A Look Back! The New Transit of 2023! 

Yay! 2023 is done! Bring on 2024!

I'm glad you're focusing on the positives of transit in 2023, because it shows that change is very much possible! I have as much hope for North American transit as you do! Those who say that the US and Canada are doomed ignores the progress many cities have made, and the fact the urbanist movement is thriving. I'm glad East Side Access finally opened in 2023 as it helps alleviate Penn Station by sending trains to GC instead. Construction commenced in 2007, but the 63rd Street Tunnel included space for LIRR track when it opened in 1989 (and construction for the tunnel began in 1969), and that's because there were plans for something like it as far back as the 1950s, and a new LIRR East Side terminal was first proposed in 1963. However, the reason East Side Access wasn't built back then was lack of funds, so the only thing that got built for it was the space on the 63rd Street Tunnel which was completed in 1989 and also carries F trains, with a station on Roosevelt Island being one of the deepest in the system at 100 feet/30 m

It's nice what Brightline is doing in Florida! While Brightline definitely isn't perfect, it's still a fast and frequent intercity service and that's the point! Not every new rail service in North America has to be HSR! And speed isn't the only thing that makes an intercity service great, it's also frequency! And Orlando/Central FL and South Florida are employment centers of the state for different reasons, so demand for this is there. Besides the tourists using this to go to the beaches or to the theme parks, this also attracts cruise goers as well as a way to get to the different cruise terminals. The REM is quite impressive! I think going the elevated route was a solid choice! Building not just elevated stations, but with platform screen doors is not only protecting people between stations with the complete grade-separation and inside stations with the platform screen doors, but also no accidents with cars would occur! And of course, you're saving money by not tunneling! Not to mention, elevated trains are an iconic part of urban cultures, like the L in Chicago and the 7 in Queens! REM makes the lives of Montrealers and those in its suburbs way better! On top of having a convenient way to the airport as part of the system's ambitions!

Gotta say, as cool as the name Skyline is, considering Honolulu has TheBus, I wish they chose TheRail 😂. I love the fact that all the station names not only have two languages but that the Hawaiian names are featured as the more prominent names thanks to the effort of the Hawaiian Station Naming Working Group or HSNWG. And yes, UTA has done a lot of good as the Olympics gave Salt Lake City the excuse to improve its transit. In 1988, Congress approved five million in funds to preserve land around the proposed TRAX corridor. After they won the right to host the Olympics in 1995, UTA used this as acceleration for funding. Like how the 2010 Winter Olympics bid motivated Vancouver to build the Canada Line. Though it had a huge flaw when it opened for the 2002 Winter Olympics, when TRAX opened, there wasn't even a station at the airport! The airport wouldn't get one until 2013! TRAX ended up borrowing 29 Kinki Sharyo LRVs from Dallas to handle overcrowding during the 2002 Winter Olympics! And another thing Utah did for the 2002 Winter Olympics for transport was for those heading to Soldier Hollow (for biathlon, Nordic combined, and cross-country), the Heber Valley Railroad offered a special train service to Wasatch Mountain State Park on steam locomotives, and then horse-drawn sleighs took spectators to the venue.

Additionally, we got WMATA’s new Potomac Yard station!!

As an Edmontonian, I was soooooo happy for the new LRT line here! Was following most of it's construction timeline. (even following the existing expansions being built now) I went to ride the train as soon as it was opened it was great

While the REM has had its issues in the past few months, it is and will be a game changer for Montreal, especially when the next phase opens in 2024. Such a shame the even more ambitious REM de l'Est was cancelled by the provincial government. Anyway, here's to an ever bigger year for public transit in 2024!

Regardless of what the capitalistic media might tell us. Let us not forget that the urbanist community is growing. Something positive to think about as we head into 2024!

I appreciate this video so much, sometimes it is easy not to see the forest for the trees.

My biggest story of the year? Edmonton's 13 KM Valley Line FINALLY opened its first leg and its first 12 stations. Another 13 km and I believe 14 stations are under construction for a 2027 opening... 2 more stations were slated to open in the next few weeks on the North LRT but one was permanently deferred from opening to save costs since the planned development around it has not been built yet... With all its flaws I didn't think we'd ever get to this moment. Also goes to show you the flaws and lack of transparency when you do P3 projects... Thank You, Stephen Harper..

While there is still a long way to go, it's great to see North American cities improve their public transit systems. It would be great if you made a video with more detail about the expansions of LA's metro as they are doing a lot to improve their system.

Keep an eye out for the Indygo Purple Line, a huge BRT project that should be opening next year! Indianapolis doesn't get a lot of attention for its transit, but it's got some great projects in the works and they deserve more credit in the face of a state gov that keeps trying to get in their way.

Brightline still only runs at 125 mph for 7% of its route. The rest is conventional speed rail with some sections on the West Palm to Cocoa allowing for 110 mph, but also containing 20 mph draw bridges. Similarly, Brightline West will only reach actual HSR speeds on two short segments just before Vegas. It's a nice highER speed rail line, but HSR it is not.

Now is we could just get more expansion in Utah on the tail of the OGX. We really need the Rio Grande Plan (RGP) and the transit oriented development it will give Salt Lake City. Hopefully we can make the Rio Grande Plan more popular among the SLC citizens and the transit/urbanist community. Hope that 2024 and beyond sees more and more transit development across the USA!!! Also, first!

I can't wait until the Northwest Extension II opening!

Suffolk County, NY. Suffolk Transit has made so good strides. Now runs are going 7 days a week and running later

A great year in non-automotive transportation. I hope 2024 is better.

Hell even San Diego added a new Rapid Bus 227 service from the lesser used Otay Mesa border crossing to the Blue line and Imperial Beach. Transit is doing pretty good here until a week ago when we had a torrential downpour (4th rainiest day in history). It destroyed some Orange line tracks from flood damage and is still closed

"And while it won't double the length of this video." Good Segway there.

I hope Brightline forces Amtrak to do better. When it comes to the passenger experience.

great video!!!!

5:39 it's km/h, not "kph".

Inter city rail and HSR is most important thing for the US. Commuter/Light rail and Metro/subway systems in and around big cities are good, efficient and more or less comparable to developed World. When it comes to inter city rail - not so much.

Great video as always sir! Love your infectious optimism. :]

Having patronized LA Metro Rail for over a decade, it's almost impossible to overstate how much the regional connector has improved the usability of the system. Now, the authority needs to do more to enforce a code of conduct that will improve train and station cleanliness so more people will consider using it instead of driving.

bright-line isn't cheaper then driving or flying.

Honolulu doesn't count for North America, but it does belong in this video

Make tourists pay more than locals. Problem solved