Sic Transit PHL
@sictransitphl.bsky.social
Identity, whether gender or nationality or any other, is an individual choice; fluid, contingent, and perhaps multiple. This is the only way to live at peace in a Free society, and is therefore a non-negotiable demand on every State, backed by force.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
imagine what we could be doing if the federal government wasn't actively trying to throttle the growth of this industry
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
imagine what we could be doing if the federal government wasn't actively trying to throttle the growth of this industry
Oh, *fuck*.
The buildings were covered in bamboo and nylon scaffolding as part of a renovation project. That's what the government trying to phase out.
November 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Oh, *fuck*.
I almost hate to say it, but Pennsylvania is also participating in this race.
whichever of New York or New Jersey passes a commuter rail upzoning bill first is going to have a golden decade in its suburbs imo
Gotta upzone.
November 26, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I almost hate to say it, but Pennsylvania is also participating in this race.
Can't speak directly to academia, but it squares with what I'm adjacent to: the sense that the tech revolution was a response to energy becoming prohibitively expensive c. 1970, where becoming more efficient was held up higher than "slinging more stuff, faster".
Nora's an OG internet friend so I'm biased to believe her, but I've seen this "tech revolution is over" take from multiple sources now (inc. ppl who work in robotics/ML/silicone valley etc). I'm a bit out of the loop for #histTech and philtech stuff & wondering if it's in the academic discourse too?
this is exactly why theres such a push for generative ai as the next thing because the smartphone is peak computer and the tech industry has been reduced to being an appliance maker when was the last big revolution in refrigerators or microwave ovens? tech as a growth sector is dead
November 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Can't speak directly to academia, but it squares with what I'm adjacent to: the sense that the tech revolution was a response to energy becoming prohibitively expensive c. 1970, where becoming more efficient was held up higher than "slinging more stuff, faster".
Hard vouch. And, if you are doing journalism about transit advocacy, whether as an advocate-journalist or as an objective reporter, you have to be able to explain the implications of these technical details to lay people in your audience, or you're botching your job.
The problem is if you want to do transit advocacy in the USA you do really need to know what a shoefly is, and weird shit about fire safety, and a million other things.
I'm guessing 10% of the people in this room were looking for this level of detail. A phrase comes to mind (build the damn trains, I don't need to know what a shoofly is.)
November 25, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Hard vouch. And, if you are doing journalism about transit advocacy, whether as an advocate-journalist or as an objective reporter, you have to be able to explain the implications of these technical details to lay people in your audience, or you're botching your job.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Learning that Annemarie Gray (no relation) of Open New York, NYC's YIMBY group, has been appointed to Mayor-elect Mamdani's housing transition team. This is FANTASTIC news!
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Learning that Annemarie Gray (no relation) of Open New York, NYC's YIMBY group, has been appointed to Mayor-elect Mamdani's housing transition team. This is FANTASTIC news!
Tesco has the advantage of being only 3-4 days away by rail freight from Spain, its main warmer-weather produce source. You can't get anything from our comparable source, California, to the East Coast in anything under a week unless you're trucking directly. That freshness advantage matters!
the average American cannot imagine the luxury of a Tesco Express.
November 24, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Tesco has the advantage of being only 3-4 days away by rail freight from Spain, its main warmer-weather produce source. You can't get anything from our comparable source, California, to the East Coast in anything under a week unless you're trucking directly. That freshness advantage matters!
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Engineers think of traffic as one particular liquid. Sewage.
You don't care how long it takes to get to its destination, but you do everything possible to make sure it doesn't back up.
Sanitary engineering was a hot new science when traffic engineering started in the 1920s.
You don't care how long it takes to get to its destination, but you do everything possible to make sure it doesn't back up.
Sanitary engineering was a hot new science when traffic engineering started in the 1920s.
Engineers think it’s a liquid but traffic is a gas. Give it space and it’ll fill it up. Take it away and it disperses
Every time
November 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Engineers think of traffic as one particular liquid. Sewage.
You don't care how long it takes to get to its destination, but you do everything possible to make sure it doesn't back up.
Sanitary engineering was a hot new science when traffic engineering started in the 1920s.
You don't care how long it takes to get to its destination, but you do everything possible to make sure it doesn't back up.
Sanitary engineering was a hot new science when traffic engineering started in the 1920s.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
NEW: Gov. Josh Shapiro is sending $220 million to SEPTA to help repair fire-prone Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars and a damaged overhead power system in the trolley tunnel.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
Gov. Shapiro allocated $220 million to SEPTA to get Regional Rail back on track
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
www.inquirer.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
NEW: Gov. Josh Shapiro is sending $220 million to SEPTA to help repair fire-prone Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars and a damaged overhead power system in the trolley tunnel.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
The main barrier to use for transit is insufficient frequency, not expense, Exhibit No. 84377866π. (And, because the agency being indicted here is RTD, woeful land use adjacent to stations should also be prominent among the list of charges.)
I am super-pro-public transit, and use it way more than the average American, but I live near a light rail station with very, very stable and predictable scheduling, and even then I would not use it for many things I use a car for because the cost of transit is time.
i wonder how much of Americans' views on driving vs. transit would change if they had to pay for gas/insurance/etc every time they turned on the engine
"i'm not paying $5 to take the train to work twice a day when i can just drive" is a genuine opinion held by so many people
"i'm not paying $5 to take the train to work twice a day when i can just drive" is a genuine opinion held by so many people
November 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The main barrier to use for transit is insufficient frequency, not expense, Exhibit No. 84377866π. (And, because the agency being indicted here is RTD, woeful land use adjacent to stations should also be prominent among the list of charges.)
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Going on any other social media site makes me realize that bluesky isn’t so bad
November 23, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Going on any other social media site makes me realize that bluesky isn’t so bad
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Periodic reminder that the original head of Hillsdale College divorced his first wife to marry his mistress, an employee.
While married to wife #2 he was alleged to have had an affair with his own son’s wife who committed suicide on campus.
They’d prefer you not know all that though.
While married to wife #2 he was alleged to have had an affair with his own son’s wife who committed suicide on campus.
They’d prefer you not know all that though.
This is the academic institution that is playing the most significant role in shaping the official celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding. dc.hillsdale.edu/News/Hillsda...
Hillsdale College Partners with the White House America 250 Task Force to Produce a New Educational
dc.hillsdale.edu
November 22, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Periodic reminder that the original head of Hillsdale College divorced his first wife to marry his mistress, an employee.
While married to wife #2 he was alleged to have had an affair with his own son’s wife who committed suicide on campus.
They’d prefer you not know all that though.
While married to wife #2 he was alleged to have had an affair with his own son’s wife who committed suicide on campus.
They’d prefer you not know all that though.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Zohran Mamdani spent his mayoral campaign riding the subway and biking around — but the demands of City Hall may test his transit habit.
Security Blanket: Will NYPD Smother Mamdani’s Love of Transit and Bikes? - Streetsblog New York City
Zohran Mamdani spent his mayoral campaign riding the subway and biking around — but the demands of City Hall may test his transit habit.
buff.ly
November 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Zohran Mamdani spent his mayoral campaign riding the subway and biking around — but the demands of City Hall may test his transit habit.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Want to set up some tables and chairs on the sidewalk outside of your restaurant in Philly? It could take years, an architect, and a lot of $$$.
New legislation proposed in City Council could remove one step from the already messy process and add significantly more space primed for outdoor dining.
New legislation proposed in City Council could remove one step from the already messy process and add significantly more space primed for outdoor dining.
It can take two years for a restaurant to get approved for outdoor dining. One Philly councilmember is trying to make it easier
Councilmember Rue Landau introduced legislation to expand areas where sidewalk cafes can exist without a special zoning ordinance.
www.inquirer.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Want to set up some tables and chairs on the sidewalk outside of your restaurant in Philly? It could take years, an architect, and a lot of $$$.
New legislation proposed in City Council could remove one step from the already messy process and add significantly more space primed for outdoor dining.
New legislation proposed in City Council could remove one step from the already messy process and add significantly more space primed for outdoor dining.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
SEPTA's Zero Fare program could end next year. Advocates are pushing to save it.
Free SEPTA fares for low-income riders could end next year. Advocates are pushing to save it.
The Zero Fare program needs permanent funding, argue advocates and some elected officials.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
SEPTA's Zero Fare program could end next year. Advocates are pushing to save it.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
I found the one exception to my belief that journalists should be paid for their work
November 22, 2025 at 6:42 AM
I found the one exception to my belief that journalists should be paid for their work
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Listen, I spent years telling you all that Substack was evil. *Now* do you believe me?
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Listen, I spent years telling you all that Substack was evil. *Now* do you believe me?
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
City Hall Station’s glow-up is epic! We still want to see a full renovation in the future, but for now, the cramped, dingy station we all know and love is officially just… cramped.
Huge credit to SEPTA—this was an excellent job!
Huge credit to SEPTA—this was an excellent job!
November 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM
City Hall Station’s glow-up is epic! We still want to see a full renovation in the future, but for now, the cramped, dingy station we all know and love is officially just… cramped.
Huge credit to SEPTA—this was an excellent job!
Huge credit to SEPTA—this was an excellent job!
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
no one has ever spoken like this about a GoA4 (grade-of-automation four, or no staff on-board and completely automatic) driverless metro
November 20, 2025 at 1:06 AM
no one has ever spoken like this about a GoA4 (grade-of-automation four, or no staff on-board and completely automatic) driverless metro
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
I think entirely too much about how California’s climate plan explicitly says that converting to EVs is not nearly enough to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets so we need to reduce VMT 25% by 2030, and then we do basically nothing to try to achieve that goal
November 22, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I think entirely too much about how California’s climate plan explicitly says that converting to EVs is not nearly enough to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets so we need to reduce VMT 25% by 2030, and then we do basically nothing to try to achieve that goal
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
I think Mamdani is doing what he has to for his voters by charming the pants off Donald Trump, and I'm glad he's got the natural charisma to do it, but I do want to point out that people would absolutely savage Whitmer or Shapiro for doing the same
November 22, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I think Mamdani is doing what he has to for his voters by charming the pants off Donald Trump, and I'm glad he's got the natural charisma to do it, but I do want to point out that people would absolutely savage Whitmer or Shapiro for doing the same
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Ah man no come on take the train to DC whatareyoudoing
November 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Ah man no come on take the train to DC whatareyoudoing
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
Congestion pricing will be a popular issue in 10 years.
Almost half the Waymos on California streets are driving around empty. They're either waiting for the next customer or en route for a pickup.
If robotaxis scale, anything close to that level of deadheading would create crushing gridlock.
www.thedriverlessdigest.com/p/what-cpuc-...
If robotaxis scale, anything close to that level of deadheading would create crushing gridlock.
www.thedriverlessdigest.com/p/what-cpuc-...
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Congestion pricing will be a popular issue in 10 years.
Reposted by Sic Transit PHL
This is pretty amazing. This guy just won a solid victory in Bucks County, PA, one of the most important swing counties in the country, by *explicitly and deliberately* making his race *all about* nationalizing ICE raids. Confirms the point about this now being a winning issue for Dems.
November 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This is pretty amazing. This guy just won a solid victory in Bucks County, PA, one of the most important swing counties in the country, by *explicitly and deliberately* making his race *all about* nationalizing ICE raids. Confirms the point about this now being a winning issue for Dems.
This is one of the few things that will fuck up a rail line for more like days than hours. Well done!
In Russia’s Perm region, tank cars carrying a highly flammable substance have overturned and are burning. Russian experts are still determining the circumstances and are not ruling out sabotage.
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM
This is one of the few things that will fuck up a rail line for more like days than hours. Well done!