A forward-thinking 16-year-old named Kenyen Coleman founded something called The Drive Time Movement - an impressive effort to use data to push for better public transit and community change. His website offers calculators and a free advocacy toolkit that make commute time, true car costs, and environmental impact personal and actionable.

This episode follows Kenyen’s journey, the tools he built, and what he hopes for the future of public transit in America. Big ideas for a young person with a vision for the future. Visit transportopia.org for show notes our blog and other resources.

Show Notes:

• DriveTime Movement Website
• Kenyen Coleman's Instagram
• Kenyen Coleman's Threads

The Transportopia News and Views Bonus episode between full shows examines four major transit stories: a record-breaking ridership surge during the 2026 World Cup across U.S. host cities; Brightline’s narrow escape from missed payments as it wrestles with $5.5 billion in debt; the near-certainty that the 21st Century Road to Housing Act will become law, linking zoning and transit planning; and a public feud between Amtrak and the MTA over control and funding of the Penn Station overhaul.

Host Rick L'Amie ties these stories together via a common thread of money and power — who pays for transit, who controls it, and whether short-term wins (like World Cup ridership) can translate into lasting change. Visit transportopia.org for show notes and more.

Show Notes: Story Sources

World Cup Ridership Records

Sound Transit / FOX 13 Seattle: https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/world-cup-sound-transit-ridership-record

Brightline Dodges Default

The Bond Buyer: https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/brightline-florida-squeaks-by-debt-payments-gains-two-week-grace-period

Housing Bill / Transit DNA (21st Century ROAD to Housing Act)

Bipartisan Policy Center: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/inside-the-deal-whats-in-the-final-21st-century-road-to-housing-act/ Newsweek (signing standoff / 10-day clock): https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-unimportant-housing-bill-claims-assessed-12138983

Penn Station Turf War

Streetsblog NYC: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/06/29/the-explainer-why-the-penn-station-project-is-getting-all-messed-up-again

This encore episode of Transportopia features Professor Anastasia Lukaitou‑Sideris discussing transit safety after a high‑profile incident in Charlotte. The conversation with Host Rick L'Amie focuses on how design, lighting, visibility, targeted staffing, technology, and community partnerships can reduce both crime and the fear of crime for riders and operators.

Professor Lukaitou‑Sideris highlights practical steps agencies can take now—safety audits, strategic resource allocation, environmental design changes, and clinician partnerships—to create transit spaces that feel open, welcoming, and secure, with special attention to women’s experiences.

Show Notes:

Professor Lukaitou-Sideris UCLA web page bio

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Crime Report News Release