Reposted by Ben SWilliam Skudlarek @willskud.bsky.social · 14hThis housing feasibility study is basically a highlights reel of why zoning reform is necessary, but not sufficient, to get urban infill housing built. Zoning can't change: * high construction costs * condo financing challenges * historic preservation approvals engageoakpark.com/30486/widget... 1316
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 18hSlimy skill games supporters Amen Brown and Danilo Burgos definitely know that skill games can net over $1K/month on average, which means this fee would net far less than the originally proposed 52% tax rate. Amazing how they don't listen to Shapiro on this one issue 180
Reposted by Ben SStephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 30/09/2026@paulbarter.bsky.social has noted that as countries develop, cities shift from being oriented around motorcycles to transit. Unfortunately NYC is backsliding: people are shifting to e-micro-mobility because transit options are poor, and with that sometimes comes death www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/n... 58910
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Directly the fault of traffic engineers. Lombard St is the ONLY E-W street between Walnut & Washington with two lanes going west, but deliberately setup with a green wave as an extended highway onramp to I-76. Streets and PennDOT need to stand down and road diet Lombard with a protected bike lane 0261
Reposted by Ben Snanzhounoodles.bsky.social @nanzhounoodles.bsky.social · 30/09/2026YOU hate Nader for throwing the 2000 election. I hate Nader for ushering in the era of Consumer as a primary political identity, touting the tort system as an alternative to normal democratic deliberation, and making things generally work worse in the USA. 17570106
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Bellwether District: "no no it's fine, I just didn't think it would be all beverage manufacturing" 380
Reposted by Ben SCarey @careylikemariah.bsky.social · 29/09/2026"For six years, I’ve sat in the center of what many call Brooklyn’s political game of thrones — a place where power is coveted, alliances shift overnight, and battles erupt without warning. Some joked I was the Mother of Dragons, holding fire in one hand and strategy in the other." LOL WHATnydailynews.comI’m turning over the Brooklyn Dems’ reinsFor six years, I’ve sat in the center of what many call Brooklyn’s political game of thrones — a place where power is coveted, alliances shift overnight, and battles erupt without warning. Some joked ... 86111
Reposted by Ben SPropriety @proprietous.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Numerous apartment/condo developments in West Philly have died because of an inclusionary zoning overlay that was passed that makes them not pencil out; in one case the developers built by-right single family houses instead (which are far less affordable). www.inquirer.com/opinion/edit...inquirer.comInclusionary zoning has failed to deliver on affordable housing promise | EditorialSince enforcement began in July 2022, only five housing projects — with a total of 106 new apartments and fewer than 30 income-restricted units — have received permits within the restricted area. 082
Reposted by Ben SNolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 29/09/2026We've got a second opening to join the team designing, bidding and building the trains and buses that move millions. We're looking for someone who loves data and can mine datasets with hundreds of millions of rows and extract meaning from them. AND… 1/2 — careers.mta.org/jobs/1828831...careers.mta.orgAssociate, Rolling Stock Strategy & Analysis in New York, New York, United StatesAssociate, Rolling Stock Strategy & Analysis in New York, New York, United States 33313
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 29/09/2026YIMBY has enough of a movement here that it's foolish to tie your argument to trying to defend algorithmic pricing. Maybe actually read some of the proposed legislation in Harrisburg and Philadelphia? 0141
Reposted by Ben SBrendan Dawe @dawe.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Civil War- No trains for 13 years First train runs at 160 km/h excuse me, I didn’t appreciate your game Syrian Railways 819527
Reposted by Ben SLaurie! Live! @laurie-merrell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I appreciate this, which articulates some of what was frustrating me during the peak of DOGE activity. DOGE was never compatible with producing public good because their motivations and methods were structurally opposed to the public's 114046
Reposted by Ben SMiser @misernyc.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Pedestrianized 35th reaches its final, lush form 1444887
Reposted by Ben SMike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 27/09/2026With the increasing length of the Expo Line, people often bring up the idea of making the SkyTrain faster by adding skip stop or local/express service patterns In short, local & express services should be possible with additional platforms at 4 stations This thread explores one way to do that 4356
Reposted by Ben SAusarchosaur @ausarchosaur.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Someone in Cherelle Parker's office is actually recording the number of people calling them regarding the Academy of Natural Science's closure. I did this during my afternoon walk and raised a talking point I never got to discuss at City Hall: Port Kennedy Bone Cave 🧵 12716
Reposted by Ben SFast Company @fastcompany.com · 27/09/2026The museum’s first-ever exhibition dedicated to information design includes works by a climatologist, The New York Times, and more. f-st.co/Z1iiWnIf-st.coMoMA explores the useful beauty of information designThe museum’s first-ever exhibition dedicated to the field includes works by a climatologist, The New York Times, and more. 0167
Reposted by Ben SThe LIRR Today @thelirrtoday.com · 27/09/2026One of the things that again struck me at Innotrans was how very few exhibitors showcased solutions and examples from the Americas. And the few that were on display just look like s—t compared to their international peers. Look at these bus displays, same hardware, very different info quality! 6457
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 23/09/2026“We essentially repatriated those items by bringing them over,” Busch said. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅 0110
Reposted by Ben SParker Welch @parkerwelch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026This man is so predictable lol 231
Reposted by Ben SStephanie Farr @farfarraway.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Transit fans who asked what in the El was happening with @septaphilly.bsky.social's old stuff inspired the first sale of vintage items from its vault. It's already been a massive success online and more merch is dropping for the upcoming in-person sale. www.inquirer.com/life/septa-v...inquirer.comFans are paying $350 for signs at SEPTA’s vintage sale (yes, Broad Street already sold out)Decommissioned signs, old transit maps, and vintage TransPass sheets are among the items in SEPTA's RETROmania sale. 1275
Reposted by Ben SCentral NJ Yimby 🏗️🚲🚇🇺🇸 @princetonyimby.bsky.social · 22/09/2026The Vineland, NJ Downtown Improvement District has rallied business owners to protest the possible opening of a food pantry for homeless people. The plan has been advanced by local woman Terry Blount, who has funded it with her own social security checks. www.nj.com/cumberland/2...nj.comN.J. woman spent her Social Security checks on center for families in need. One vote could end it.After the center struggled to secure preliminary approvals, Vineland's city council may reject it entirely. 0123
Reposted by Ben SStar:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 22/09/2026SEPTA needs to be properly funded but I also really like how their Reimagining Regional Rail vision stair steps from basically today’s system to the full buildout incrementally at logical steps. Post-pandemic, more agencies should take a service-first, sweat-your-assets approach to capital planning. 2363
Reposted by Ben SStar:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Oh yeah, that's the good stuff, well done Philly 0304
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 22/09/2026In addition, the Reimagining Regional Rail master plan has been released! We finally might get the S-Bahn Philadelphia deserves. Read now: wwww.septa.org/initiatives/... 2016829
Reposted by Ben Smichael (he/him) @micfrom215.gobirds.online · 22/09/2026good morning! today SEPTA has dropped a retooled vision for the future of the system wwww.septa.org/accelerate/ 57110
Reposted by Ben SJakub Nowosad @jakubnowosad.com · 16/09/2026A new R package for redistributing counts to flexible spatial grids 🗺️ Christopher D. Higgins’ `{pycnogrid}` implements pycnophylactic interpolation for H3, A5, S2, ISEA, raster, and local hexagonal grids, while preserving the original totals. higgicd.github.io/pycnogrid/ar... #rstats #RSpatialhiggicd.github.io{pycnogrid}: Flexible pycnophylactic interpolation to discrete global and local grid systemsChristopher D. Higgins 1227
Reposted by Ben Smatthew @pahuski.com · 21/09/2026great detail buried in the story about today's outage at PHL and other airports: an NJ Transit contractor severed a fiber optic cablenbcnews.comFlights resume after air traffic equipment failure snarls traffic in Newark, PhiladelphiaA major circuit blew at the Philadelphia facility that controls air traffic to Newark Liberty, Teterboro and Philadelphia airports, causing widespread cancellations and delays. 074
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 21/09/2026If you're still consciously using this language after the level of persecution immigrants have gone through in countless US cities (and think you can cleanly separate them from so-called "transplants") then I don't know what to say 415313
Reposted by Ben SBicycleDutch @bicycledutch.bsky.social · 21/09/2026The new filter for motor traffic in Utrecht (Catharijnesingel) does not work flawlessly yet. It has been in effect from today. A lot of drivers overlook or ignore the signs, but it is already much less busy. Good for safety on the major crossing for walking and cycling just north of the filter. 3344
Reposted by Ben SJanne K. Flisrand @jannefrommpls.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Infrastructure education is a core value in German-speaking Switzerland. This #Zürich example has a temporary sign highlighting six new people-oriented spots in the city, one side with detailed info on where the reader is standing. It includes a game that requires you to go to at least 3. 182
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Funny how developing countries like Thailand are determined to gain as much tech transfer and expertise from major HSR investments as possible, while American expertise remains captive with its vendors and engineering consultants by design so they can jack up maintenance contracts 090
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Montreal's exo cars have finally arrived on SEPTA property! The regular coaches will go into service within the next few months while the cab cars will need a year to retrofit with PTC www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBC0...youtube.comCSX Exo Car SPAX Move (9/19/2026)YouTube video by SquirrelBazooka 1170
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 20/09/2026The original Chongqing Station was a real vibe, sad to see it go 1378
Reposted by Ben S5th Square Advocacy @5thsqadvocacy.org · 19/09/2026Councilmember Young wants to weaken our lifesaving speed camera program by reducing fines even for reckless drivers going 30+ mph over the speed limit! Tell City Council not to let it happen: www.5thsqadvocacy.org/Speed-camera...5thsqadvocacy.orgSpeed Cameras Action | 5th Square AdvocacyTell City Council to stand up for safe streets and protect Philadelphia families: Say NO to Bill 260699! 22313
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 19/09/2026It's notable (without implication) that the last US municipal administrator that was this passionate about reporting accomplishments and improved metrics was perhaps early-career Robert Moses 1110
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Cancelled electrification plans are one thing. De-electrifying existing freight lines (in the 70's!!) because Amtrak was extorting Conrail on power rates in the Congressional mandate to be profitable is another 2412
Reposted by Ben SCBS Philadelphia @cbsphiladelphia.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Archaeology students from the University of Pennsylvania are joining community members to uncover the history of a historic Black neighborhood in West Philadelphia that was demolished decades ago in the name of urban renewal.cbsnews.comA Penn archaeology project uncovers a historic Black neighborhood destroyed decades ago: "It was a travesty"Archaeology students from Penn are joining community members to uncover the history of a historic Black neighborhood in West Philly that was demolished decades ago in the name of urban renewal. 022
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 18/09/2026The hard part with costly utilities is you need some way to have the utilities coordinate on work timelines, and you need to have everything underground properly mapped. Wish NYC luck as this is the case for every legacy city 130
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 18/09/2026This has to be one of the highest monthly:single ratios in the world right? 260
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Hot on the heels of SEPTA's fast-moving surplus old signage sale are new Broad Street tile artwork tees! shop.septa.org/products/sta...shop.septa.orgStation T-ShirtCelebrate your favorite SEPTA station with this retro tile-inspired tee. Featuring a classic station design that pays homage to transit history, it's the perfect way to rep your line. Comfortable, cas... 381
Reposted by Ben SBlvd Subway @blvdsubway.bsky.social · 18/09/2026The future Castor Ave protected Bike lanes will connect to a proposed shared use Sidepath on Roosevelt Boulevard. 181
Reposted by Ben SRyan Hassett @ryanhassett.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Extremely helpful of the author to include this detail. 03110
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Feel sorry for them, but South Jersey built their bed like this and now they have to sleep in it 150
Reposted by Ben SPhiladelphia Inquirer @inquirer.com · 17/09/2026Old City is one of the few neighborhoods that still sees condo development. This project could become part of the trend.inquirer.comA 43-unit apartment building that preserves historic features is proposed in Old City 0121
Ben S @bensh3.bsky.social · 18/09/2026I may be wrong (no floorplans) but it seems like this is a single-stair 4-story building with elevator(!), though still a double-loaded corridor. 35 units with 33% 2BR too. @stephenjacobsmith.com any thoughts? s3.amazonaws.com/eclipse-docs... 350
Reposted by Ben SConor Sen @conorsen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Lennar saying labor availability is starting to become an issue -- deportations and data centers. 610215
Reposted by Ben SMonorail Maoist @awildschild.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Is SpaceX run by a bunch of ex-railroad guys? They're trying to get out of passenger transport, and demarket everything that isn't bulk commodity traffic arstechnica.com/space/2026/0...arstechnica.comAfter being sidelined, Boeing's Starliner to get starring role in NASA's spaceflight plansThey should fly their capsule. The government paid a lot of money for that." 094