Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes:

Yellow Transportation Reunion: Stories from the Transportation Trenches Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

Transdev is the largest public transportation contractor in the world, and it got its start in North America with the acquisition of Yellow Transportation. Paul worked for Yellow Transportation for a number of years and today we bring you a special reunion show with a few of the people Paul worked with there.

Paul and his guests, John Duncan, Jeff Barnett, and Peggy Maher, worked together at Yellow during the early days of building the company from a regional taxi, limousine, and charter bus company to a national player in transportation. Listen to how they worked, learned, and grew with each other while creating life-long bonds of friendship and mentorship.

But we're just getting started.

Next week we have Mark Joseph, who was the CEO of Yellow from its revitalization in the 1990s until its acquisition by Veolia--which would later become Transdev--in 2001. Mark served as CEO at Veolia for 5 years and then CEO of Transdev for another 12 years. Paul brings the whole story together with Mark from Yellow's beginnings to the future of transportation today.

Also on the show, Mike Bismeyer reflects on how these long-standing work connections help shape and support who we are.

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

Transit Unplugged it brought to you by Modaxo. At Modaxo, we're passionate about moving the world's people, and at Transit Unplugged, we're passionate about telling those stories. Learn more at https://www.modaxo.com/

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(00:00) Yellow Transportation Reunion Show with John Duncan, Jeff Barnett, and Peggy Maher

(36:44) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer

(38:40) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Bus Rapid Transit and Brazil’s Contribution to Global Transit with Tula Vandaramatos Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

When Paul talked with Seleta Reynolds of LA Metro, one of the places she planned to visit ahead of the Olympics in LA was Brazil. She wanted to see first-hand how Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) works and helped move people in Rio for the Olympics. This week we have the second of our Brazil-focused episodes with Tula Vandaramatos, President of the Passenger Transport Association, where Tula talks more about Brazil's unique public transport system and how BRT is helping move people faster through some of the most congested cities in the world.

Also on the show, Elea Carey gives us some tips on how to get more out of your email newsletter.

Coming up next week we have a special two-part reunion show with Paul and former colleagues of Yellow Transportation--which would later become Transdev--talking about going from taxis and limos to now the world's largest contract bus operator.

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

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo (https://www.modaxo.com/). At Modaxo we're passionate about moving the world's people. And at Transit Unplugged, we're passionate about telling those stories.

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(00:00) Tula Vandaramatos

(00:04) Public transportation is the only sustainable solution for cities

(00:26) Interview with Tula Vandaramatos, President ATP Group

(19:40) Marketing Minute with Elea Carey

(21:41) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Dimas Barrreira–Going all electric isn’t the only path to reducing emissions Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

This week on the show Paul chats with repeat guest Dimas Barreira about Brazil's unique way of organizing public transportation, innovations in his own city of Fortaleza, and his approach to reducing carbon emissions in his region. We kick off the episode though with Dimas retelling the story of his life-changing motorcycle accident where he was dead for 40 minutes and spent 4 days in a coma!

This episode was recorded during Paul's recent trip to Brazil where he met with industry leaders, attended a national transportation conference, and filmed segments for an upcoming episode of Transit Unplugged TV. Watch for all of this on our Transit Unplugged TV channel on YouTube.

Also on this week's show, Mike Bismeyer talks about attending TransLink's celebration of 75 years of electric trolley buses in Vancouver. Vancouver has the second largest fleet of trolley buses in North America and the only trolley buses in Canada. Check out TransLink's website for pictures and the history behind these iconic buses.

Next week we stay in Brazil and learn about Bus Rapid Transit, developed in Brazil as a "train on wheels" where digging subways isn't practical or feasible. Paul welcomes another amazing transit leader from the south of Brazil--Tula Vandaramatos--for this interview. Paul and Tula also continue the discussion of Brazil's transport system and new funding coming from all levels of government.

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

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo. At Modaxo we're passionate about moving the world's people. And at Transit Unplugged we're passionate about telling those stories.

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(00:00) Dimas Barreira pragmatic solutions to carbon emissions

(00:46) Interivew with Dimas Barreira, President of Sindionibus

(30:40) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer

(32:16) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Coree Cuff Lonergan on Creating 200 Miles of New Transit Service in Broward County Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

This week we're staying in sunny Florida and moving down to Broward County to hear what Broward County Transit (BCT) CEO Coree Cuff Lonergan has in store for the people of her county. As the new CEO she's leading the charge on an amazing 15-year plan to add 200 miles of new transit service to the county's transit infrastructure. Over the next decade and a half Broward County will get:

High-frequency bus service
Commuter rail
Light rail
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Coree is starting with high-frequency bus service and then adding new services over time. On top of this, BCT will be moving to an all-electric bus and non-revenue fleet by 2035. A lot going on for an agency that, as Coree puts it, is "a sleeping giant in the transit industry."

Also on the show, Elea Carey starts a three-part series on communication basics, starting with how to make sure your website meets the needs of riders.

Next week we have the first of two episodes coming from Paul's recent trip to Brazil. We start off with repeat guest Dimas Barreira, President of Sindionibus in Fortaleza, talking about how public transport in Brazil is organized and his unconventional plans for reducing carbon emissions in his region.

Have we heard from you?

We're wrapping up our listener survey this week. We've gotten a lot of great feedback. Make sure you've had your say today! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PN3WLZP

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

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(00:00) Transit Unplugged with guest Coree Cuff Lonergan

(00:23) Interview with Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO Broward County Transit

(23:33) Marketing Minute with Elea Carey

(25:28) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Transit Payment Innovations in Central Florida and Driving Customer Loyalty in Transit Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

This week Paul has two great interviews for you: John Slot, Chief Innovation Officer of LYNX in Central Florida, and Rudy Vidal, Managing Director of Vidal Consulting Group. Both interviews center on building strong, emotional connections with riders, so they choose transit over other options.

John Slot leads a team responsible for testing and piloting innovations in and around the Orlando area. From sustainable buses to new payment options to bring fare equity to everyone, John's team makes sure residents, tourists, and soon APTA EXPO attendees can get around the city with ease. John talks about their energy transition from diesel to CNG to electrics over the next several years, plus how payment technology will make his system easier to navigate--and cheaper--for everyone.

In our leadership segment, Rudy Vidal gets to the heart of building loyal transit riders--stop selling transportation. Public transit is a commodified quasi-monopoly, so just doing the basics--buses that are on time--isn't enough to create loyalty. Loyalty comes from creating a positive emotional response in riders. Do people feel welcome and safe? Are they relaxed getting to work? Do they feel they are helping the environment? There are no easy answers to creating loyalty, but Rudy gives you questions to think about at your own agency.

Also in this episode, Mike Bismeyer reminds us of all the opportunities in transit and the hard work marketing and communications teams do to connect with people.

Next week on the show, we stay in Florida and hear from Coree Cuff Longeran, CEO of Broward County Transit and hear about her 15-year plan to create a world-class transit system for her community.

Please take a moment to rate and review Transit Unplugged on Apple Podcasts--or wherever you listen. Ratings and reviews help others find Transit Unplugged and become part of our transit evangelist community.

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

Enriched by Vizzy

(00:00) Transit Payment Innovations in Central Florida and Driving Customer Loyalty in Transit (00:33) Interview with John Slot, Chief Innovation Officer, LYNX (14:04) Mike's Minute (15:46) Interview with Rudy Vidal on creating an emotional connection with customers (36:06) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Innovation, Accessibility, and Attracting New Riders–UITP CEO Roundtable Part 2 Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

This week we bring you our final segment from the UTIP Global Summit held earlier this summer in Barcelona. In this dynamic CEO Roundtable recorded live at the summit, we hear from Dorval Carter, President of the Chicago Transit Authority, Paul Skoutelas, President and CEO of APTA, Carla Purcell, CEO of Yarra Trams, and Jeremy Yap, Deputy Chief Executive of LTA Singapore.

This panel continues the discussions started in the first CEO Roundtable with a focus on innovation across the industry, how places like Singapore are focusing on making public transport accessible for everyone, and how agencies will attract new, non-work trip riders to their systems.

Together these two CEO Roundtables give a complete view of the challenges--and opportunities--facing transit today around the world. Sustainability, funding, new ridership patterns, and accessibility, all sewn together with a renewed spirit of innovation. Around the world, as highlighted at the UITP Global Summit, agencies are buoyed with this new sense of purpose. If you haven't listened to Part One, check it out and give it a listen.

Next week on the show, we have William (John) Slot, Chief Innovation Officer at LYNX in Florida, and in our leadership segment, we have Rudy Vidal of Vidal Consulting Group.

Please take a moment while you're listening to Transit Unplugged to leave a rating and review of the show. This helps other people find the show can become part of the Transit Unplugged community.

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

Creating new funding models, the challenge of the EV transition, and stop negative self-talk Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

We have a jam-packed episode for you this week. We lead off with David S. Kim, formerly the Secretary of Transportation for the State of California, now Senior Vice President & Principal, National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy at WSP. Paul and David talk about two of the most pressing issues facing public transit today: finding alternatives to gas taxes to fund transportation and the transition to EVs.

For decades federal and state/provincial taxes on gas and diesel have funded roads, bridges, and public transit. It's a good system for paying for critical infrastructure, but as we switch to EVs--therefore buying less and less fuel--that money will dry up. David and Paul talk about some of the pilots and models being tested to move to a "pay-as-you-drive" model for funding.

Paul and David then pivot to talking about the challenges facing the transition to EVs and the costs associated with the transition. Sure agencies have to buy new buses, but they also have to upgrade or build new facilities to support EVs and have to train a whole new workforce to drive and manage these high tech vehicles.

We also have the second leadership segment from Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott of TALLsmall Productions. This week Keith and Rebecca tell us how to defeat negative self-talk. It's more than just a nagging little voice that chides us, negative self-talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy and damage your work, your career, and your mental health. Keith and Rebecca give you real, practical tools to silence that negative voice and turn it into your inner cheerleader.

Elea Carey joins us this week to talk about how to communicate big projects--like the transition to EVs--by focusing on where the money has really come from and the benefits to the community.

Coming up next week we have the second CEO Roundtable recorded at the UITP Global Summit featuring Carla Purcell CEO of Yarra Trams, Jeremy Yap Deputy Chief Executive of LTA in Singapore, Paul Skoutelas, President of APTA, and Dorval Carter, President of CTA in Chicago.

This roundtable has a focus on public transport in Asia-Pacific and North America. While every region and agency is different--if you've seen one transit agency, you've seen one transit agency--many of the challenges in changing ridership patterns, workforce development, transition to zero emissions, and accessibility are universal.

Our listener survey is still open! This is your chance to let us know how we're doing and what you'd like to hear on future shows. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PN3WLZP

If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

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(00:00) David S. Kim - TALLsmall Part 2

(00:26) Interview with David S. Kim

(22:15) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey

(24:22) Continuing with Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott on stopping negative self talk

(38:30) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

UITP CEO Roundtable Part 1: European Transit Leaders on Today’s Transit Trends Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

This week we bring you the first of two special CEO Roundtables recorded live at the UITP Global Summit in Barcelona. This first panel features:

Thierry Mallet,CEO of Transdev
Anjes Tjarks, Minister of Transport in Hamburg
Laura Shoaf, CEO of the West Midlands Combined Authority
Ruben Leonor, Strategy & Quality Director at Renfe

Paul leads this all-star lineup of transit leaders through discussions of today's changing ridership, funding and fares, the transition to zero emissions, and what the future of transit holds. You're only going to find guests like these on Transit Unplugged!

The second CEO Roundtable featuring Carla Purcell, CEO of Yarra Trams, Jeremy Yap Deputy Chief Executive of LTA in Singapore, Paul Skoutelas, President of APTA, and Dorval Carter, President of CTA in Chicago, airs in two weeks on August 2nd.

But next week, we have another great transit leader: David S. Kim, formerly the Secretary of Transportation for the State of California, now Senior Vice President & Principal, National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy at WSP, in conversation with Paul. We also bring you the second leadership segment from Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott of TALLsmall Productions. This week Keith and Rebecca tell us how to defeat negative self-talk.

While you're here, we have a favor to ask...

Please take a couple minutes to take our listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PN3WLZP. We'd like to know you like, and don't, about Transit Unplugged and how we can make it even better for future episodes.

If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on Transit Unplugged, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo. At Modaxo, we're passionate about moving the world's people, and at Transit Unplugged, we're passionate about telling those stories.

Enriched by Vizzy

(00:00) CEO Roundtable Part 1 from UITP Global Summit 2023

(09:19) Theirry Mallet on challenges

(11:58) Ruben Leonor Spain

(13:46) Anjes Tjarks on cities

(15:28) Laura Shoaf on passenger comfort

(17:16) Anjes Tjarks on comfort continued

(18:58) Theirry Mallet on convenience

(23:08) Anjes Tjarks on fares

(25:58) Ruben Leonor on rail

(27:33) Laura Shoaf on funding

(28:54) Theirry Mallet on funding

(32:43) Laura Shoaf on AI

(34:20) Ruben Leonor on Technology

(35:45) Anjes Tjarks on technology

(37:53) Theirry Mallet on electrification

(42:00) Laura Shoaf on electrification and equity

(44:44) Ruben Leonor on electrification

(46:07) Anjes Tjarks on zero emissions

(47:31) Theirry Mallet on zero emissions

(49:21) Wrap up: Best things right now

(52:34) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

A Global Perspective on Transit from Dr. Kaan Yildizgöz and Tips to Speak with Confidence Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Every week we bring you the top transit thought leaders from around the world, and this week is no exception. Recorded while at the UITP Global Summit in Barcelona, Paul sits in conversation with Dr. Kaan Yildizgöz, Senior Director of Membership and Global Operations at UITP. Kaan and Paul dive into one of the most important topics facing public transport today--helping people rely less on personal cars for regular travel.

In much of the world, taxis are integrated into the transit system so people can use a taxi to get to and from transit hubs in their cities. Cities like Dubai are at the forefront of broadly integrated transport models where taxis are even managed by the public transit authority.

In their conversation, Paul and Kaan also talk about the essential role UITP plays in delivering transit around the world as well as the biggest trends facing transit today. From training to best practices, studies to advocacy, UITP is at the center of transit.

In the second half of the show our leadership segment is back. In the first part of a two-part conversation, Paul learns from Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott of TALLsmall Productions, how the words we choose, our tone, and our body language convey more than we realize to people. Keith and Rebecca give some great tips and lessons on how to come across more professionally and confidently by getting rid of weak language and filler words. Keith and Rebecca continue their conversation with Paul focusing on self talk in our July 26th episode.

Mike Bismeyer reflects on how important transit is to society and encourages all of us to ride transit this summer, if nothing else to say thank you.

Next week on the show we have the first of two special CEO Roundtables recorded live at UITP in Barcelona. This first special episode features Thierry Mallet, CEO of Transdev, Anjes Tjarks, Minister of Transport in Hamburg, Laura Shoaf, CEO West Midlands Combined Authority in the UK, and Ruben Leonor, Strategy & Quality Director at Renfe in Spain. You won't want to miss this episode so make sure you follow/subscribe Transit Unplugged wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on Transit Unplugged email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Enriched by Vizzy

(00:00) Transit Unplugged News and Views

(00:03) Kaan Yildizgoz UITP plus Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott TALLsmall Productions

(00:20) Interview with Kaan Yildizgoz, Senior Director of Membership and Global Operations, UITP

(18:42) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer

(20:11) Leadership Segment with Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott, TALLsmall Productions

(38:17) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Cybersecurity, Safety Data, and Smart Cities — Canadian Transit Tech Innovation Part 2 Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

We wrap up our special look at Canadian transit tech innovation with three great innovators in the transit tech landscape. We lead off with Paul in conversation with Jean-Pierre Baracat, VP and Partner at Cysca Technologies, talking about the need for enhanced operational cybersecurity for the vehicles and systems that power transit. Then Paul talks with Tim Bigwood, GM of Trapeze Workforce Management, about the need for agencies to have a single source of truth for all their safety-related data. Finally, we have Brad Cameron, CEO of BusPas, talking about using bus stops as data anchor points for smart cities.

We end the show with a special roundtable led by Transit Unplugged producer Tris Hussey in conversation with contributors Mike Bismeyer and Elea Carey reflecting on the past two episodes and how to communicate tech innovations to your customers.

Next week on the show, we have Kaan Yildizgöz, Head of Global Membership and Operations at UITP, talking with Paul about the new models for mobility that use taxis as an integral part of the transport system.

Then our leadership segments return with a two-part series from continues Keith Scott and Rebecca Klein Scott of TALLsmall Productions. In this first part, Keith and Rebecca dive into how language--and weak language--can hurt your career and success.

Don't forget to subscribe/follow Transit Unplugged wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a review if you enjoy the show. You can always reach us at info@transitunplugged.com; we'd love to hear from you.

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(00:00) Canadian Transit Tech Innovation Part 2: Safety

(00:03) Introduction by Paul Comfort

(01:00) Interview with Margaret Cullen, Jean-Pierre Baracat, and Tim Bigwood

(01:20) Introduction from Margaret Cullen

(05:22) Jean-Pierre Baracat on emerging cybersecurity threats

(11:41) Tim Bigwood on the need for integrating safety data systems

(17:13) Brad Cameron BusPas Interview

(24:49) Series roundup with Tris Hussey, Mike Bismeyer, and Elea Carey

(40:03) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.