A visual exploration of the transit histories of twenty-three US and Canadian cities.

Every driver in North America shares one miserable, soul-sucking universal experience--being stuck in traffic. But things weren't always like this. Why is it that the mass transit systems of most cities in the United States and Canada are now utterly inadequate?

The Lost Subways of North America offers a new way to consider this eternal question, with a strikingly visual--and fun--journey through past, present, and unbuilt urban transit. Using meticulous archival research, cartographer and artist Jake Berman has successfully plotted maps of old train networks covering twenty-three North American metropolises, ranging from New York City's Civil War-era plan for a steam-powered subway under Fifth Avenue to the ultramodern automated Vancouver SkyTrain and the thousand-mile electric railway system of pre-World War II Los Angeles. He takes us through colorful maps of old, often forgotten streetcar lines, lost ideas for never-built transit, and modern rail systems--drawing us into the captivating transit histories of US and Canadian cities.

Berman combines vintage styling with modern printing technology to create a sweeping visual history of North American public transit and urban development. With more than one hundred original maps, accompanied by essays on each city's urban development, this book presents a fascinating look at North American rapid transit systems.

The world's railways were almost entirely created by capital and empire for extraction and exploitation, so what right do they have to exist and how can they be harnessed for good? Railway engineer and writer Gareth Dennis builds a case not simply for railways as a common good, but argues that railways are a critical tool for humanity to survive and thrive.

Whether it's the power of organised labour, the threats and opportunities of new technology, the distribution of democratic power or the calamitous impacts of climate change, railways can act as a lens through which to understand the future and the part they can play in it.

Dennis takes us across the globe, from Virgin Hyperloop's abandoned test track in the Nevada desert to the overcrowded stations of the North of England, exploring how railways can shape and inform choices about our future, and in turn detailing how taking a long-term view can help shape transport for the better. With his deep knowledge of railways and his unique view of history and politics, he equips us with the tools to answer those imperative questions: what and who should our railways be for?

In Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities, transportation expert Veronica O. Davis shines a light on the inequitable and often destructive practice of transportation planning and engineering. She calls for new thinking and more diverse leadership to create transportation networks that connect people to jobs, education, opportunities, and to each other.

Inclusive Transportation is a vision for change and a new era of transportation planning. Davis explains why centering people in transportation decisions requires a great shift in how transportation planners and engineers are trained, how they communicate, the kind of data they collect, and how they work as professional teams. She examines what equity means for a transportation project, which is central to changing how we approach and solve problems to create something safer, better, and more useful for all people.

Davis aims to disrupt the status quo of the transportation industry. She urges transportation professionals to reflect on past injustices and elevate current practice to do the hard work that results in more than an idea and a catchphrase.

Inclusive Transportation is a call to action and a practical approach to reconnecting and shaping communities based on principles of justice and equity.

The first edition of Human Transit, published in 2011, has become a classic for professionals, advocates, and interested citizens. No other book explains the basic principles of public transit in such lively and accessible prose, all based on a respect for your right to form your own opinion. Walker's goal is not to make you share his values, but to give you the tools to clarify and advocate for yours.

Walker has updated and expanded the book to deepen its explanations. His ongoing work as a network planning consultant has provided a wealth of new examples, images, and tools. New topics include the problem with specialization; the role of flexible or demand response services; how to know when to redesign your network; and responding to tech-industry claims that transit will soon be obsolete. Finally, he has also added a major new section exploring the idea of access to opportunity as a core measure of transit's success.

Whether you are a professional or a concerned citizen, the revised edition of this accessible guide can help you to achieve successful public transit that will enrich any community.

Discover the highly anticipated Second Edition to the Amazon #1 Best Seller, The Future of Public Transportation. Delve into 30 expertly crafted chapters brimming with insights from leading public transportation figures. From hydrogen-fueled buses to AI-driven advancements and cybersecurity, this book offers an unparalleled glimpse into the future of transit.

Navigate the complexities of transit planning in a post-COVID world, where innovative solutions are essential to tackle infrastructure challenges and workforce shortages. Learn how AI is revolutionizing transit planning, enhancing outcomes for riders.

Explore cutting-edge transit technology, including autonomous vehicles and zero-emission initiatives, with a focus on sustainability and customer experience. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, this book is your roadmap to success, empowering you to drive positive change in your organization.

Join us on the journey towards a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible future for all. Don't miss your chance to stay ahead of transit innovation. Order The New Future of Public Transportation now and embark on a journey towards a brighter, more connected transit landscape worldwide.

This book is a culmination of Paul's efforts to gain a broad understanding of current trends across the transit industry from a global perspective. I am confident that readers will take away many lessons for their own organizations and that those insights will shine a light on what to plan for next.

Mark Miller

Cofounder of Trapeze Group

In this visually stunning work, packed with original research, journalist and bestselling author John Morris brings life to this one-time engineering marvel that has united and expanded the city for the last 116 years.

Visual culture showcase: Explore architecture, art installations, and graphic design. Unique book design: Each chapter mimics a subway line, with color-coded sections and Museo typeface inspired by timetable brochures. Entertaining narrative: Travel essays written from a tour guide's viewpoint for a passenger's perspective, blending humor and observation. Global scope: Covers major systems in North America, Europe, and Asia, appealing to travelers and urban enthusiasts alike. Subway system ratings: Each chapter concludes with a unique token ranking system, evaluating subway systems on convenience, design quality, and personality, providing readers with an assessment for planning their transit adventures.

Observing its busy stations today, it is difficult to picture Seattle and Puget Sound without Sound Transit. Or to imagine how close the transportation agency came to folding. Back on Track reveals its astonishing survival story. After the city took the last streetcar out of service in 1941, Seattle subsisted for decades without a rail system, and it was choking on congestion. So for many, it was a joyous day in November 1996 when voters in urban areas of King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties approved a ten-year, $3.9 billion plan to bring mass transit to Puget Sound. But for the 23 employees of the fledgling Sound Transit, the celebration was short-lived. When light rail plan estimates came in a billion dollars over budget and extended the project three years, the agency faced a torrent of angry taxpayers and public ridicule. News headlines bristled about Unsound Transit, and whether the organization was on the midnight train to nowhere. Prominent politicians and citizens joined the battle. One by one, Sound Transit's administrators resigned.

Then Joni Earl stepped in. The new executive director rallied the remaining team members, secured a crucial $500 million federal grant, publicly confronted critics, and presented a realistic revised budget. As construction began, she and her team navigated lawsuits, the complex and at times excessive demands of impacted locations, and the expanding expectations of outlying communities. Earl's vision, tenacity, and diplomacy transformed Sound Transit. Under her leadership, with strong support from Link Executive Director Ahmad Fazel and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the agency delivered its promised light rail system in July 2009. A resounding success, Sound Transit exceeded usage forecasts, and now its trains and buses serve nearly 50 million passengers a year traveling a combined 73,000 miles every day, and few ever question whether the region's light rail system should exist.

A Fleet History of the San Francisco Municipal Railway is a book that lists every transit vehicle that has been used in regular Muni service since 1912. The format includes a listing of key data for each vehicle, such as size, passenger capacity, manufacturer /cost and years of service, a short summary of the service history of the vehicle, and a photo (if available). All four modes are covered: rail (streetcar and LRV), bus, trolley bus and cable car, with one section covering each mode. Two additional sections include information on all Muni operations facilities, and a figures and graphics section. The figures and graphics section includes information on the four modes of transit, plus information on historical data in the areas of ridership, fares, farebox recovery, logo and agency structure and leadership. A short summary history section precedes the fleet history sections, and a photo credits table is included along with the blbilograpy. The completed document represents the first compilation of many of these pieces of information in almost 40 years. With over 200 pages and over 400 photographs, it is an excellent reference and history book both for experts and for people with a casus interest in the history of San Francisco Municipal Railway.

Imagine a bus system that is fast, frequent, and reliable--what would that change about your city?

Buses can and should be the cornerstone of urban transportation. They offer affordable mobility and can connect citizens with every aspect of their lives. But in the US, they have long been an afterthought in budgeting and planning. With a compelling narrative and actionable steps, Better Buses, Better Cities inspires us to fix the bus.

Transit expert Steven Higashide shows us what a successful bus system looks like with real-world stories of reform--such as Houston redrawing its bus network overnight, Boston making room on its streets to put buses first, and Indianapolis winning better bus service on Election Day. Higashide shows how to marshal the public in support of better buses and how new technologies can keep buses on time and make complex transit systems understandable.

Higashide argues that better bus systems will create better cities for all citizens. The consequences of subpar transit service fall most heavily on vulnerable members of society. Transit systems should be planned to be inclusive and provide better service for all. These are difficult tasks that require institutional culture shifts; doing all of them requires resilient organizations and transformational leadership.

Better bus service is key to making our cities better for all citizens. Better Buses, Better Cities describes how decision-makers, philanthropists, activists, and public agency leaders can work together to make the bus a win in any city.

Ever since the first streetcars rumbled through the streets of Seattle in 1884, public transportation in the Puget Sound region has been a wild roller-coaster ride, replete with scandals, triumphs, and momentous turning points. A complete rail transit system crisscrossed the region during the trolley days, only to be dismantled by 1941. After seventy years of turmoil--and traffic congestion--a new system, Sound Transit, arose in its place. The story is not just about trolleys, trains, and buses--it is also about the making and breaking of mayors and the way that Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett developed from the 1880s to today.

In the late nineteenth century, as cities like Boston and New York grew more congested, the streets became clogged with plodding, horse-drawn carts. When the great blizzard of 1888 crippled the entire northeast, a solution had to be found. Two brothers from one of the nation's great families-Henry Melville Whitney of Boston and William Collins Whitney of New York-pursued the dream of his city digging America's first subway, and the great race was on. The competition between Boston and New York played out in an era not unlike our own, one of economic upheaval, life-changing innovations, class warfare, bitter political tensions, and the question of America's place in the world.
The Race Underground is peopled with the famous, like Boss Tweed, Grover Cleveland and Thomas Edison, and the not-so-famous, from brilliant engineers to the countless sandhogs who shoveled, hoisted and blasted their way into the earth's crust, sometimes losing their lives in the construction of the tunnels. Doug Most chronicles the science of the subway, looks at the centuries of fears people overcame about traveling underground and tells a story as exciting as any ever ripped from the pages of U.S. history. The Race Underground is a great American saga of two rival American cities, their rich, powerful and sometimes corrupt interests, and an invention that changed the lives of millions.

Last Subway is the fascinating and dramatic story behind New York City's struggle to build a new subway line under Second Avenue and improve transit services all across the city. With his extraordinary access to powerful players and internal documents, Philip Mark Plotch reveals why the city's subway system, once the best in the world, is now too often unreliable, overcrowded, and uncomfortable. He explains how a series of uninformed and self-serving elected officials have fostered false expectations about the city's ability to adequately maintain and significantly expand its transit system.

Since the 1920s, New Yorkers have been promised a Second Avenue subway. When the first of four planned phases opened on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 2017, subway service improved for tens of thousands of people. Riders have been delighted with the clean, quiet, and spacious new stations. Yet these types of accomplishments will not be repeated unless New Yorkers learn from their century-long struggle.

Last Subway offers valuable lessons in how governments can overcome political gridlock and enormous obstacles to build grand projects. However, it is also a cautionary tale for cities. Plotch reveals how false promises, redirected funds and political ambitions have derailed subway improvements. Given the ridiculously high cost of building new subways in New York and their lengthy construction period, the Second Avenue subway (if it is ever completed) will be the last subway built in New York for generations to come.

Gone are the days when the most a traveler had to worry about was communicating with the cab driver or knowing when and whom to tip. Globalization of crime and proliferation of terrorism has raised our anxiety about the people and situations we encounter.

The key to conquering this anxiety-and importantly, the key to avoiding or stopping violence-is knowing what to look for.

Can you spot the difference between a stranger just making conversation and a Bad Guy locking you into an interview? How do you know whether the creep on the train is in fact a mugger or kidnapper waiting for his opportunity? What are the signs that you are being followed? How about the signs that a person making terroristic threats might be escalating to terroristic action? Can you tune into your intuition to avoid an attack by a gunman? And if the unthinkable happens, do you know how to respond, both in the moment and in the immediate aftermath as you make your escape?

The main goal of this guide is to replace travel-related anxiety-much of which is likely unfounded-with a realistic understanding of which people and situations are (and are not) likely to pose a risk to your security and wellbeing while traveling domestically or abroad. In its pages, you will find most of the common situations in which you may be placed at risk and learn how to spot the warning signals of an impending attack or crime. More importantly, this book will teach you exactly what to do about it and how to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your fellow travelers safe.

Every day Chicagoans rely on the loop of elevated train tracks to get to their jobs, classrooms, or homes in the city's downtown. But how much do they know about the single most important structure in the history of the Windy City? In engagingly brisk prose, Patrick T. Reardon unfolds the fascinating story about how Chicago's elevated Loop was built, gave its name to the downtown, helped unify the city, saved the city's economy, and was itself saved from destruction in the 1970s.

This unique volume combines urban history, biography, engineering, architecture, transportation, culture, and politics to explore the elevated Loop's impact on the city's development and economy and on the way Chicagoans see themselves. The Loop rooted Chicago's downtown in a way unknown in other cities, and it protected that area--and the city itself--from the full effects of suburbanization during the second half of the twentieth century. Masses of data underlie new insights into what has made Chicago's downtown, and the city as a whole, tick.

The Loop features a cast of colorful Chicagoans, such as legendary lawyer Clarence Darrow, poet Edgar Lee Masters, mayor Richard J. Daley, and the notorious Gray Wolves of the Chicago City Council. Charles T. Yerkes, an often-demonized figure, is shown as a visionary urban planner, and engineer John Alexander Low Waddell, a world-renowned bridge creator, is introduced to Chicagoans as the designer of their urban railway.

This fascinating exploration of how one human-built structure reshaped the social and economic landscape of Chicago is the definitive book on Chicago's elevated Loop.

The modern traffic system is ecologically unsustainable, emotionally stressful, and poses a physical threat to individuals and communities alike. Traffic is not only an ecological and social problem but also a political one. Modern traffic reproduces the rule of the state and capital and is closely linked to class society. It is a problem of power. At its core lies the notion of automobility, a contradictory ideal of free movement closely linked to a tight web of regulations and control mechanisms. This is the main thesis of the manifesto The Traffic Power Structure, penned by the Sweden-based activist network Planka.nu.

Planka.nu was founded in 2001 to fight for free public transport. Thanks to creative direct action, witty public interventions, and thought-provoking statements, the network has become a leading voice in Scandinavian debates on traffic. In its manifesto, Planka.nu presents a critique of the automobile society, analyzes the connections between traffic, the environment, and class, and outlines its political vision. The topics explored along the way include Bruce Springsteen, high-speed trains, nuclear power, the security-industrial complex, happiness research, and volcano eruptions. Planka.nu rejects demands to travel ever-longer distances in order to satisfy our most basic needs while we lose all sense for proximity and community. The Traffic Power Structure argues for a different kind of traffic in a different kind of world.

The book has received several awards in Sweden and has been hailed by Swedish media as a manifesto of striking analytical depth, based on profound knowledge and a will to agitation that demands our respect (Ny Tid).

The FAA requires students to obtain at least 40 hours before earning a private pilot license. The average student pilot requires twice that much time.

40 Hours explains why this is and how to prevent your flight training from lingering on. Combining his experience as a private pilot, with dozens of insights from flight instructors, military pilots, airline pilots, and student pilots, Nyhart recognizes that a student's passion needs a path and a proven coach.

Providing the historical events that helped shape flight training and a humanistic approach as to what makes a student pilot safe and ultimately successful, 40 Hours can make flight training feel tailored to you. Readers will empower their self-confidence, maximize their time and effort, while looking out for their pocketbook.