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A Love Letter to the Articulated Bus
An ode to the the bendy boys, by far the wackiest of the specialized vehicles you might find at a transit authority.
 • Joshua Woods
From the January 2026 CTA Board Meeting
Attending CTA Board meetings so you don't have to! In this edition, "mitigating the impact of smoking," new buses and another lively public comment…
 • Joshua Woods
What's in✅ and What's Out🚫: 2026 Edition
In 2026, reading, asking why, learning, unlearning and relearning, and Youtube are in ✅. Playing with tax dollars, blame and having an opinion on…
 • Joshua Woods
Let's Talk About The Chicago Parking Meter Deal 💸
In 2008, Chicago leased control of its on-street parking meters for a $1.15 billion cash infusion to plug a short-term budget hole. The buyer made $2B…
How Kansas City Quietly Built One of the Best Streetcars in America
From a bus line, to an economic development tool, to a successful US streetcar. The story of the Kansas City Streetcar.
 • Joshua Woods
From the November 2025 CTA Board Meeting
Attending CTA Board meetings so you don't have to! In this edition, an obligatory NITA download, what it means for the CTA, and a lively public comment…
 • Joshua Woods
😈The Corruption Track: Understanding Power in a Time of Political Sepsis
After nearly a decade working in urban planning, I've surmised power, more than policy, lies at the heart of our deepest dysfunctions. Let's talk about…
 • Joshua Woods
Innovation, Between The Taquitos and The THC Beverages at NACS
A stroll through NACS, the convenience store industry’s biggest trade show, and what it reveals about how innovation actually happens.
From the October 2025 CTA Board Meeting
Attending CTA Board meetings so you don't have to! At this edition, a systemwide ridership update (by me), automatic bus stop ticketing cameras, and the…
 • Joshua Woods
Good Transit is Fun 🎈
What if transit was a space we enjoyed, not endured?
 • Joshua Woods
Public Sector Consulting Isn’t Evil but We Have to Keep It Honest
At its best, public sector consulting builds knowledge and delivers value for taxpayers. At its worst, it entrenches dependence and wastes resources. A…
 • Joshua Woods
Observations from the Street Trash
How picking up litter around my neighborhood helped remind me of my agency.
 • Joshua Woods
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