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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

According to city officials (paraphrased), "this was a complete surprise to all of us and we simply could not have anticipated this but it is time to move on." www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/se...

In a statement, Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration said it would work with departing JTA employees to find employment opportunities with the city, other independent agencies and city partners.

“JTA’s board was not previously aware of the dire nature of the agency’s financial situation,” spokesperson Phil Perry wrote. “We became aware as they did. As we all move forward, there must be a collective effort to learn from the past with an eye toward ensuring world class public transit in the future.”

“JTA must focus on improving its financial situation and the services that customers rely on every day. If these objectives require local option gas tax funding, any interlocal agreement changes must be negotiated with the administration — and Emerald Trail funding must be protected,” Perry wrote.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I'm not saying to say never, but assuming that "everyone would just" in not only making substantial operational changes but in convincing public sector officials (both across state lines and federally) to pay the needed difference (among many other needs) is a tough sell that I'm not seeing made.

Everyone will not just

If your solution to some problem relies on “If everyone would just…” then you do not have a solution. Everyone is not going to just. At not time in the history of the universe has everyone just, and they’re not going to start now.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

More frequency requires money the state isn't allowed to have until voters weigh in. This is also more efficient equipment utilization than their earlier studies said was required for the same number of round trips:

Fleet Characteristics
RTD will require five trainsets consisting of a locomotive, coach, and cab car to operate the service. Three trains will run the service for the day, with one train reserved in case of breakdown and one train
undergoing periodic and required maintenance.

RTD evaluated different fleet options and determined that locomotive-hauled trains could operate on both the RTD and BNSF tracks at high platform stations. The Project Team could not identify a Buy America-compliant, high platform compatible, self-propelled train (e.g. diesel multiple unit, or DMU) in current production for lease or purchase.

Locomotive-hauled passenger train configurations are readily available in the market, meet all of the unique needs of the corridor, and are likely compatible with intercity rail service. For these reasons, this fleet configuration formed the basis for the Study cost estimate.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

I've also started to suspect that Stadler for some reason is simply not offering a US high-floor FLIRT yet. Even when they had the option to as part of the initial stages of this MBTA procurement, they chose to present a KISS design while Siemens and Alstom proposed single-level trains.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

The trains will be leased, and they are only spending up to $84 million on the infrastructure.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

They've mentioned a number of drivers including baggage fees.

For April 2026, total ridership of 292,626 was up 20% year-over-year, with average daily ridership of 9,754. Overall, April 2026 total revenue increased 32% compared to April 2025. The main components of the year-over-year increase in revenue were a 23% increase in long distance revenue, a 30% increase in short distance revenue, and a 63% increase in total ancillary revenue. Passenger-related ancillary revenue grew 44% year-over-year, driven partially by an increase in customer volume and partially by an increase in per passenger ancillary revenue, which was $9.71, up 20% year-over-year.

Baggage fees continue to be the fastest growing revenue stream. Baggage fee revenue grew 101% due to a 15% increase in average baggage fees and 45% increase in capture rate on increased passenger volume.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

It will probably look like this:

A front-facing view of Penn Station from the Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue, under the ASTM-Halmar proposal.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

As much as I'm sure the ST board and staff would like to have thirty four and a half billion dollars appear out of thin air, they don't seem to have the power to just make money exist.

A chart for the Sound Transit Enterprise Initiative, discussing the $34.5B funding gap in the ST3 program.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Don't think many agencies outside New York can afford to regularly backfill that gap themselves, and it'd be unwise to assume no future federal funding for railcars. On top of that, state officials are unlikely to regularly accept not trying to create jobs in their states or at least domestically.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, touring the Hitachi Rail factory in his state, which he would later tout for its 500 domestic jobs and $350 million in regional wages.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

They are also doing this on other rail lines, such as this one on the CSX A-Line near Jacksonville:

Plans for an updated grade crossing at the CSX A-Line in Jacksonville. A large roundabout is built in the center of the tracks.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

FDOT is continuing to build grade crossings much like these along other parts of the FEC where Brightline may run one day. The second picture is of a brand-new road with a new grade crossing.

The future intersection of Race Track Road and US-1, according to FDOT plans to improve the existing intersection. The intersection cuts through the FEC Railway.

A view of the new State Road 312 intersection with US-1, including a new grade crossing at the FEC Railway.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

As one of the few people who has ridden this system, it's absolutely not ready for primetime. NAVI is the culmination of 8 years and millions of dollars that never should have been spent. Transit agencies can and should do better in other, proven ways. The operating cost is higher than the monorail!

A NAVI "autonomous shuttle" near the future Four Seasons Hotel in Jacksonville. The Beep employee who must be constantly prepared to take over is in the driver's seat.

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Marcus Nelson @marcuscnelson.bsky.social · 14/07/2023

Some very cool train news this week: Brightline received final environmental approval to build high speed rail through the Cajon Pass in California! This sets the stage for their ambitious plans to start construction this year and open HSR in time for the 2028 LA Olympics!

A Siemens Velaro Novo in Brightline West colors traveling along Interstate 15

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