Transportopia: Public Transport Stories & Ideas

Take the Train: Confessions of a G-Train Devotee

Transportopia host Rick L'Amie rides the G and 7 with his daughter Lauren as she describes life as a longtime New York City transit rider. They discuss the quirky G train jog, seasonal shutdowns, and the city’s 24-hour subway that makes car-free living possible.
Lauren reflects on moving from Austin, selling her car, and how transit shapes daily life — from schlepping furniture on the train to mourning the MetroCard as the system moves to OMNY. She also dispels myths about subway safety and urges newcomers: take the train.
SHOW NOTES — REFERENCES & LINKS
The MTA — mta.info (official site, all NYC subway info)
The G train service page the notorious service change closings for 2026— https://www.mta.info/article/service-changes-g-line-2026
OMNY (tap-to-pay) — omny.info (MTA’s contactless fare system)
End of the MetroCard — https://www.mta.info/press-release/mta-partners-iconic-culinary-vendors-celebrate-end-of-metrocard (MTA’s official MetroCard sunset announcement*)
New York City Transit Museum — nytransitmuseum.org (the place to go for token, MetroCard, and subway history)
Austin, Texas
Capital Metro (Cap Metro) — capmetro.org (Austin’s public transit agency)
Cap MetroRail Red Line — capmetro.org/rail (the commuter rail line referenced in the episode)

News and Views May 26. 2026: Build America 250: $580B Reauthorization Shapes Transit's Next Five Years

This episode of Transportopia News and Views breaks down the biggest surface transportation bill in years, New York’s congestion pricing first-year results, California’s controversial 140 mph bullet-bus study, and the winners of the 2026 International Bus Roadeo in Salt Lake City.
Host Rick L’Amie connects policy headlines with real-world practice, highlighting how funding, results, speed, and the people who run transit intersect — and teases a ride-along episode in New York City with his daughter coming next week.
SOURCES / SHOW NOTES
1. BUILD America 250 Act Advances — House T&I Committee, May 22, 2026https://democrats-transportation.house.gov/news/press-releases/tandi-committee-approves-build-america-250-act2. NYC Congestion Pricing One-Year Results — WBUR Here & Now, May 18, 2026https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/05/18/nyc-congestion-pricing3. CalTrans Studies 140 MPH "Bullet Buses" — Streetsblog USA, May 18, 2026https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/high-speed-rail-california-22267442.php4. APTA Mobility Conference & International Bus Roadeo — APTA Passenger Transport, May 2026https://aptapassengertransport.com/apta-kicks-off-mobility-conference-in-salt-lake-city/
 

Inside the Wild World of Transit Fandom

In this episode of Transportopia, Rick L'Amie dives into transit fandom—from viral personalities like Francis Bourgeois and creators like Miles in Transit to virtual communities on Roblox, simulation games like Mini Metro and Subway Builder, and transit-inspired art and collectibles.
He explores how these hobbies create emotional connections to cities, transform transit into visual culture and community, and show how movement, memory, and design bring people together.
Show Notes / Links
Transit Fandom Articles
The New Yorker - Where Transit Fans Unite
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/where-transit-fans-unite
 
San Francisco Standard - Muni and BART superfans
https://sfstandard.com/2025/11/13/muni-bart-public-transit-fans-merch/
 
Creators
Francis Bourgeois Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/francis_bourgeois43/
 
Miles in Transit YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@MilesinTransit
Seniac YouTube
https://youtu.be/QdAMHBmx_m0?si=IePBQY13DXrnbaF_
Saugat Transit
https://www.saugatransit.com
Saugat Transit Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/saugatransit/
Games and Simulations
Mini Metro
https://dinopoloclub.com/games/mini-metro/
Subway Builder
https://www.subwaybuilder.com
Metro Board - Design Rules Co.
https://www.designrules.co/

News and Views: Wilshire's Subway Is Here: LA's Big Leap Under the Car Capital

In this episode of Transportopia News and Views we cover three major transport moves: Los Angeles opened new Purple Line subway stations under Wilshire Boulevard, New York City redesigned the Manhattan approach to the Brooklyn Bridge to separate cyclists and pedestrians and announced plans for a 10-mile bike boulevard in Brooklyn, and Denver advanced plans for bus rapid transit on Colorado Boulevard.
These stories show real momentum — built infrastructure arriving and planning progressing — improving safety, access, and alternatives to car travel across U.S. cities. Visit transportopia.org for show notes, links and podcast extras. And please like us wherever you get your podcasts.

Encore Episode: Inside the CX Revolution with Aaron Weinstein

This Encore episode of Transportopia features Aaron Weinstein, founder of Transit CX, in a conversation about transforming public transit through customer experience. They define CX in the transit context and explore the full door-to-door rider journey, from trip planning and first-mile access to on-board comfort, accessibility, and post-trip interactions.
Aaron and host Rick L'Amie discuss tools like journey mapping, qualitative research, and NPS, how agencies are using CX to shape budgets and culture, and the importance of hearing riders and acting on their feedback. The episode highlights progress, real-world examples, and challenges ahead for making transit more user-centered. Apologies dear listeners for the lower audio quality. It was our first full episode and we were still learning the podcast production ropes!
Learn more at Aaron's website, TransitCX.org
Follow Transportopia at transportopia.org
 

News and Views Bonus Episode: Victory in Court: 2nd Avenue Subway Funding Unfrozen

This episode of Transportopia News and Views covers four key transit stories: the federal government releasing nearly $60 million for New York's 2nd Avenue subway extension, MARTA launching its Rapid A-Line BRT in Atlanta, Mayor Zoran Mamdani postponing full implementation of his Fast and Free Buses pledge due to budget constraints, and Sacramento Regional Transit studying a redevelopment of a park-and-ride into a mixed-use, transit-oriented district.
Together these stories highlight the tension between ambitious transit goals and the financial and political realities that shape what gets built and when.
Visit transportopia.org for the blog and other resources.

Inside Transit Unplugged: Paul Comfort on 400 Episodes, Leadership & Innovation

Paul Comfort reflects on building Transit Unplugged—how a lifelong love of communication and decades in transit led to 400 episodes, global visits, and a mission to let transit leaders tell their stories beyond crisis headlines. He shares lessons on customer-first service, technology’s role in ridership, and surprising systems from Singapore to Salt Lake City.
The episode also explores Paul’s new book Find Your X Factor, his TV and writing work, and the Transportopia theme song that imagines safer streets, better connections, and transit woven into daily life. Visit transportopia.org to tell us your vision of Transportopia.
Resources:
Transit Unplugged Podcast - https://transitunplugged.com/Paul Comfort's Books on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Paul+ComfortFind Your X Factor Website - https://findyourxfactor.aiThe Transportopia Song: https://youtu.be/RVefq4HUGHY?si=ykCQa_ITALZda29a
 

Transportopia Episode 24: News and Views April 14, 2026

Bonus episode  - a bi-weekly wrap up of major or interesting public transportation news over the past week with Transportopia host Rick L'Amie. This week's lead story - major federal transportation funding budget cuts.

Transportopia Episode 23: The Loneliest Transit Station in America

In this episode, Transportopia Podcast host Rick L'Amie visits with fellow transit nerd David Schneider of Transit Oriented Discoveries to discuss the development of his National Transit Station Atlas and his competition to determine the loneliest transit station in America. Explore the intriguing reasons behind its recognition and the broader implications for transportation and community planning. Learn more about the Atlas at www.transitorienteddiscoveries.com/atlas

Transportopia News and Views Episode 22 April 2, 2026

A brief look at some of the top stories recent stories in public transportation. This is an abbreviated edition this week due to Rick's travel schedule.