Host Rick L'Amie breaks down top transit stories over the past two weeks: Los Angeles breaks ground on a new light rail line and a major bus rapid transit corridor, California picks Siemens for its first high-speed trains, and Jacksonville suspends its autonomous NAVI shuttle amid a budget crisis.

The episode also covers Minneapolis' robotaxi regulations, upcoming transit funding measures on ballots in three states, and a lighter note on the bus-driver video game "Thank You, Bus Driver."

Show notes/sources:

LA begins work on $4 billion light rail through San Fernando Valley (Planetizen): https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/10/138692-la-begins-work-4-billion-light-rail-through-san-fernando-valley LA to bring bus rapid transit to its busiest corridor (Planetizen): https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/10/138713-la-bring-bus-rapid-transit-its-busiest-corridor Siemens Mobility selected for California High Speed Rail train contract (Railway Gazette International): https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/2026/10/23/siemens-mobility-selected-for-california-high-speed-rail-train-contact/ Is America's 'First Autonomous Transit System' Really Dead? (Streetsblog USA): https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/10/13/is-americas-first-autonomous-transit-system-really-dead Minneapolis City Council fails to override mayoral veto of autonomous rideshare rules (MPR News): https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/15/minneapolis-city-council-fails-override-mayoral-veto-autonomous-rideshare-rules Washington's Pierce Transit Board Sends Transit Funding Measure to November Ballot (Metro Magazine): https://www.metro-magazine.com/news/washingtons-pierce-transit-board-sends-transit-funding-measure-to-november-ballot Florida could lose billions in funding for infrastructure, parks (Planetizen): https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/10/138677-florida-could-lose-billions-funding-infrastructure-parks Double Fine announces Thank You Bus Driver (Gematsu): https://www.gematsu.com/2026/09/double-fine-productions-announces-chaotic-bus-driving-game-thank-you-bus-driver-for-pc Join Transportopia on Patreon: https://transportopia.org/patreon

This episode explores Honolulu's Skyline — the U.S.'s first fully automated elevated rail — its American Public Transportion Association 2026 Innovation Award, how it runs with 99%+ on-time performance, and the rider experience from stations to open gangway trains.

Check out more from the APTA conference with bonus content in the coming weeks on the Transportopia Patreon page. transportopia.org/patreon

Show Notes:

• Skyline video
• Skyline Home Page
• Hitachi Rail: Skyline first anniversary
• IEEE Hawaii WIE: Behind the Scenes at Hitachi Rail Honolulu

This expanded bonus edition of Transportopia New and Views reports from The American Public Transportation Association's TRANSFORM Conference in Chicago, highlighting innovation across public transportation, including automated rail, community-focused station activations in Honolulu, and new on-demand electric shuttles.

Highlights include Cara Mazzei's talk on building ridership for Honolulu’s Skyline, scenes from the Innovation Summit, and a look at Argo’s small electric bus as a first/last-mile solution. Check out more from the conference in the coming weeks and on the Transportopia Patreon page. transportopia.org/patreon

Show Notes:

• APTA
• Skyline video
• Skyline Home Page
• Metro Magazine: APTA 2026 TRANSform & EXPO Kicks Off in Chicago
• Hitachi Rail: Skyline first anniversary
• IEEE Hawaii WIE: Behind the Scenes at Hitachi Rail Honolulu

Recorded at the American Public Transportation Association's TRANSform Expo and conference in Chicago, this episode features Carrie Schindler, San Bernadino County Transportation Authority's executive director, discussing ZEMU — a Stadler-built hydrogen fuel cell train now running on Metrolink's Arrow Line between San Bernardino and Redlands. ZEMU is the first hydrogen-powered passenger train in North America built to FRA standards.

The conversation covers why SBCTA chose hydrogen, the partnerships and safety work needed to meet federal rules, fueling and maintenance challenges, community reaction, costs of being first, and what the California order of additional hydrogen trains could mean for the future of rail.

Show Notes

SBCTA ZEMU web site: https://www.gosbcta.com/project/zero-emission-multiple-unit-zemu/

Metrolink Arrow Service: https://metrolinktrains.com/rider-info/arrow/

In this bonus New and Views episode we cover Amtrak's new Airo trainsets debuting on the Cascades route, Sound Transit's early opening of Pinehurst Station, Brightline's Chapter 11 filing despite rising ridership, Waymo's transit-linked credit in the Bay Area, and New York City's "Stripehog" truck removing old paint to speed bus and bike lane projects.

The episode features launch-day interviews, details on Airo's passenger amenities, the financing issues behind Brightline, and how street redesigns and new tools are improving transit service. Also, we're pleased to announce our new Patreon page - and you can become a member to support our work. Members get perks and merch. Check it out at www.transportopia.org/patreon

Show Notes:

Amtrak Airo debuts on the Cascades: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/09/a-new-era-for-amtrak-cascades-airo-fleet-debuts-sept-30/

Sound Transit opens Pinehurst Station: https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/pinehurst-station-will-open-september-30

Brightline files for Chapter 11: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2026/09/25/886892.htm

Waymo Transit Rewards: https://sf.streetsblog.org/2026/09/24/advocates-skeptical-about-waymos-transit-rewards-program

NYC's Stripe Hog: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/nyregion/road-cleaning-stripe-hog-nyc.html

Transportopia Host Rick L'Amie talks with Sam Sargent of VTA in Santa Clara County California about how transit agencies can make the business case for public transportation: who to persuade, what arguments work, and how to close the gap between people believing transit is good and actually supporting it.

The conversation covers four audiences (taxpayers who never ride, drivers stuck in traffic, riders weighing time and autonomy, and citywide observers), VTA’s unique role, the Transit Narrative Project findings, and practical strategies like frequency, customer experience, and making transit visible and trustworthy.

Show Notes:

The Transit Narrative Project

VTA - Valley Transportation Authority

Transportopia host Rick L'Amie plays an encore of his favorite episode: a conversation with his daughter Lauren, a ten-year New York resident and daily subway rider. They ride the G and 7 trains, discuss OMNY replacing the MetroCard, quirks of the G, pandemic life, MTA strengths and frustrations, and the realities of car-free living.

Lauren’s simple advice — take the train — anchors a broader reflection on transit as the city’s heartbeat, schlep culture, and why public transportation must work for everyone.

This Bonus News and Views episode covers three major Chicago transit stories: the CTA’s expansion of its frequent bus network to increase ridership and reduce wait times, a $10 million pilot deploying non-law enforcement crisis specialists on rail lines to address homelessness and mental health crises, and the creation of a new regional transit authority (NITA) that consolidates CTA, Metra, and Pace governance.

We explain why frequency is driving ridership, how non-police responders fit into national safety trends, and what the governance change could mean for coordination across the region.

Show Notes:

Story 1: Frequent Network expansion

• CTA Bolsters Frequent Network with Four Additional Routes by End of 2026 — Chicago Transit Authority press release, August 18, 2026
• Transport Chicago's "Year of the Bus" panel discussed CTA service upgrades that contributed to increased ridership — Streetsblog Chicago
• Metro Bus Network Redesign, Houston — NACTO
• Transit Ridership Falling Everywhere — But Not in Cities With Redesigned Bus Networks — Streetsblog USA (Houston and Seattle comparison)

Story 2: Crisis intervention pilot

• CTA deploying violence interrupters, mental health clinicians on trains this fall — Chicago Sun-Times
• CTA Board Approves Slate of Social Service Outreach Efforts Focused on Violence Intervention, Homelessness — WTTW News
• Homelessness: A Guide for Public Transportation — National Academies Press (BART, SEPTA, MARTA program details)
• MTA Keeps Cops At Fore Of Homeless Response As Other Transit Systems Embrace Social Services — Patch (LA Metro and NYC MTA comparison)

Story 3: Northern Illinois Transit Authority transition

• CTA Board Approves Slate of Social Service Outreach Efforts Focused on Violence Intervention, Homelessness — WTTW News