Everybody Gets Pie's Podcast From World Leader to Transit Failure: How the U.S. Lost Its Edge with Jake Burman
4 snips
Dec 15, 2025 
Jake Burman, author of The Lost Subways of North America, dives into the failures of U.S. public transit. He reveals how American cities lag behind international peers like Madrid and Tokyo, highlighting high costs and bureaucratic obstacles. Burman discusses transformative solutions, such as enhancing bus networks and learning from global best practices. He underscores the importance of land use and density for successful transit systems and advocates for prioritizing speed and reliability over making fare-free options. This insightful conversation calls for urgent improvements in U.S. transit.
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Local Line Feels Impossible To Activate
- Burhan described Cambridge's Grand Junction as existing rail right-of-way that seems trivial to convert to passenger service.
- He notes authorities respond with multi-billion-dollar, multi-decade excuses despite minimal visible obstacles.
Madrid's Model Shows What Works
- Madrid's metro shows how fast, frequent, reliable service paired with dense housing near stations transforms transit use.
- Jake Burman credits Spain's standardization and in-house construction capacity for cheap, effective subways.
Build In-House Capacity
- Standardize station designs and staff strong in-house construction teams to avoid contractor overcharges.
- Invest in institutional knowledge and pay in-house staff adequately to run mega projects well.
