Transit Unplugged

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Tackling today’s biggest challenges at four transit agencies May 22, 2024

Show notes

Across North America there are four fundamental issues facing transit agencies:

Getting enough buses
Getting enough people to fix and drive the buses
Getting enough funding to keep running the buses
Getting (cyber)secure

The bus manufacturing crisis is forcing many transit agencies to get creative at keeping buses running longer. Workforce shortages mean agencies are getting creative at finding and hiring enough people. With a fiscal cliff looming for many agencies, finding ways to save money and still offer the same level of service means finding some new ways to connect people on something other than a 40 foot bus. And every week someone makes the news for getting hacked, so keeping systems secure is a lot harder than it used to be.

Joining Paul on stage for a transit leaders roundtable at TripSpark Ignite are:

Pam Shepherd, Executive Director, Federated Transportation Services of the Blue Grass
Ryan Landers, General Manager Lawton Area Transit
Randy Anderson, Operations IT Systems Administrator CityBus – Greater Lafayette Public Transit
Matt Maier, Director of Operations Lake Tran

What makes this roundtable unique isn't that they are talking about these issues, but that they've found creative and innovative ways to address them. Learn how:

Simple ads on buses are getting more applications
Creating flexible schedules has brought in a whole new group of drivers
Making sure every usable part of a bus at the end of its life is used to extend the service life of the rest of the fleet
Auditing your system is the first step to actively preventing hacks on your systems

Sit back and enjoy a fun, interesting, and informative discussion about the top issues facing our industry and how four agencies are meeting them head on.

Next week on the show we have an interview with Faye DiMassimo. When Paul interviewed her, she was leading Chatham Area Transit in Savannah, Georgia, but since then she has a new job with the City of Savannah. Her job still involves connecting people, but has a much bigger and more interesting mandate than transit alone. It's not often we have an interview where we get to talk with someone before and after a career transition. Make sure you tune in for this one!

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo https://www.modaxo.com

Host: Paul Comfort
Producer: Paul Comfort
Editor and Writer: Tris Hussey
Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Special thanks to:

Brand design: Tina Olagundoye
Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova
Marketing content, Transit Unplugged Newsletter, & transit puns: Tris Hussey

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

00:04 Introduction from Tris Hussey, Editor Transit Unplugged

01:11 Transit Leader Roundtable at TripSpark Ignite

01:51 Introducing the Panelists: Leaders in Transit

02:23 Tackling Transit Challenges: From Driver Shortages to Public Amenities

06:00 Innovative Solutions and Success Stories in Transit

11:25 A Day in the Life of Transit Leaders

22:38 Navigating Post-COVID Challenges and Opportunities

23:18 Ridership and Revenue Trends: A Closer Look

25:06 Innovative Solutions for Transit Systems

33:33 Embracing Technology for Future Growth

37:32 Personal Insights and Agency Success Stories

42:07 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.

Planes, trains, buses, and boats. Andy Lord has it all in London May 15, 2024

Show notes

Transport for London (TfL) covers every transport means possible from the iconic red double-deck buses to The Tube to trains and even ferries. Which means the person in charge of it all has a lot going on at any given moment. Andy Lord, Commissioner for TfL spent over 25 years in aviation before coming to transit in 2019 to run The Tube with then Commissioner Andy Byford. Sitting down with Paul, Andy about his career and the enormity of the job of managing nearly 30,000 people moving millions of people a day.

Andy tells Paul how the mix of contracting, direct operation, and concessions keeps everything moving across the entirety of London and beyond.

But most of all Andy sees himself as a steward for the future of TfL. You'll hear about his plans to hit zero emissions and keep a system that still has Victorian-era infrastructure up-to-date, safe, and efficient.

Next week on the show we have a transit leaders roundtable recorded live at TripSpark Ignite. This episode hits on the biggest issues facing transit today: budgets, the bus manufacturing crisis, hiring enough people, and cyber security.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo https://www.modaxo.com

Host: Paul Comfort
Producer: Paul Comfort
Editor and Writer: Tris Hussey
Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Special thanks to:

Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye
Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova
Marketing Content, Transit Unplugged Newsletter, & transit puns: Tris Hussey

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

00:00 Transit Unplugged Featuring Andy Lord, Commissioner of Transport for London

00:11 Introducing Andy Lord: London's Top Transport Official

00:27 A Year of Leadership: Andy Lord's Journey and Achievements

03:02 Inside TfL's Successes: From Surplus to the Superloop

05:16 The Scale of TfL: Operations, Fleet, and Staff

07:06 Funding and Structure: How TfL Operates Within London's Government

08:38 From Airlines to Underground: Andy Lord's Career Path

16:07 Innovations and Challenges: Moving Towards a Zero Emission Fleet

18:35 Congestion Charging and ULEZ: London's Approach to Traffic and Emissions

23:44 Looking Ahead: Technology, Accessibility, and Learning from Others

29:12 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Celebrating Paul’s Newest Book: The New Future of Public Transportation May 08, 2024

Show notes

This week we're celebrating the release of Paul's newest book, The New Future of Public Transportation, which is the sequel to The Future of Public Transportation published early in 2020. To say public transport faced an crisis or inflection point in the past four years is an understatement.

In this updated edition, Paul collected essays by 30 transit leaders from around the world covering every major topic facing transit today from workforce to safety, infrastructure to faring. On the show today Paul chats with two of the contributors, Dr. Karen Philbrick, Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute, and Paige Malott, high speed rail researcher with the International Union of Railways about their chapters and their ideas on the future of public transit.

We conclude the episode with Paul talking about what's covered in each of the chapters of the book and the people who wrote them. Make sure you listen right to the end of the show so you don't miss it!

You can order the book on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1468607618?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_1B7E4H4QFZVKHANFW7DS

Next week we have Andy Lord Commissioner for Transport for London (TfL). TfL is the largest public transport network in the world covering nearly every transport mode possible. It's a huge job and you get to hear not only about this massive system, but how Andy's experience in the aviation industry prepared him for the job.

If you have a question for Paul about anything related to public transit, zap him an email at paul.comfort@transitunplugged.com. Paul might even read and answer your question on a future episode of the podcast.

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

Paul Comfort, host and producer
Julie Gates, executive producer
Tris Hussey, editor and writer
Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

00:05 Introducing The New Future of Public Transportation

02:29 Diving into Hot Topics with Dr. Karen Philbrick

17:38 Exploring High Speed Rail with Paige Malott

27:49 About the Book and Contributors

27:56 A Comprehensive Overview of Book Contributors

29:52 The Future of Public Transportation: A Global Perspective

33:31 Zero Emission Vehicles and the Future

34:35 Data, AI, and Cybersecurity in Transit

35:00 Funding, Faring, and the Fiscal Cliff

35:35 Geographic Futures and Global Insights

36:12 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Launching Successful Innovations at SEPTA with Emily Yates May 01, 2024

Show notes

In a previous episode we talked about SEPTA's innovative SCOPE (Safety, Cleaning, Ownership, Partnership, and Engagement) program -- https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-podcast/how-septa-is-making-a-difference-in-the-lives-of-vulnerable-people/ -- and how it was helping the city's most vulnerable people. This week we get the big picture from the woman at the head of it all.

Emily Yates reports right to CEO Leslie Richards and leads a team that's willing to take a risk on something new and if it doesn't pan out, learn from it and move on. Her recent pilot on using AI-powered cameras to detect weapons didn't turn out like people expected. But, Emily and her team have distilled what they've learned and are looking at new ways to accomplish the same goal--keep weapons off the system.

Emily's approach to innovation is very human-focused. She thinks about things like; "How do we make transit more welcoming for women and moms? Is there more we can do help our drivers feel physically and emotionally safe? Are we doing the right things to make it easier to take transit instead of a private car?"

In the interview Emily talks about programs like:

Letting moms keep kids in strollers and not having to unpack shopping carts on buses
Solar-powered, e-ink displays at stops to show route updates and next bus information
Programs to help operator safety and mental health
SEPTA's transition to a zero-emission fleet

Plus how she navigates the process of getting buy in for these initiatives inside and outside the agency.

Coming up next week we're celebrating the release of Paul's newest book The New Future of Public Transportation with two of the contributors Dr. Karen Philbrick and Paige Malott. You can pick up a copy on Amazon https://a.co/d/dqp2red

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

Paul Comfort, host and producer
Julie Gates, executive producer
Tris Hussey, editor and writer
Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

00:00 Introduction to Emily Yates and SEPTA Innovations

00:22 Driving Innovation at SEPTA: A Deep Dive

05:19 Enhancing Rider Experience with Real-Time Data and Accessibility

10:35 Navigating the Approval Process for New Initiatives

13:21 Focusing on Operator Safety and Well-being

17:49 The Future of Transit: Zero Emission Buses and Workforce Development

24:10 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Episode 300! Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to episode 300 of Transit Unplugged! When Paul started the podcast in November 2017, I don't think anyone would have thought that seven seasons later we'd be at our 300th episode.

Paul started this podcast to shine a light on the impact of transit on society and give transit leaders a chance to talk about their agencies and their careers, unfiltered and unplugged. Throughout the pandemic Paul interviewed leaders about what it all meant to transit. How were agencies dealing with health restrictions. How agencies were keeping front line workers safe.

Since the pandemic, the issues have changed. Now it's getting enough drivers, changing ridership patterns, the bus manufacturing crisis, and the looming fiscal cliff.

Paul continues to meet these issues head on with frank discussion about how agencies are addressing the challenges and how it's shaping them as leaders.

We're celebrating this milestone with a CEO Roundtable with four leading transit CEOs talking about their agencies, what it's like to be a CEO, and the challenges they face today.

Recorded live on stage with Paul are:

Frank White, III (Kansas City Area Transportation Authority)
Tiffani Scott (Paratransit, Inc.)
David Scorey (Keolis North America)
Jameson Auten (Lane Transit District)

Next week on the show, we have the Chief Innovation Officer from SEPTA (South East Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) Emily Yates talking about not just the innovations she's leading, but the entire process of innovating in public transit overall.

0:00 Transit Unplugged Episode 300!

00:05 Introduction by host and producer, Paul Comfort

01:35 Welcome to Transit Unplugged Live: CEO Roundtable

02:04 The State of Public Transit: Challenges and Changes

03:42 Innovative Solutions in Transit: Sacramento's Story

06:19 Addressing Transit's Relevance and Financial Sustainability

06:45 Operational Efficiency and Service Adaptation in Boston

09:47 Redefining Transit's Role in the Community

13:52 The CEO Experience: Leading in Transit

23:39 Lightning Round: Future Directions and Innovations

29:14 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Welcome to Transit Unplugged! Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

Transit Unplugged, the world's leading podcast for transit professionals, is hosted and produced by Modaxo SVP and transit evangelist Paul Comfort. Each week, Paul sits down with public transit leaders from around the world to talk about their agencies, how they're facing current challenges, their thoughts on the future of public transit, plus insights into their careers and their approaches to leadership.

You'll learn exactly what it's like to lead a transit agency, big or small, urban or rural, from the people who are in the chairs doing the job. Tune in to hear these unfiltered, unscripted, and unplugged conversations with the people who are shaping public transit today and tomorrow. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.

System Redesign and Transit Revival in Madison with Justin Stuehrenberg Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

Justin Stuehrenberg GM of Madison Metro and his team used COVID as the impetus to finally put a long-planned system redesign into motion and completed it in June 2023. Since then they've seen a 15% increase in ridership. Justin and Paul talked about how his new network works, how geography figured into it, and the new bus rapid transit (BRT) lines coming soon that will use battery electric buses charged en route with overhead pantographs.

Also in this episode:

Being part of city government--the good and bad
Working with multiple city councils for approvals and funding
Justin's path from designing airplane engines to transit engineering and planning.

Coming up next week...

It's episode 300! Yes, we're celebrating 300 episodes with the ThinkTransit CEO Roundtable, covering the most pressing issues in transit today with four of the industry’s most influential CEOs.

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

Paul Comfort, host and producer
Julie Gates, executive producer
Tris Hussey, editor and writer
Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

00:00 Welcome to Transit Unplugged

00:15 Introducing Justin Stuenberg and Madison Metro Transit

01:38 Madison's Unique Transit Challenges and Solutions

05:13 Funding and Operational Structure of Madison Metro

07:03 Revolutionizing Transit: Bus Network Redesign and BRT Implementation

18:15 Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Personal Insights

21:43 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Public Transport Insights and Innovations in the Middle East from UITP MENA Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

In this special episode we have guest host, and past guest, Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz hosting a live CEO roundtable from the Modaxo booth at the UITP MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition. Kaan is joined by:

Renée Amilcar: President of UITP & General Manager of OC Transpo, Canada
Abdulla Al Marzouqi: Director General – Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), Abu Dhabi
Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla: Member of the Board of Directors of Roads and Transport Authority & Chair of UITP MENA Division, Dubai

Kaan and his guests talked about not only public transport in the Middle East post-COVID, but also the exciting future in what has been a very car-centric region. In previous episodes of Transit Unplugged from the Middle East, one of the most interesting things has been the interweaving of taxis into the larger public transport system. Now with autonomous taxis becoming a reality, even more exciting opportunities are happening in the region.

Now with metro systems being built across the region, as well as zero emissions fleets, the Middle East is showing its colors as one of the most innovative regions in the world.

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz, guest host
Julie Gates, executive producer
Tris Hussey, editor and writer
Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

00:00 Welcome to the Transit Unplugged CEO Live Roundtable

00:03 Introduction from Kaan Yildizgoz

00:51 Introducing the Panelists: Leaders of Global Mobility

02:32 Exploring Post-COVID Mobility Trends and Priorities

04:18 Focusing on the Middle East: Challenges and Innovations in Mobility

10:38 The Future of Mobility: Digitalization and Autonomous Taxis

19:10 Concluding Remarks and Future Aspirations in Mobility

23:42 Thank you for listening

Public Transit Trumps Politics in Oklahoma City with Mayor David Holt Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Usually on Transit Unplugged we bring you the voices and stories of transit leaders from around the world, but this week we have something a little different. Join Paul as he sits down with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt to talk about transit, politics, and changing how people view public transit in his city.

As David describes it, like many cities West of the Mississippi, Oklahoma City was planned, developed, and built for cars. Transit was seen as transportation of last resort. What this translated into was a sporadic and sparse transit system where people could wait a hour for the next bus after walking miles to get to a stop that's just a stick in the mud.

David and his predecessor thought it was time to change that and create a modern, robust transit system in Oklahoma's capital city. Now the city is building out its bus route network, putting in bus rapid transit (BRT), and looking at light rail to connect two key suburbs. David's plan hinges on doing big things in small steps over the course of a few years. Instead of proposing a massive light rail network, he's proposing this smaller, focused project to prove it out and build support for the project over the long-term.

We think you'll enjoy this refreshing discussion from a pro-transit politician who is building support regardless of your politics.

Coming up next week on the show we have Justin Stuehrenberg, General Manager of the Madison Metro Transit System talking about his big projects happening in his city.

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

Paul Comfort, host and producer
Julie Gates, executive producer
Tris Hussey, editor and writer
Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

00:00 Welcome to Transit Unplugged

00:05 Introducing Mayor David Holt and Oklahoma City's Transit Vision

02:04 The Geography and Demographics of Oklahoma City

05:33 Embark: Oklahoma City's Public Transit System

07:42 The Evolution of Public Transit in Oklahoma City

12:37 Funding Transit: The Role of MAPS Initiatives

16:32 The Future of Transit: Regional Transit Authority and Light Rail Plans

22:32 Political Perspectives on Transit and Closing Thoughts

27:24 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Tom Gerend and KC Streetcar contribute billions to Kansas City’s economy Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

Update July 31, 2024: This podcast episode, the companion podcast episode, and the Transit Unplugged TV episode were honored with a Spotlight Award by the South West Transit Association. More info here: https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-2024-spotlight-award/

We kicked off 2024 with an episode with Rep. Earl Blumenauer--https://transit-unplugged.captivate.fm/portland-streetcar--who could be credited for the modern streetcar boom in America, and this week we see how streetcars actually drive billions in economic development in Kansas City. Streetcars aren't just moving people and connecting the city in Kansas City, they are driving businesses like the aptly named Streetcar Grill which stands in what used to be a parking lot.

Tom Gerend has been part of the Kansas City streetcar project since the beginning, first as part of the planning organization that put the project in motion and now as Executive Director of KC Streetcar. For Tom, this streetcar network is his baby; it's a project that creates a legacy for all of Kansas City. But that's not where we start off the interview.

Historic Union Station in Kansas City was left to rot and ruin; almost demolished from disuse, but a ballot initiative brought it back to life and is now a landmark for the city. Union Station isn't just a transportation hub for the streetcar and Amtrak, it's a gathering place for the entire city. Tom took Paul for a tour of this architectural jewel and everything that's inside, including a model train exhibit and a science museum!

From Union Station, Tom takes Paul on the streetcar to tell him all about the network and its contributions to the city. From low floors that make it easy for anyone to board to keeping the system fare-free, KC Streetcar is fast becoming integral to the city.

Paul and Tom finish up at the Streetcar Grill and talk more about his career, the plans for the streetcar network, and the economic benefits it's brought to the city.

And if all of this sounds amazing, you can see it all on April 11th on Transit Unplugged TV! Make sure you subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@transitunplugged

In case you missed last week's episode with KCATA CEO Frank White, give it a listen now to learn more about Kansas City and its transit system: https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-podcast/frank-white-iii-kcata-tod/

Additional music by Kemet the Phantom "Get Out" ft. The Pharoahs iTunes - https://goo.gl/JFk66P . Used with permission.

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks: