevators-only).
It's either the Moscow way (long inclined escalators) or the Barcelona/E-M REM way (elevators-only).
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
NEW VIDEO: North America’s Elevator’s Problem
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
The United States has the fewest elevators in the rich world, with Canada only a bit ahead. We teamed up with @uytaelee.bsky.social of About Here Videos to investigate why, exactly, North America sucks at elevators.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
NEW VIDEO: North America’s Elevator’s Problem
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Skinner "I'm I out of touch" meme .gif
Very rarely in the building codes/ standards world will you see a map with this stark of a contrast.
January 12, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Skinner "I'm I out of touch" meme .gif
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
The recently opened 19km long underground fully automated Xi'an Metro Line 15 Phase 1 costs less to build per km than the Toronto Finch West Tramway and the project is overall cheaper to build than the 19km long Phase 1 subway-surface Eglinton Crosstown tramway.
January 7, 2026 at 5:13 PM
The recently opened 19km long underground fully automated Xi'an Metro Line 15 Phase 1 costs less to build per km than the Toronto Finch West Tramway and the project is overall cheaper to build than the 19km long Phase 1 subway-surface Eglinton Crosstown tramway.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
The Pfaffensteig tunnel to connect Stuttgart airport to the Gäubahn (railway to Zürich) has been approved.
Big problem is that it’s a single tracked railway with not much in between Stuttgart and Zürich. Do it hasn’t been upgraded and is now getting a billion euro tunnel that’ll be empty
Big problem is that it’s a single tracked railway with not much in between Stuttgart and Zürich. Do it hasn’t been upgraded and is now getting a billion euro tunnel that’ll be empty
#Pfaffensteigtunnel zur Anbindung der #Gäubahn an Flughafen #Stuttgart ist genehmigt. Folge von #Stuttgart21 -Murks.
👉 S 21 mit unzureichenden Kapazitäten
👉 Teurer Tunnel mit Auslastung von nur 45%
👉 Mischverkehrsvariante mit S-Bahn zum Flughafen vom Tisch (gut!)
www.swr.de/swraktuell/b...
👉 S 21 mit unzureichenden Kapazitäten
👉 Teurer Tunnel mit Auslastung von nur 45%
👉 Mischverkehrsvariante mit S-Bahn zum Flughafen vom Tisch (gut!)
www.swr.de/swraktuell/b...
S21 erhält milliardenteure Ergänzung: Jetzt kann der Pfaffensteigtunnel gebaut werden
Der Pfaffensteigtunnel zwischen Böblingen und dem Flughafen Stuttgart kann gebaut werden. Das Milliardenprojekt schließt direkt an S21 an. 2032 soll die Strecke fertig sein.
www.swr.de
January 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM
The Pfaffensteig tunnel to connect Stuttgart airport to the Gäubahn (railway to Zürich) has been approved.
Big problem is that it’s a single tracked railway with not much in between Stuttgart and Zürich. Do it hasn’t been upgraded and is now getting a billion euro tunnel that’ll be empty
Big problem is that it’s a single tracked railway with not much in between Stuttgart and Zürich. Do it hasn’t been upgraded and is now getting a billion euro tunnel that’ll be empty
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
love welcoming my best friends to toronto by making them suffer on our worst transit line 💜
January 11, 2026 at 2:55 AM
love welcoming my best friends to toronto by making them suffer on our worst transit line 💜
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I know you've been thinking "we need way more podcasts".
Your prayers have been answered!
@chanface.bsky.social and I have a podcast about transit advocacy in Canada and around the world!
LISTEN TO IT
Your prayers have been answered!
@chanface.bsky.social and I have a podcast about transit advocacy in Canada and around the world!
LISTEN TO IT
My new podcast DWELL TIME IS OUT!
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
January 7, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I know you've been thinking "we need way more podcasts".
Your prayers have been answered!
@chanface.bsky.social and I have a podcast about transit advocacy in Canada and around the world!
LISTEN TO IT
Your prayers have been answered!
@chanface.bsky.social and I have a podcast about transit advocacy in Canada and around the world!
LISTEN TO IT
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
My new podcast DWELL TIME IS OUT!
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
January 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
My new podcast DWELL TIME IS OUT!
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Funicular-oriented development in Künzelsau. A train every 15 minutes to the city centre for the 5,000 people living in Taläcker
January 3, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Funicular-oriented development in Künzelsau. A train every 15 minutes to the city centre for the 5,000 people living in Taläcker
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I love videos like these. I've also been dreaming up a metering system that would also clear up the delays that buses faces after that merge at the end of the video
The Lions Gate Bridge bus queue jump is beautiful and anxiety-inducing at the same time
January 3, 2026 at 2:10 AM
I love videos like these. I've also been dreaming up a metering system that would also clear up the delays that buses faces after that merge at the end of the video
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
The Lions Gate Bridge bus queue jump is beautiful and anxiety-inducing at the same time
January 3, 2026 at 1:39 AM
The Lions Gate Bridge bus queue jump is beautiful and anxiety-inducing at the same time
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
on the issues with how we view the role of tramways in canada (US, too), i am reminded of a very recent paper showing how modal shifts vary by transit mode in european cities, and how much higher they are for cities with metro systems than tram-only systems in larger, sprawling cities
January 2, 2026 at 9:57 PM
on the issues with how we view the role of tramways in canada (US, too), i am reminded of a very recent paper showing how modal shifts vary by transit mode in european cities, and how much higher they are for cities with metro systems than tram-only systems in larger, sprawling cities
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
The Finch LRT will hopefully force Toronto to reckon with two things: that street based transit will *almost* never compete with driving (especially in the burbs) and that people really care about speed. My new piece in the Toronto Star highlights that and makes the case for subways and railways.
To fix transit in Toronto, we need to embrace a simple idea: subways subways subways.
Rob Ford's maligned motto contained a nugget of truth.
www.thestar.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The Finch LRT will hopefully force Toronto to reckon with two things: that street based transit will *almost* never compete with driving (especially in the burbs) and that people really care about speed. My new piece in the Toronto Star highlights that and makes the case for subways and railways.
Happy New Year from Taipei!
Tonight, major roads are CLOSED as the metro works overtime as the primary mode of transport. 1M+ people will celebrate, with 200K+ at the busiest site.
Dodgers stadium can’t host a 50K event without crippling traffic.
We got lots to learn…
1/🧵
Tonight, major roads are CLOSED as the metro works overtime as the primary mode of transport. 1M+ people will celebrate, with 200K+ at the busiest site.
Dodgers stadium can’t host a 50K event without crippling traffic.
We got lots to learn…
1/🧵
December 31, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Happy New Year from Taipei!
Tonight, major roads are CLOSED as the metro works overtime as the primary mode of transport. 1M+ people will celebrate, with 200K+ at the busiest site.
Dodgers stadium can’t host a 50K event without crippling traffic.
We got lots to learn…
1/🧵
Tonight, major roads are CLOSED as the metro works overtime as the primary mode of transport. 1M+ people will celebrate, with 200K+ at the busiest site.
Dodgers stadium can’t host a 50K event without crippling traffic.
We got lots to learn…
1/🧵
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
And a second post for the day: How do we get more passionate people to be involved in Toronto's transit?
nextmetro.substack.com/p/an-observa...
nextmetro.substack.com/p/an-observa...
An Observation on Toronto's Transit.
The Right People Need to Be Involved.
nextmetro.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
And a second post for the day: How do we get more passionate people to be involved in Toronto's transit?
nextmetro.substack.com/p/an-observa...
nextmetro.substack.com/p/an-observa...
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
Why I’m Less Excited About Trams Than You youtu.be/JLzkcfGfnDg
Why I’m Less Excited About Trams Than You
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Why I’m Less Excited About Trams Than You youtu.be/JLzkcfGfnDg
If we are EVER to learn from the disastrous Line 6 opening and (incoming) Line 5 disaster, Toronto must objectively reflect on their history & conception.
@jrurbanenetwork.bsky.social latest piece does exactly that.
These are 2 badly planned, politicized ideas choked by poor delivery & discourse.
@jrurbanenetwork.bsky.social latest piece does exactly that.
These are 2 badly planned, politicized ideas choked by poor delivery & discourse.
I have not been shy on my coverage of transit issues in Toronto. With the disastrous opening of the Finch West LRT in early December, I have some thoughts from Hong Kong using my historical experiences with Toronto in this longform post.
The Toronto Tragedy
多倫多啲電車男係唔係太過份?
open.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 9:16 AM
If we are EVER to learn from the disastrous Line 6 opening and (incoming) Line 5 disaster, Toronto must objectively reflect on their history & conception.
@jrurbanenetwork.bsky.social latest piece does exactly that.
These are 2 badly planned, politicized ideas choked by poor delivery & discourse.
@jrurbanenetwork.bsky.social latest piece does exactly that.
These are 2 badly planned, politicized ideas choked by poor delivery & discourse.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
I have not been shy on my coverage of transit issues in Toronto. With the disastrous opening of the Finch West LRT in early December, I have some thoughts from Hong Kong using my historical experiences with Toronto in this longform post.
The Toronto Tragedy
多倫多啲電車男係唔係太過份?
open.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I have not been shy on my coverage of transit issues in Toronto. With the disastrous opening of the Finch West LRT in early December, I have some thoughts from Hong Kong using my historical experiences with Toronto in this longform post.
Reposted by Jedwin Mok
TTC Planning & Engineering has been proposing and implementing exactly this type of infrastructure for decades but they face opposition from the City.
Queue Jump Lanes constructed by the TTC include:
WB Lawrence & Dufferin
EB Steeles & Don Mills
WB Finch & Yonge
EB Finch & Markham
Queue Jump Lanes constructed by the TTC include:
WB Lawrence & Dufferin
EB Steeles & Don Mills
WB Finch & Yonge
EB Finch & Markham
December 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
TTC Planning & Engineering has been proposing and implementing exactly this type of infrastructure for decades but they face opposition from the City.
Queue Jump Lanes constructed by the TTC include:
WB Lawrence & Dufferin
EB Steeles & Don Mills
WB Finch & Yonge
EB Finch & Markham
Queue Jump Lanes constructed by the TTC include:
WB Lawrence & Dufferin
EB Steeles & Don Mills
WB Finch & Yonge
EB Finch & Markham