Alexander Hirji
@sashazandr.bsky.social
transit operations, government relations and various other happenings
views are my own
views are my own
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Yay, SB63 signed into law, authorizing a regional transit funding measure for the SF Bay Area, essential to save and improve service for BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain! Bill allows a signature-gathering effort that would passage with 50%+1 of the vote. www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/u...
www.gov.ca.gov
October 13, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Yay, SB63 signed into law, authorizing a regional transit funding measure for the SF Bay Area, essential to save and improve service for BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain! Bill allows a signature-gathering effort that would passage with 50%+1 of the vote. www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/u...
Very neat paper www.brookings.edu/wp-content/u...
www.brookings.edu
September 26, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Very neat paper www.brookings.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
To put this loan amount in perspective:
California is spending $500 million to widen a 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 in the northern Bay Area (through a wetland, no less).
But $750 million to save the *entire* Bay Area’s transit systems is apparently infeasible.
California is spending $500 million to widen a 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 in the northern Bay Area (through a wetland, no less).
But $750 million to save the *entire* Bay Area’s transit systems is apparently infeasible.
We’ve been informed by the Governor’s Department of Finance that it won’t agree before our legislative session ends (on Friday) to finalize a $750M bridge loan to Bay Area transit.
This loan was agreed to in our June budget. Without it, BART, Muni, et al will cut service.🧵
This loan was agreed to in our June budget. Without it, BART, Muni, et al will cut service.🧵
September 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
To put this loan amount in perspective:
California is spending $500 million to widen a 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 in the northern Bay Area (through a wetland, no less).
But $750 million to save the *entire* Bay Area’s transit systems is apparently infeasible.
California is spending $500 million to widen a 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 in the northern Bay Area (through a wetland, no less).
But $750 million to save the *entire* Bay Area’s transit systems is apparently infeasible.
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Gov Newsom still hasn't signed the $750m loan to Bay Area transit agencies that would get us to the Nov 2026 funding votes. He has eight days to act.
Please take a moment to call his office at (916) 445-2841 and use the attached script, copied from a @transbaycoalition.bsky.social.
Please take a moment to call his office at (916) 445-2841 and use the attached script, copied from a @transbaycoalition.bsky.social.
September 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Gov Newsom still hasn't signed the $750m loan to Bay Area transit agencies that would get us to the Nov 2026 funding votes. He has eight days to act.
Please take a moment to call his office at (916) 445-2841 and use the attached script, copied from a @transbaycoalition.bsky.social.
Please take a moment to call his office at (916) 445-2841 and use the attached script, copied from a @transbaycoalition.bsky.social.
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Across Philadelphia and its suburbs, commuters are bracing for a dramatic reduction in public transportation after state lawmakers were unable to agree on how to fund the struggling system.
SEPTA officials have called it a “death spiral.”
SEPTA officials have called it a “death spiral.”
Philadelphia transit hits ‘death spiral.’ More cities could follow.
Across Philadelphia and its suburbs, commuters are bracing for a dramatic reduction in public transit after state lawmakers were unable to agree on funding.
wapo.st
August 23, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Across Philadelphia and its suburbs, commuters are bracing for a dramatic reduction in public transportation after state lawmakers were unable to agree on how to fund the struggling system.
SEPTA officials have called it a “death spiral.”
SEPTA officials have called it a “death spiral.”
might get crucified for this but I think they all suck. if you’re going to brand these as “super different/fleet of the future,” then don’t make them look like the same trains that are from the 70s. be bold! do something totally new and interesting!
Calling all transit fans! Let your voice be heard. 🚇
🗳️ Vote on the exterior design for our new 8000-series rail fleet! Voting will close at 11:59 PM on August 22. Winning concept will be announced next week.
Vote before time runs out: wmata.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey...
🗳️ Vote on the exterior design for our new 8000-series rail fleet! Voting will close at 11:59 PM on August 22. Winning concept will be announced next week.
Vote before time runs out: wmata.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey...
August 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
might get crucified for this but I think they all suck. if you’re going to brand these as “super different/fleet of the future,” then don’t make them look like the same trains that are from the 70s. be bold! do something totally new and interesting!
Contrast this to another west coast agency that is trying to light as much money on fire as possible while building a rapid transit extension
The agency has heard the critiques of how many people worked on the tunnel boring machine for the first phase of the subway and reduced the staffing by 40 percent
August 15, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Contrast this to another west coast agency that is trying to light as much money on fire as possible while building a rapid transit extension
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Troubling findings in this new UCLA report:
Americans are taking far fewer trips than they did before the pandemic. When they do travel, they've shifted toward driving and away from transit.
Those trends are particularly pronounced among youths 15-29.
escholarship.org/uc/item/3gd0...
Americans are taking far fewer trips than they did before the pandemic. When they do travel, they've shifted toward driving and away from transit.
Those trends are particularly pronounced among youths 15-29.
escholarship.org/uc/item/3gd0...
August 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Troubling findings in this new UCLA report:
Americans are taking far fewer trips than they did before the pandemic. When they do travel, they've shifted toward driving and away from transit.
Those trends are particularly pronounced among youths 15-29.
escholarship.org/uc/item/3gd0...
Americans are taking far fewer trips than they did before the pandemic. When they do travel, they've shifted toward driving and away from transit.
Those trends are particularly pronounced among youths 15-29.
escholarship.org/uc/item/3gd0...
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Some good news is that ridership on the Bay Area's Caltrain continues to skyrocket in the wake of the route's electrification—passenger counts are up 79% compared to this time last June
August 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Some good news is that ridership on the Bay Area's Caltrain continues to skyrocket in the wake of the route's electrification—passenger counts are up 79% compared to this time last June
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
5. People in my industry (transit) have an extremely hard time relating to average riders and desperately need either full-time advisors or to test messaging and products *far* more and *constantly*. It's more important to talk to people unfamiliar with the system than people who know it well.
July 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
5. People in my industry (transit) have an extremely hard time relating to average riders and desperately need either full-time advisors or to test messaging and products *far* more and *constantly*. It's more important to talk to people unfamiliar with the system than people who know it well.
How does an agency like the TTC have the online presence of an insecure 10 year old boy who can’t make a 3 point shot in front of somebody they like
July 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
How does an agency like the TTC have the online presence of an insecure 10 year old boy who can’t make a 3 point shot in front of somebody they like
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Lots to unpack on Gov. Newsom’s May Revise and its impact on transit.
Here’s what we know.
The MR’s Cap-and-Invest Plan effectively resets the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan established in 2014 as well as years of budget actions to direct multi-year funding to various programs. 1/X
Here’s what we know.
The MR’s Cap-and-Invest Plan effectively resets the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan established in 2014 as well as years of budget actions to direct multi-year funding to various programs. 1/X
May 15, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Lots to unpack on Gov. Newsom’s May Revise and its impact on transit.
Here’s what we know.
The MR’s Cap-and-Invest Plan effectively resets the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan established in 2014 as well as years of budget actions to direct multi-year funding to various programs. 1/X
Here’s what we know.
The MR’s Cap-and-Invest Plan effectively resets the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan established in 2014 as well as years of budget actions to direct multi-year funding to various programs. 1/X
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Tom, context matters. In April we had 26 overruns from over 213,000+ 🔴🚇station stops which is a 99.99% reliability rate & overruns are not considered a safety issue by federal database or other peer agencies as it simply does not pose a safety risk. ATO is safer operations.
Today the Washington Metrorail Safety Comm. said it wants to see more from Metro before allowing #wmata to expand its use of automated trains. Since Metro began using automation on the Red Line in Dec, trains have overrun platforms hundreds of times. Metro & WMSC disagree on if it's a safety issue.
May 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Tom, context matters. In April we had 26 overruns from over 213,000+ 🔴🚇station stops which is a 99.99% reliability rate & overruns are not considered a safety issue by federal database or other peer agencies as it simply does not pose a safety risk. ATO is safer operations.
How does anybody involved with the SJJPA think this is acceptable to passengers. This is embarrassing for any train service. They market this nonsense as a SF to LA option, with worse amenities than a youth sports post-loss team snack spread?
May 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
How does anybody involved with the SJJPA think this is acceptable to passengers. This is embarrassing for any train service. They market this nonsense as a SF to LA option, with worse amenities than a youth sports post-loss team snack spread?
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Most rail services in the US still use polluting diesel locomotives. Recently, our commuter rail system in San Francisco, @caltrain.com, was electrified.
Good news: we found DRAMATIC air quality improvements once the electric trains replaced the diesels.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Good news: we found DRAMATIC air quality improvements once the electric trains replaced the diesels.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Dramatic Air Quality Improvements after the Complete Electrification of a Commuter Rail System
To limit the impact of climate change, there is an urgent requirement for infrastructure decarbonization and a transition to lower-emission energy systems. This is expected to result in local air qual...
pubs.acs.org
April 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Most rail services in the US still use polluting diesel locomotives. Recently, our commuter rail system in San Francisco, @caltrain.com, was electrified.
Good news: we found DRAMATIC air quality improvements once the electric trains replaced the diesels.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Good news: we found DRAMATIC air quality improvements once the electric trains replaced the diesels.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
cutting bus lines off of market street for the past several years and then allowing Waymo to get exclusive access is certainly a choice…
April 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
cutting bus lines off of market street for the past several years and then allowing Waymo to get exclusive access is certainly a choice…
The market getting centel’d today was not what I thought was going to happen, but then again, when is anything predicable nowadays
April 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The market getting centel’d today was not what I thought was going to happen, but then again, when is anything predicable nowadays
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Santa Clara County officials killed the 9-county regional measure which was supposed to be on the 2026 ballot, and now they have opted out of the latest ballot measure to save BART and co. -- all while receiving a BART extension into Downtown San Jose costing a gorillion dollars
The counties included in this proposed ballot measure are Contra Costa, Alameda & San Francisco Counties. We are working with San Mateo County with the goal of the county opting in to the measure in the coming months.
March 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Santa Clara County officials killed the 9-county regional measure which was supposed to be on the 2026 ballot, and now they have opted out of the latest ballot measure to save BART and co. -- all while receiving a BART extension into Downtown San Jose costing a gorillion dollars
I don’t think I’ve seen a more tone deaf communications campaign. Negotiating team asks ATU to hold off so their board can re-asses their position tomorrow, then comms goes on the assault promoting a narrative which is demonstrably false. Literally amateur hour down south, Freudian slips inclusive
March 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I don’t think I’ve seen a more tone deaf communications campaign. Negotiating team asks ATU to hold off so their board can re-asses their position tomorrow, then comms goes on the assault promoting a narrative which is demonstrably false. Literally amateur hour down south, Freudian slips inclusive
oh joy now we have Canadian civil war discourse
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she met with Prime Minister Mark Carney "at his request" today and gave him a "list of demands."
She says whoever wins the next election "must address" these demands "within the first six months of their term to avoid an unprecedented national unity crisis."
She says whoever wins the next election "must address" these demands "within the first six months of their term to avoid an unprecedented national unity crisis."
March 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
oh joy now we have Canadian civil war discourse
Reposted by Alexander Hirji
San Francisco Transit Operator Day is this Tuesday. Ride Muni! Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your neighbors friends. And read this article in Mission Local: missionlocal.org/2025/03/this...
This San Francisco bus driver has a goal: 550,000 Muni trips on Tuesday
For “Transit Operator Day,” driver Mc Allen is encouraging as many people as humanly possible to ride Muni. His goal is to hit 550,000 trips.
missionlocal.org
March 15, 2025 at 11:22 PM
San Francisco Transit Operator Day is this Tuesday. Ride Muni! Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your neighbors friends. And read this article in Mission Local: missionlocal.org/2025/03/this...
