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Alexander Hirji

@sashazandr.bsky.social
343 followers 160 following 240 posts

transit operations, government relations and various other happenings views are my own

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Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Idothethinking @idothethinking.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
The East Bay Times editorial against Measure RTM is so bad I had to refute it. Bad argument after inaccurate statement and then completely ignoring AC Transit's existence because it disproves their core argument that cuts over service improves transit. darrellowens.substack.com/p/voting-aga...
substack.com
Voting Against The Bay Area Transit Measure Is a Fatal Mistake
The East Bay Times and Mercury News Editorial Board write a bad column on the transit tax measure.
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sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
“we need your help funding our operations so we can avoid drastically cutting our train service as our ridership grows”
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Reposted by Alexander Hirji
dereksagehorn.bsky.social @dereksagehorn.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Center Right tech CEOs trying to understand transit costs: Imagine a burger restaurant
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Nat Ford special
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Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Lettuce Cat @piero.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Honestly the best take I’ve seen on this (unbelievably) unserious proposal.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
1) there was more peaky service on the N pre Covid (short turns, extra full route service), and 2) the pre-Covid numbers are somewhat of an estimation, today there are electronic sensors that are very accurate at counting, pre-Covid it was humans at certain times of the year guesstimating ridership
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Correct. There isn’t too much material out there on why exactly nobody seriously considered just closing the two exits and calling it a day, but also the curve geometry for that crossing would have been nasty and tricky to accomplish without directly underpinning buildings; deep bore avoided that.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
The third street crossing worked because there’s no mezzanine at third, the planned Central Subway station between market and mission would have had a lower cross under mezzanine that rose up above the muni tunnels and connected to the west end of Montgomery. Can’t do that at 4th with the mezzanine.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Because Bart is so deep
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
The only shallow Union Square option was a batshit half-thought out idea that had tracks surfacing in the Stockton tunnel and street running in Chinatown. Ironically there has been some recent talk of shuttering the eastern Powell exits that forced a deep crossing at 4th, but nothing too serious.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
In the shallow market street crossing option, Union Square station was nearly as deep as it is today to allow for the flying junction with Geary, and because Chinatown station in every alternative was planned to be deep to reduce land takings and surface disruption.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
The option was either shallow crossing via 3rd with the snaking alignment or deep crossing via 4th that was straighter; because of the eastern powell station mezzanine there’s no way to do a shallow 4th street crossing of the Market St Subway.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
But consider the Geary flying junction… my Roman Empire 💔💔💔
Mock up of the proposed Central Subway shallow Market Street crossing and flying junction with the conceptual Geary subway at Union Square.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Because the central subway wasn’t planned to have both tracks on 4th at that spot. Only post 2004-ish did they decide that both North and Southbound tracks would run on 4th. The original plan was that NB would be on third, SB on fourth, they’d converge in a tunnel under third st.
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Peter Hartlaub @peterhartlaub.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Wrote this one for all the transit kids. Here’s the story behind @sfmta.bsky.social’s iconic logo — and the people (including Muni and a certain Chronicle columnist) who tried to kill it. Long live the worm! 🚌🚌🚌 www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf/arti...
sfchronicle.com
This man designed Muni’s ‘worm’ logo. Critics wanted to kill it
In 1975, Walter Landor’s new Muni logo was disparaged and ignored. Fifty years later, it has become the ultimate San Francisco icon.
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Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Jeffrey Tumlin 🏳️‍🌈 🌁 @jeffreytumlin.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
"Motorists going at least 11 mph over the speed limit fell by 70%" Most cited motorists received a single citation then stopped speeding. Speed safety cameras work. www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/arti...
sfchronicle.com
Oakland installed new automated speed cameras. Drivers’ behavior changed dramatically
A new report shows that drivers are slowing down significantly on what have been some of the city’s most dangerous roads.
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Reposted by Alexander Hirji
California Transit Nerd @catransitnerd.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
AC transit is still going forward with an order of 47 40ft hydrogen buses to add to the existing fleet of 30 40ft and 10 60ft units The district had the capacity for 200 hydrogen at Emeryville and Oakland out of 310 overall bays
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sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
as the number one Bay Area transit lover, I want to point why to noted improvements in service, cleanliness, safety, etc. but let's face it: it's because AI companies are gobbling up office space in downtown San Francisco and asking workers to come into work more often kidder.com/market-repor...
Artificial intelligence remains the primary driver of office demand and the dominant force shaping leasing activity across San Francisco. Leasing momentum accelerated through the first half of 2026, reaching levels not seen since the city’s last major expansion cycle. By the end of 2Q, San Francisco recorded its seventh consecutive quarter with more than 2.0M SF of leasing activity, including 3.6M SF in 2Q alone. Net absorption reached 830K SF for the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to 1.7M SF. Both metrics are on pace for their strongest annual performance since 2018, signaling a market that has officially moved beyond stabilization and into the early stages of recovery.

The total vacancy rate declined to 27.2% at quarter-end, down substantially from its recent peak of 32% in 2024, while overall availability continued to also trend lower. Sublease inventory has also tightened significantly and now represents just 14.3% of the total available space, down from a record high of 44% in 2020. The decline reflects a combination of strong leasing activity, increased space utilization, and expiring subleases reverting to direct availability.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
The Muni and KCM ones will be built in Poland as well. Serial production is planned/rumored to be in NYS, but the units that have been ordered will all be coming from Europe.
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Reposted by Alexander Hirji
Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 28/07/2026
I am concerned that, as with many transit issues, the US deals with implementation challenges by avoiding them. NY's MTA has 60 electric buses (~1% of fleet) & they're failing. So it's reducing its order for more. Comparison: —London: ~33% —Paris: ~21% —Milan: ~21% —Hamburg: ~39% —Barcelona: ~20%
nyc.streetsblog.org
Battery Drain: MTA Trims New Flyer Electric Bus Order Amid Tech Growing Pains - Streetsblog New York City
The MTA will buy 85 fewer electric buses as its manufacturer tries to sort out a way to keep them in service without breaking down.
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Infrastructure Weak @infrastructureweak.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Now out! Part 2 on the Geary metro, discussing its East Bay connection, downtown alignment, and yard location.
medium.com
Geary metro, purpose-built for SF
Part 2: East Bay connection, downtown alignment, and the yard
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sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
MY KING BOURBON MY TAPAS JAMON MY LAMINE YAMAL ESPAÑA WIN IT ALL
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Current ATCS can handle four car trains, but not everywhere in the subway is big enough to fit them.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Thank you for doing this so that I don’t have to
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Complain to a mirror? I didn’t think he’d be out of his zone this badly but I don’t see how he lasts long at all given recent events and just general stability
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Brannan wasn’t even supposed to exist until they modified the originally chosen alternative (4th & Stockton alignment A) in 2008 to include Brannan, and also shorten all the underground platforms as part of the cost cutting to pay for Brannan. Decisions decisions.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Original alignment design for the Central Subway was split between 3rd and 4th north of King, so there was no plan for a platform north of King on 4th, as that would have only served one direction.
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Cyrus Hall @cyrushall.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Best reporting I've seen to date on what last week's @airresources.bsky.social vote could mean for Muni: cuts to free and reduced-fare programs, and a big gap in capital funding for the upgrades to the train control system.
sfstandard.com
A California environmental board voted to cut $202M from SF’s eco-friendly transit
Muni stands to lose hundreds of millions with changes to a state program that funds public transportation by charging firms for permits to emit carbon.
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Warren Wells, AICP @warrenjwells.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
There's an interesting political lesson here. SMART went to the voters in 2020 (pre covid) and got crushed, barely clearing 50%. Since then they have seen an explosion in ridership thanks to (1) new and better management and (2) free fares for youth and seniors.
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Vallery Lancey @isthelaststop.com · 30/05/2026
CARB has been a repeat villain in quiet wonky policy choices that actually have big consequences for pollution and getting things done in California. Two prior examples: - Dis-incentivizing electric trolly-buses - Pushing hydrogen/battery train incentives (a scam) over proven electrified trains
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Remember how they “forgot” to keep the C1 backend running last summer and caused half a day of lost revenue and confusion? Definitely a pattern here!!!
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Worth noting that the loan to operators that bridges the gap between July 1st and if/when the Connect Bay Area act funds are disbursed, the loan that keeps transit funded consistently, is funded through the TCIRP program that @airresources.bsky.social just voted to gut 🙃🙃🙃
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
FIFA is more committed to rooting out corruption than you guys are committed to meeting our climate goals. Work on supporting transit for once instead of finding new and innovative ways to screw agencies out of money and reliable means to deliver service; maybe that will further our climate goals.
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CAHSR's Strongest Soldier @emoscientist.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
How can @airresources.bsky.social claim to be prioritizing climate goals and affordability when their MDI will push us past our 2030 climate goals and gut funding for transit and affordable housing?
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
They 100% should be assuming they could use those, but given that they seem to be entertaining wild ideas like using existing Muni Metro yards to support a muni metro style option, I’m not sure that they’d ever consider touching a golf course.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Practically speaking I think it also avoids having to shove a yard somewhere along the alignment. There physically isn’t anywhere obvious along the (wide) conceptual alignment; through running is an easy way to figuratively punt that problem elsewhere.
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Carter Lavin @carterlavin.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Wild that Free Muni for youth, seniors and people with disabilities is one of THE SMALLER programs on the chopping block if Gavin's appointees on the Air Resources Board approve the big cuts to transit, affordable housing, and clean air programs. Rally at noon! actionnetwork.org/events/emerg...
actionnetwork.org
Emergency Rally to Tell Gov Newsom Don't Rob Transit and Housing to Fund Giveaways to Big Oil
This week, Governor Newsom’s appointees are planning on taking billions of dollars AWAY from public transit and affordable housing programs in order to give big polluters like Chevron permission to co...
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Buses very expensive right now, and the cause isn’t just “over-speccing” because even when agencies collaborate to reduce cost, they still get price proposals that are out of step with any rational price increase from the small number of manufacturers that are left.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
These increases far outgrow inflation, despite the lack of customization (and this is the pricing for the base models of each type of bus, not even with the basic customizations agencies need for fleet-wide seat standardization that reduces long term costs for example).
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Take the Washington state cooperative contract that many agencies have already used to buy buses that are minimally tinkered with. This image is from a 2024 procurement but you can still see the overall price increases thought the life of the agreement from 2020.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
I’ve never liked Lafayette, boring and dull, dark under the freeway and of course very noisy
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Early 2026 transit data is in today, & SF is seeing a mini rail boom with Muni ridership up 15% & BART ridership up 12% compared to last year SEPTA (Philly, 9.2%) and WMATA (DC, +6.8%) are also seeing strong growth, while the MBTA (Boston) & MTS (San Diego) are losing riders🧵
A graph of ridership growth in the 10 largest US urban rail networks
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Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈 @maxdubler.com · 20/03/2026
Mary Fong Lau, the 80 year old woman who killed four people including a baby and a toddler after crashing into a bus stop going 75mph the wrong way down a 25mph street, has been sentenced to probation and will not permanently lose her drivers' license. This is a despicable miscarriage of justice.
sfchronicle.com
West Portal crash: S.F. judge says driver who killed family of 4 will get probation
Mary Fong Lau, 80, will face no jail time according to remarks from San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan. She must complete 200 hours of community service and undergo probation.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
I see. I’m just going off the KCM spec which lists the vehicles as a different model than the Urbino, with admittedly similar styling but very different innards for buy America compliance.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
No they’re not, they’re an entire new model/range, complete with a raised rear floor.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Other agencies can and have inquired about that extra door but that’s much less likely on a model they are designing for the average North American customer that does not want the extra door and does not utilize all door boarding yet.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
The extra door on this from what I understand is because of the above “side-stepping” of the American standards/general specifications, that allow for Solaris to graft the basic Canadian safety requirements onto the existing trolley design, instead of making an entirely new product (the BEB).
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
They’re not coming from the same factory, and all the BEBs will confirm to the stricter USA FMVSS regulations that these trolleys don’t have to comply with. Note the lack of a big front collision bumper on this, normally that’s a requirement, but these can sidestep that. The BEBs (made in NA) can’t.
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Alexander Hirji @sashazandr.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Vertical conflict wasn’t an issue, it was planned with many insulators to ensure no conflicting electrical currents, but for the sake of simplicity and $ it was abandoned in favor of Muni reducing the electrification on 16th with the arrival of the (then) new 40’ trolley fleet w/ bigger batteries.
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