Avery the Cuban-American

Yeah, speaking as someone whose grandpa on my dad's side was a WWII veteran who served on the Western Front, part of NJ's contribution to the war effort, the blue on the front is the only part I like about it.

Love the NJT winter hat! The blue NJT hat that I wear in Caleb's videos came from their 40th anniversary festival in Hoboken in 2023.

I hope to do a video on the LIRR's least-used station, Yaphank, before it closes next year

Unfortunately the Saturday Greenport Scoot trains that I rely on to get to the railroad museum in Riverhead to volunteer were still the regular non-dual mode 400s, however this weekend and last weekend, Greenport Scoot trains have THREE CARS! Don’t know why but should’ve been three in the summer

Oh wow, I think I actually foamed your train from the museum at Riverhead! Let’s gooo

YouTube video by NYC Transit Adventurer LIRR: Former Montauk Branch Train 2742 Stopping at Woodside

Oh yeah, great point! And here's a video of the last pre-Feb 27, 2023 diesel train to stop at Woodside, a train bound for Speonk youtu.be/2uQLAuG3xpc?...

If I had a nickel for every time a guy named Cuomo lost in the Democratic primary while running for mayor of NYC, ran as a third-party in the general election and lost 50% to 41%, I'd have two nickels! Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice

YouTube video by Classy Whale Secrets of New Jersey's Tiny Subway (feat. Avery the Cuban American)

This is the last Avery-Classy Whale collab (for now, we’re planning more), but we’re finally showcasing the Newark Light Rail! Small system, but rich in very interesting history! We definitely need to bring back subway stations for department stores. youtu.be/8UyGXARxyy0?...

YouTube video by Classy Whale New York's Little Island Railway Has a Lot to Love

And if you haven't already, please watch my Staten Island Railway adventure with Classy Whale as well! youtu.be/NFuSP7okBUI?...

YouTube video by Classy Whale So How Does Paratransit Work?

Y'ALL, I'M IN ANOTHER VIDEO! This time about paratransit! You don't really hear paratransit talked about in the transit/urbanist community, so I'm glad I helped Caleb put this together to show my experience as a paratransit rider. Long live the ADA! youtu.be/W3tOee_FOa0?...

It’s all good! I remember seeing you at the CityNerd event as well! I thank you for everything you’ve been doing in Maryland, I hope to visit Baltimore again soon. I haven’t visited since 2010, but I enjoyed my time at Fort McHenry

Transit in Latin America Transit in Latin America Avery the Cuban-American

And for those who want to check out my presentation on Latin American transit, here is the link: docs.google.com/presentation...

Thank you to everyone who made the event possible, and it was awesome to finally meet many people in person ( @jeremyzorek.bsky.social , @thefoxandthecity.com , @thetransitguy.com , @spaghettisauceress.bsky.social , among others) #TCNYC25

Yesterday I attended TransportationCamp NYC for the first time! I had a wonderful time connecting with so many with the same interests and passion that I have. I’m glad I decided to present on Latin American transit despite it being my first time presenting at the event. Go big or go home, right?

It was so nice to finally get to meet and talk with you!!!

Same! It was awesome! I’m glad I chose to present despite being my first time. Go big or go home, right? And my presentation on Latin American transit went well! Even @thetransitguy.com showed up!

YouTube video by RIPTA Introducing On-Demand Public Transit - Now Available for URI, Narragansett, and South Kingstown!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj9N... 🗣️🔥KINGSTON, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, URI IN THE GROOVE, YOU ARE EYEING THIS APP, SO DOWNLOAD NOW AND LETS MOVE

If we had clones of Steven Fulop and Zohran Mamdani to lead every major and mid-sized city in the US, we'd solve the housing crisis easily.

Quad-tracked, my beloved

Man I miss living along the Hudson Line…

When all of this is happening in Suffolk County on Long Island compared to Rhode Island, that says a lot about Rhode Island.

Rhode Island SHOULD be a transit-first state, it has the bones to be, but its transit is not being given enough money to reach that

And on top of all this, the MTA is relocating its Yaphank station (least-used LIRR stop) to East Yaphank to better serve the Brookhaven National Lab and has been planning on double-tracking & electrifying the LIRR Main Line beyond Ronkonkoma to Yaphank as well as electrifying the Port Jeff Branch!

The Station Yards TOD complex in Ronkonkoma. The buildings are apartments and are a mix of brown, black, white, and grey.

In addition, Suffolk County:
- built and is building TOD, like at Wyandanch, Riverhead, Patchogue, and Ronkonkoma (latter includes a new airport terminal)
- studying BRT corridors to solve north-south travel
- Hike and Bike Master Plan which recommended 1,200 miles of prioritized improvements

SCT's fixed routes weren't the only ones that improved either, as SCT's paratransit service SCAT has also improved! SCT released a SCAT app in 2024, which lets you pay with a credit card instead of cash, track it, and they now call you to give you a heads up that they're 15 minutes away!

Not just in MA, but across the Long Island Sound in Suffolk County, thanks to SCT's network redesign in 2024:
- Most routes having weekday 30-min frequencies
- Expanding evening & Sunday service
- Pulse/timed hubs
- 50% more access to jobs, 3 times as many people having access to frequent service

Yup, both the River Line and HBLR were built as DBOMs. HBLR was the very first DBOM in the country.

Of the NJ light-rails, NLR has been the only one that isn't. Operated by NJT Bus Ops. So like SEPTA's trolleys, they're operated by bus drivers. The remnant of what was once a big streetcar network

Real, I love cities with mountainous backdrops so much

Skylines with mountainous backdrops for the win!

Yay Brooke found y'all! Her celebrating her birthday on the Avelia is the best way to celebrate, even if she was just going to Back Bay!

Last Saturday was also the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s annual rail festival! The recently repainted LIRR EMD SW1001 heritage unit 101 showed up for a surprise visit! I love volunteering at the museum so much

The building started as a general store in 1882. It became a soda fountain and candy store in 1917, and was bought by the Meras family in 1920. Its parlor was designed in 1911! And the counter is from the 1950s. Besides breakfast and lunch, they also sell homemade chocolates and ice cream!

Last Saturday, I had my last lunch at the Star Confectionery in Riverhead, a luncheonette from 1920, which has sadly closed after 105 years. Owned by the Meras family for three generations. Incredible! @64streetcar.bsky.social and @milesintransit.com would’ve loved this place!