Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes:

Can KCATA Make Transit Oriented Development a Reality in Kansas City? Mar 27, 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/

Frank White III is a strong advocate of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and has a track record of making it happen. He oversaw TOD for Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) before becoming CEO nearly two years ago, now faced with a fiscal cliff, Frank is pushing KCATA into the future of transit and TOD.

KCATA was one of the first systems to go fare free during the pandemic, but that decision to keep people riding has a clear cost--KCATA doesn't have farebox revenue to close funding gaps, but TOD could change that. Developing land managed by the agency could bring in not only more revenue for the agency, but also an economic boost for the region. Already the KCATA MAX BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line is connecting parts of the city cut off from one another, and combined with KC Streetcar (a separate but cooperative agency), brings real economic development to both sides of the Kansas-Missouri border.

To make this all happen Frank has to undo decades of KCATA neglecting its role to manage and oversee transportation and development for the entire two-state, seven-county region. Listen to this conversation with Paul Comfort including a conversation on TOD while riding the MAX BRT line through the city.

Next week we stay in KC and learn about the streetcar system and how it's creating connections and economic opportunity in the city--including the Streetcar Cafe born on the streetcar line thanks to bringing people to the area.

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 Frank White, III and KCATA

00:57 Inside the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority

01:44 Frank White III: From Marketing Director to CEO

02:56 Revolutionizing Public Transit in Kansas City

05:14 Navigating Financial Challenges and Fare-Free Transit

08:47 Empowering the Team and Defending Transit's Value

12:48 Exploring Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Kansas City

15:34 The Future of Transit: BRT Lines and Beyond

20:56 Wrap up with Paul Comfort

21:45 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Special Episode: Are we thinking about cars the wrong way? from The Future of Mobility Podcast Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to another special edition of Transit Unplugged featuring an episode from another transit podcast. This time we welcome past guest Brandon Bartneck with an episode from The Future of Mobility featuring autonomous vehicle visionary Larry Burns. The episode was released in August 2023. The original show notes are below:

Aug 2023 https://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/larryburns2/

Larry Burns is a pioneer in the electrified and automated vehicle space, highly successful industry veteran, and author of Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car – And How It Will Reshape Our World. Larry joins the Future of Mobility podcast for a second time, previously appearing on Episode 93: https://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/larryburns/

Key topics in this conversation include:

The true objective for transportation, and why we buy cars
Why accessibility trumps speed
The need to get the crash out of the system and get the mass out of the system
What automakers have missed over the past few decades
How we can create a safer transportation ecosystem
Why Larry is so optimistic about the future

Listen here:

Apple Podcasts: link

Google Podcasts: link

Spotify: link

Links:

Larry’s website: https://www.lawrencedburns.org/
Autonomy book: https://www.amazon.com/Autonomy-Quest-Driverless-Car-Reshape/dp/0062661124

Larry’s Bio:

Larry Burns advises organizations on the future of mobility, logistics, manufacturing, energy and innovation. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Niron Magnetics. His current clients include Kitson & Partners, Nanoramic Laboratories, Neural Propulsion Systems and Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE).

Larry served as General Motors Corporate Vice President of Research & Development and Planning from 1998-2009. After leaving GM, Larry has been a Professor of Engineering Practice at the University of Michigan, the Director of the Program for Sustainable Mobility at Columbia University, a consultant to Google Self-Driving Cars/Waymo and an advisor to several major companies.

Larry is the author of Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car—And How It Will Reshape Our World (with Christopher Shulgan and published by Ecco / HarperCollins on August 28, 2018).

Future of Mobility:

The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

Rethinking Mobility: Prioritizing Accessibility Over Speed

00:03 Introduction from Paul Comfort

00:47 Future of Mobility with Brandon Bartneck and guest Larry Burns

02:24 Discussion on the Importance of Accessibility in Transportation

07:44 Exploring the Future of Mobility and Transportation

30:18 The Importance of Accessibility and Efficiency in Transportation

31:01 The Role of Autonomy in Enhancing Transportation

32:23 The Impact of Vehicle Mass and Speed on Safety and Sustainability

43:04 Exploring Business Opportunities in the Future of Mobility

46:43 The Role of Technology and Innovation in Shaping the Future of Transportation

01:03:37 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Can Hydrogen Hubs Push Hydrogen to the Forefront of Transportation Fuels? Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Hydrogen is one of the hottest topics in transit right now, but hydrogen is facing a huge challenge to reduce its cost and increase its availability across North America (and the world). Paul sits down with Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) CEO Kirt Conrad--who manages the largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses outside California--and Ballard Power Systems Dir of Market Development and Public Affairs, Tim Sasseen to talk about hydrogen as a fuel, how hydrogen fuel cells work, and how the hydrogen hub project will break down barriers to adopting hydrogen as the zero-emissions fuel of choice.

If you're interested in learning more about hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells, here is a playlist of Transit Unplugged episodes on the topic: https://transit-unplugged.captivate.fm/hydrogen-fuel-in-transit

We also have a blog post on the Transit Unplugged blog explaining how hydrogen fuel cells work: https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-transit-science-understanding-hydrogen-fuel-cells/

Some of the organizations mentioned in the show:

Hydrogen Fuel Bus Council https://www.hfcbuscouncil.com/
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, Hydrogen Hubs https://www.energy.gov/oced/regional-clean-hydrogen-hubs-0
Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence https://www.midwesthydrogen.org/

Coming up next week we have another feed swap! This time we have past guest Brandon Bartneck with Larry Burns, former VP at GM and leader in the autonomous vehicle space, talking about the future of autonomous vehicles from The Future of Mobility. In the meantime, check out Brandon's podcast page for more great episodes. https://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

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 Hydrogen Fuel in Public Transportation

00:35 Insights from Experts: Kirt Conrad and Tim Sasseen

02:25 Understanding Different Types of Fuel

03:49 The Role of Hydrogen in Decarbonization

15:04 The Practicalities of Hydrogen Buses

21:57 Final Thoughts and Future Prospects

24:54 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Placemaking in Tulsa: Secret Tunnels, Art Deco Buildings, and a Downtown Reborn Powered by Transit with Chase Phillips Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

In part two of our series featuring Tulsa, OK, host Paul Comfort gets a special tour of Downtown Tulsa with Chase Phillips, the Director of Planning for MetroLink Tulsa. Chase talks about the city's rich history, architectural wonders, and the role of transit in its development. Chase sheds light on Tulsa's transformation from a 1920s hub of oil wealth, with the largest airport in the world at the time, to a vibrant city maintaining its historic charm with a modern makeover. They tour the city, exploring some iconic Art Deco buildings, hidden tunnels, and experiencing the quiet streets of downtown Tulsa. Chase credits public transit for playing a key role in Tulsa's resurgence and shares his vision for the future of transit in the city, including expanding Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and microtransit.

If you missed last week's episode, catch up with Paul's interview with Scott Marr, CEO of MetroLink Tulsa: https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-podcast/scott-marr-and-metrolink-tulsa-get-their-kicks-on-route-66-with-brt-and-microtransit/

Coming up next week we have a special panel talking about hydrogen fuel and the hydrogen hubs initiative in the U.S. to lower the cost of hydrogen for transportation and industry. The panel features regular guest SARTA CEO, Kirt Conrad and Tim Sesseen Dir of Market Development and Public Affairs at Ballard Power with insights into the growth of hydrogen as the fuel of the future for transportation.

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 and Overview

01:26 Exploring Tulsa's History and Architecture

05:25 Downtown Tulsa: A Blend of Old and New

07:07 Transit in Tulsa: Past, Present, and Future

09:23 Unveiling the Hidden Tunnels of Tulsa

13:01 Reflections on Transit and City Planning

18:00 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Scott Marr and MetroLink Tulsa get their kicks on Route 66 with BRT and microtransit Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

In the first of two podcast episodes--and an upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episode--from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Paul chats with MetroLink Tulsa (https://www.tulsatransit.org/) CEO Scott Marr about:

His city
His career in transit
The overwhelming success of microtransit and merging it with paratransit operations
His plans for expanding Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Route 66 for the 100th anniversary
And the path to lower emissions with CNG and battery-electric buses

After a long career as a transit fixer across the U.S., Scott returned to Tulsa as the CEO taking the reins of a system revitalized with BRT and microtransit. But it's not all smooth sailing for Scott and his team. Plans to expand BRT to historic Route 66 for its 100th anniversary in a couple years have hit a bump in the road with a $15M shortfall caused by inflation and price increases beyond his control. Undaunted, Scott is rallying his team and seeking support from the FTA and other sources to make this happen in time.

Tulsa is also our next feature city on Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@transitunplugged) . You don't want to miss seeing all the Americana that is Route 66, plus Paul's standup comedy routine at an open mic night. Check out the episode Thursday, March 14.

Coming up next week, we stay in Tulsa with MetroLink Tulsa Director of Planning Chase Phillips talking about the unique places that make Tulsa one of the most iconic cities in the U.S.

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 and Background

00:21 Rebranding and the New Name

01:22 Exploring the Transit System

02:38 The Future of Transit in Tulsa

12:29 Reflections and Conclusions

17:56 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Special Episode: Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardener with Art Guzzetti from The Transit Authority Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

This is a special episode of Transit Unplugged shared with us from our friends at the Transit Authority by APTA. Recorded live at APTA EXPO 2023 in Orlando, Florida, Art Guzzetti, VP of Policy and Mobility at APTA, interviews Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardener.

Make sure you follow the Transit Authority wherever you listen to podcasts. Here are the show notes for this episode originally released October, 12, 2023.

"Recorded on the trade show floor at APTA’s EXPO 2023 in Orlando, Florida, our special guest Stephen Gardener, CEO of Amtrak, discusses a wide range of topics including Amtrak’s role in linking cities, regions and rural America, how intercity passenger rail travel options can be made more attractive, recent and upcoming Amtrak system improvements, career advice for students, and more."

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

00:03 Introduction and Overview from Paul Comfort

01:10 The Role of Amtrak in Public Transportation

02:22 Stephen Gardner's Journey in Railroading

06:23 Amtrak's Future Plans and Investments

11:46 The Importance of High-Speed Rail

29:13 Amtrak's Impact on Rural America

36:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

39:55 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Holly Arnold her path to the top job and managing the largest P3 in the U.S. Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Holly Arnold has spent her entire career at the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). Starting as a contractor in grants administration then leading capital planning and then Deputy Administrator responsible for engineering before she became Administrator and CEO two years ago. The head of the MTA is a massive job. Not only is she responsible for massive capital projects--like the largest public-private partnership (P3) in the U.S., the Purple Line--she is responsible for transit in the City of Baltimore, supporting all the other transit agencies in the state, commuter bus, commuter rail, subways, and paratransit. Running the MTA is like running five agencies at once!

Two years into the role, Holly talks with host Paul Comfort about the agency, her career, and the massive projects she is delivering. She talks about what she learned from each step on the way and how seizing opportunities as they presented themselves got her to the top job.

Delivering one large scale project is hard enough, but Holly is wrangling several expansions, including supporting Amtrak with a new tunnel to support higher speed passenger rail traffic. Holly talks candidly about her work and how her approach of getting her hands dirty learning about projects has helped her rise through the ranks to lead one of the largest transit agencies in North America.

Coming up next week, we have a special episode from APTA's Transit Authority podcast. APTA Vice President for Mobility Initiatives and Public Policy, Art Guzzetti talks with Amtrak CEO Stephcen Gardener live from the APTA EXPO in Orlando. This episode was originally released October 12, 2023. Learn more about The Transit Authority and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (https://podcast.apta.com/)

We're excited to announce a special Transit Unplugged live CEO round table. Hosted by Dr. Kaan Yildizgöz at UITP MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition (https://www.menatransport.org/website/3387/home/) on February the 29th at the Trapeze booth. We'll have guests, including UITP President Renee Amilcar and the Director General of the Integrated Transport Center in Abu Dhabi, Abdulla Al Marzooqi.

The MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition 2024 is the premier event focusing on sustainable urban mobility solutions in the MENA region. It takes place in Dubai from February 28th to March 1st, the event is co-organized by UITP and Dubai's RTA.

The MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition has been a leading platform for showcasing advancements in public transport since 2007.

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 Holly Arnold: Building a career at the Maryland MTA

01:38 Overview of the Maryland Transit Administration

02:55 Discussion on the Purple Line Project

03:54 Career Advancement and Responsibilities

07:53 Holly Arnold's Leadership Journey

15:08 The Role of Engineering in Transit Agencies

17:01 Current and Future Projects at the Maryland Transit Administration

22:14 Wrap-up: The Impact and Future of Public Transit

23:10 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

What’s the secret sauce to increasing ridership 27% in one year? Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

When you think of big city transit agencies you think about Boston, New York, Toronto, LA, San Francisco...maybe not Mississauga, Ontario. It might surprise you that this city of one million people supports a transit system with over 500 buses and serves as the essential connector between cities East, West, and North (South is Lake Ontario). Mississauga Transit (or MiWay) helps people in Brampton, Oakville, and Toronto get to jobs and school.

But they seem to be doing something right because they've increased ridership 27% over the last year and are at 109% of their 2019 ridership levels (let's stop saying the "p" word). Eve Wiggins recently took the helm of MiWay after almost a decade at the TTC and Metrolinx and before that a decade at the Toronto Airport Authority. Eve certainly knows how to get people where they want to go, in the air or on the ground.

While she's only been at MiWay a short time, she has a big vision and big plans for the agency to grow and expand over the next five years.

But you can't execute your vision on your own. You need to lead people and clear the roadblocks in their way. Eve subscribes to the CASTLE (Courage, Authenticity, Truthfulness, Love, and Effectiveness) leadership philosophy and you will want to listen to how she describes her leadership style. It's pretty inspiring just listening to how she approaches getting things done and relying on others when she knows she doesn't have all the answers.

Coming up next week we have Holly Arnold, CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration about her career at the MTA and the massive projects she has on the go there.

We're excited to announce a special Transit Unplugged live CEO round table. Hosted by Dr. Khan you'll Legos at UITP MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition on February the 29th at the Trapeze booth. We'll have guests, including UITP President, Renee Amilcar and the Director General of the Integrated Transport Center in Abu Dhabi, Abdulla Al Marzooqi.

The MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition has been a leading platform for showcasing advancements in public transport since 2007.

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

0:00 What's the secret sauce to increasing ridership 27% in one year?

00:03 Introduction and Overview

01:44 The Success of Mississauga's Transit System

04:27 The Secret Sauce: How Mississauga Grew Ridership

12:01 Eve's Leadership Philosophy and Approach

19:00 The Future of Transit in Mississauga

24:40 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Hidden Transit Heroes Revealed: How Rural Transit Serves Unseen Communities Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

When we think about public transit we often think about subways or buses travelling through bustling cities, we don't often think of small towns in the midst of woods and fields. But the reality is there are thousands of rural transit agencies in North America serving people and places miles and miles away from each other. In this episode, host Paul Comfort talks with with Wendy Weedon, Deputy CEO of the Brazos Transit District in Texas, and Eddie VanStein, the Steuben County Mobility Manager in Upstate New York, to discuss the often overlooked topic of rural transportation. Wendy and Eddie talk about the unique transportation issues faced by rural communities, including the necessity for collaboration, breaking down silos, and getting funding for their programs.

They highlight how essential transportation services are to rural communities, serving a diverse range of needs like medical appointments, groceries and social connections. Wendy talks about the ongoing challenges they face with funding, fleet maintenance, and staff retention. Issues that resonate with transit agencies large and small. Eddie's job is to help the six different agencies in a county nearly the size of Rhode Island, coordinate and collaborate.

But Eddie shares his real motivator to become involved in the sector--a tearful call from his grandmother who was out of food and no way to get to the store 20 miles away. He knew he had to do something and started a rideshare program during the pandemic to just get people to where they needed to go.

The most crucial part of their message is raising awareness of the challenges rural agencies face. And how, unlike big city agencies, people in rural communities don't have the option to walk, take a taxi, or call a neighbor to drive them. Often public transit is the only way people can get around.

Next week we go from small towns to the biggest North American transit operation you may not have heard of with Eve Wiggins, Director of Mississauga Transit (MiWay), for a look at an agency with over 500 buses that grew ridership 27% last year and is at 109% of 2019 ridership numbers. Learn the secret sauce that powers MiWay's success.

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

0:00 Transit is an essential lifeblood in rural communities

00:25 Guest Introductions and backgrounds

03:36 The Importance of Transit in Rural Areas

10:26 Challenges in Rural Transportation

14:21 Looking Ahead: The Future of Rural Transit

22:58 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

If we can’t get new buses, how can we move more people? Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

There is more than a little bit of irony that when we have unprecedented levels of funding to buy and replace buses, there is a manufacturing crunch so there are few buses to be had--and with longer delivery times. From manufacturing delays and fewer manufacturers to massive price increases, agencies are pushing buses well beyond their useful life. How can we solve this crisis to not only meet the needs of today's riders, but make the transition to zero emissions? To talk about the topic, this week's show features:

- Ed Redfern and Joel Rubin from the Bus Coalition

- Julia Castillo and Brooke Ramsey from the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency

- Patrick Scully from Complete Coach Works

In two separate interviews we hear about the challenges agencies are facing getting and paying for buses and some recommendations from industry on some alternatives to new buses that might help bridge the gap while manufacturing and supply chain issues work themselves out.

Next week on the show we have Eddie VanStine and Wendy Weedon talking about rural transit. There are thousands of rural transit agencies across North America--and the world--who serve some of our most vulnerable people. But rural transit is often forgotten, with big city transit agencies getting the lion's share of attention and funding.

Questions or comments? Contact us at info@transitunplugged.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.transitunplugged.com

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

Transit Unplugged team:

Paul Comfort, host and producer

Julie Gates, executive producer

Tris Hussey, editor and writer

Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

00:00 Interview with Ed Redfern, Joel Rubin, Brooke Ramsey, and Julia Castillo

01:13 Introduction and Panel Discussion on Bus Shortage

02:28 Understanding the Role and Challenges of the Bus Coalition

06:39 Discussion on the Rising Costs and Supply Chain Issues