Transit Tangents

Louis & Chris
  • 5.0 (18)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Podcast where we discuss all things transit. Join us as we dive into transit systems across the US, bring you interviews with experts and advocates, and engage in some fun and exciting challenges along the way.

  1. 6H AGO

    St. Louis MetroLink Extension - Building with Optimism

    We weigh the $150 million St. Louis MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport against projected ridership and explain how Illinois state funding, decades of pre-planning, and significant optimism have made this project a reality.  • cost, scope and context of the MidAmerica Airport extension • ridership at Lambert versus MidAmerica and what it implies • lack of anchors near the new terminus and first-mile gaps • Illinois’s Rebuild Illinois funding and shovel-ready advantage • development logic behind building into empty fields • the Green Line corridor, voter backing, and federal hurdles • pivot from light rail to dedicated-lane BRT and timelines • risks of BRT creep and ways to protect speed and reliability • how to engage with local planning and share feedback If you are in the St. Louis area or in Illinois and you want to give your thoughts about these two projects, the BRT line and the Mid-America Airport extension of the Red Line out of St. Louis, please send us an email. If you want to support the show, the best way to do so is via our Patreon. You can also just subscribe, like the episode, all that good stuff. Send a text Support the show

    24 min

  2. FEB 3

    "Cable 1" Takes Off Over Paris - And We Rode It!

    We travel to the edge of Paris to ride a new five-station urban gondola that extends Metro Line 8, showing how aerial transit can beat ground constraints, cut commute times, and invite better station design. Along the way, we talk with David Rambert, Project Manager for Architecture and BIM Manager at Atelier Schall, the agency responsible for the C1 station designs. He gives us more insight about accessibility, costs, and why gondolas fit this corridor. • reasons a gondola beats a rail extension (in this scenario) • six-year design–build timeline and lower capital costs • right-sized capacity around 1,600–2,000 people per hour per direction (pphpd) with strong ridership • accessibility choices, including level boarding and tactile paths • station design that blends into the  landscape and supports TOD • travel time cut from 35 to 18 minutes with 30-second headways • quieter operations and lower operating costs than buses • global context from Colombia to La Paz and Mexico City • where gondolas fit between bus and rail in a network If you want to see more from our interview with David, we posted a longer version of the interview on Patreon, where you can support the show directly. Send us an email if you've got something like this that you want us to go check out in the future.  Send us a text Support the show

    23 min

  3. JAN 27

    Paris Cut Vehicle Traffic by 50%

    What does a city feel like after it cuts car traffic in half and gives the streets back to people? We take you onto Paris’ bike lanes, into its buses and metros, and through the policies that turned a car-choked capital into a place where movement feels easy, human, and fast. We break down how temporary “COVID paths” grew into a citywide Plan Vélo, backed by a major budget and an audacious goal: make every neighborhood bike-accessible. That meant building more than 1,000 kilometers of bikeways, re-striping streets, adding protection, and coordinating signals so cycling works at all ages and abilities. Pair that with bus-only lanes, filtered residential streets, and the removal of 50,000 parking spaces, and the result is a network that moves more people with less noise and danger.  Ready to rethink your city’s playbook? Listen, share with a friend who bikes or rides the bus, and subscribe to support more people-first urban stories. Send us a text Support the show

    18 min

  4. JAN 20

    2026 FIFA World Cup Cities, Ranked By Transit

    Choosing your World Cup city could be the difference between a breezy, car-free celebration and a stressful shuttle hunt. We break down all 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with one goal in mind: how easily can a traveler get from the airport to the stadium and still enjoy the city’s best neighborhoods, food, and culture without relying on a car. Our criteria are simple and traveler-focused—airport rail links, direct stadium access, real-world frequency, and the broader web of connections that let you explore beyond the match. Planning your trip? Use this guide to pick the city that matches your style—walkable, rail-first weekends or ambitious multi-city itineraries. If you enjoyed this breakdown, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us which city you’re choosing and why. Send us a text Support the show

    30 min

  5. JAN 13

    The London Map That Changed The World

    We trace how London turned a messy rail network into a global template for wayfinding, from the Underground roundel to Harry Beck’s diagrammatic map and the Legible London street totems. We compare London’s cohesive design to New York’s hybrid map history and ask what riders truly need now that apps guide most trips. • the roundel’s role in unifying London transport • Edward Johnston’s type and a shared design language • Harry Beck’s diagram and why straight lines work • minimal geography versus cognitive clarity • New York’s Vignelli map backlash and 2025 redesign • station exits, transfer signage, and rider confidence • TFL’s cross-mode branding from tube to bikes • Legible London pedestrian totems and walking times • apps changing navigation habits and expectations • how policy, symbols, and maps align for ease Let us know what you think of London's impact on transit across the globe! Send us a text Support the show

    25 min

  6. JAN 6

    Why A Century-Old Forest Tram Still Beats The Bus

    We ride the Thuringian Waldbahn from Gotha through forest and small towns, tracing its history and design while asking why systems like this are rare elsewhere. Along the way we test timed transfers, swap notes on fares, and weigh what rural mobility could look like in the US. • route overview from Gotha to Waltershausen, Friedrichroda and Bad Tabarz • single track operations with passing loops • history from 1894 urban tram to 1929 Waldbahn • fare simplicity with the Deutschlandticket • regional rail links and service frequency • lessons for rural transit in the US • reflections on identity, tourism and everyday access Send us a text Support the show

    19 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    Top Transit Projects Coming in 2026!

    Eight new transit links, one very mobile year. We’re diving into the projects that will actually change how U.S. cities move in 2026—from a light rail that glides over a floating bridge to a long‑awaited people mover that finally tames LAX’s traffic loop. If you care about frequency, airport access, and walkable neighborhoods, this tour is your roadmap to the projects that matter. Hit play, share with a transit‑curious friend, and tell us which city got it right. Subscribe and leave a review to help more riders find the show. Send us a text Support the show

    25 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    DART Membership up for Election?

    A celebratory Silver Line opening collides with city referendums to leave DART, putting service, funding, and future upgrades at risk. We weigh the politics and the human impact, and lay out what residents can do before the 2026 votes. • Silver Line ridership settling into expectations • What Plano currently receives from DART • Land use gaps around stations and jobs • Why sales tax capture is driving exit talk • Debt payoff timelines if cities leave • System impacts of losing Plano and Irving • Public sentiment and organizing momentum • Negotiation paths and funding flexibility • How to track councils and get involved • Key dates leading to May 2026 votes Send us a text Support the show

    28 min
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

The Podcast where we discuss all things transit. Join us as we dive into transit systems across the US, bring you interviews with experts and advocates, and engage in some fun and exciting challenges along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Louis & Chris
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Transit Tangents
  • Show Website
    Transit Tangents

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