Transit Unplugged

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Focus on Canadian Transport Tech Innovation Part 1 EVs and New Transit Models Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

This week we kick off the first of two episodes focused on Canadian transportation tech and innovation. In this episode, Margaret Cullen, Trade Commissioner for the Canadian Consulate in Florida, joins Paul with Niklas Kviselius, Sr. Manager Innovation Management and New Mobility at TransLink, and Colin Lavery, Chief Growth Officer at Asset Market.

On the show, the guests about the planning needed for the tsunami of EVs coming over the next several years and how agencies need to be more proactive in pushing innovation. Colin's focus is on using AI to figure out where EV chargers should be placed around a city and community--and placed with equity and inclusion as key facets of the plan. Niklas, as the head of TransLink's innovation program, is focused on testing new ideas for mobility and making it easier for companies with great ideas to work with TransLink. TransLink's open call for innovation proposals just opened; take a look and your company could be part of the next innovations at TransLink. Last year's winner is to see if the excess energy from braking can be used to power and charge electric vehicles. Read more about that on TransLink's Buzzer Blog

Coming up next week we continue our focus on Canadian Tech with Margaret Cullen returning along with Tim Bigwood, General Manager of Trapeze Workforce Management, Jean-Pierre Baracat, Partner and VP at Cysca Technologies, and Brad Cameron, President and CEO of BusPas. Part 2 moves the focus onto safety and how to improve transit systems by tapping into data from bus stops.

We'll wrap up Part 2 with a special roundtable discussion with our producer Tris Hussey and regular contributors Mike Bismeyer and Elea Carey talking about tech, innovation, and communicating pilots to your audience.

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) Canadian Technology Focus Part 1 (00:27) Interview with Margaret Cullen, Niklas Kviseilus, and Colin Lavery (00:49) Margaret Cullen, Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate (01:27) Interview Continues... (04:41) Niklas Kviselius (10:17) Colin Lavery (11:35) Margaret Cullen on investment (12:59) Niklas Kviselius on electrification (16:28) Colin Lavery on equity and inclusion (19:02) Niklas Kviselius on innovation (22:06) Colin Lavery on preparing for clean fuels (26:49) Niklas Kviselius on future proofing your agency (28:50) Wrap up with our guests (29:46) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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Sneak Peek - Canadian Technology Focus on AI in Transit Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

Listen to this sneak peek at part one of our two-part series on Canadian Tech Innovations in Transit.

This segment features Paul Comfort with Niklas Kviselius of TransLink and Colin Lavery of Asset Market talking about the role of AI in transit.

Renée Amilcar is charting the course for the future of transport around the world Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

After spending the bulk of her 20 year career in public transport in Montreal at STM, Renée Amilcar has been at the helm of OC Transpo in Ottawa for almost two years and leading the effort to move OC Transpo to zero emissions by 2036. But that's only the tip of the iceberg for this dynamic transit leader. Join Paul in conversation with Renée in an interview recorded at the UITP Global Summit in Barcelona the day before she took office as the President of UITP.

OC Transpo serves the City of Ottawa, which isn't just your regular city, it's the capital city of Canada. Known for it's history, beauty, and canals, it also has famously harsh winters. OC Transpo has the difficult enough job of keeping a city moving, but also helps keep the wheels of government going by making sure government workers get to their jobs as well.

On the road to zero emissions, Renée talks with Paul about the electric bus trials in the city that have been very successful thus far. She's also responsible for the multi-billion dollar light rail expansion to create more transit options for people in the city of Ottawa.

Renée is an example of the new generation of leaders who are transforming and re-energizing public transit. As the new President of UITP, Renée wants to build bridges across agencies, countries, and continents to help all transit systems meet the challenges we all face in the 21st century.

Also on the show Mike Bismeyer talks about his recent visit to a school to talk with kids about careers in transit as part of CUTA's Mentorship Program. If you'd like to have Mike visit your school, reach out to him on LinkedIn.

Coming up we have a special two-part series on Canadian technology innovation with experts on planning, cybersecurity, safety management, and more. Technology is crucial to transit, get an inside look into some of the newest innovation and how agencies like TransLink are piloting them.

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

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

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(00:00) Renée Amilcar, President UITP (00:17) Interview with Renée Amilcar, GM of OC Transpo, Ottawa, ON (25:29) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer (26:14) Mike in the classroom (26:56) Mike in class talking (27:42) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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New, Innovative Microtransit Models and How to Make Sure You Always Bring Your Passions to Work Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

We have two very complementary episodes this week on Transit Unplugged. We start off with Alex Esposito, Co-founder and CEO of Circuit, who took a passion for solving traffic problems and turned it into a business. In our leadership segment Paul talks with Marinma Dorado, Founder and Passion Catalyst of Mindset Results, about connecting the things you're passionate about with your work.

On demand transit is an innovation born out of a simple premise: just because it isn't cost-effective to run a 40 foot bus somewhere, doesn't mean those people don't need transit. On demand transit can fill the first mile-last mile gaps and provide service where buses--even small ones--don't make practical sense. Circuit's approach to on demand transit is focusing on short trips. Trips just long enough someone might drive their car, but too short for a bus. Partnering with cities and businesses Circuit provides free or low cost on demand, shared transit to get cars off the road, people where they need to go, and fill buses with people.

Interestingly, and a direct connection to our second guest, this passion project was born from Alex and his friend looking for a better parking solution around their hometown on Long Island.

In our leadership segment, Marinma Dorado talks about one of the most critical parts of managing your life and career--making sure you focus on doing what you love. A lot of us can do things, and do them well, but they also tend to pull us away from the things we love. And according to Marinma and her own experience, focusing on the things you're passionate about, the things you love to do, makes you more successful in the long run.

Also on the show, Elea Carey talks about what transit agencies should think about when picking which community events to attend.

Coming up next week we have a very special interview with Renée Amilcar, GM of OC Transpo in Ottawa, ON and the new president of UITP. Renée is the first woman, and first North American, to hold the office. Paul recorded the interview with her while at the UTIP Global Summit the day before she took office. Her passion for transit and global cooperation cross-agencies and cross continents should make her two-year term very exciting!

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(00:00) Transit Unplugged News and Views with Alex Esposito and Marinma Dorado

(00:23) Interview with Alex Esposito. Co-founder and CEO of Circuit

(16:56) Marketing Minute with Elea Carey

(19:07) Interview with Marinma Dorado

(33:37) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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

Connecting With Employees is the Secret to Managing a Successful Transit Agency Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

This week we continue our series focusing on LA Metro with Paul talking with LA Metro COO Conan Cheung. Conan was originally a transit planner and this focus on details and connecting with people gives him a unique approach to managing his agency.

In his discussion with Paul, Conan gets into three issues facing all agencies right now: the transition to zero emissions, improving safety on the system and building a strong workforce. Like many previous guests and agencies, Conan talks about LA Metro's pragmatic approach to zero emissions. You can't go all in on one type of solution; diversity is essential to a well-rounded zero emissions fleet.

LA Metro is no stranger to the challenges of crime, homelessness, and drug use on its system. Knowing you can't police your way out of the problem, LA Metro's approach has focused on ways to discourage unwanted behaviors like lightening and controlling access to parts of stations.

Finally, Paul and Conan get into managing the over 10,000 people who are part of the operations workforce. From his experience working with communities as a transit planner, Conan visits all of his 10 divisions to learn exactly what his people need and want. To ensure he has enough staff, LA Metro has started one day hiring fairs where someone can apply for a job in the morning and leave with a preliminary offer in the afternoon. These hiring blitzes have been so successful at getting new employees, they have to slow down so they can catch up with people finishing their training.

Also on the show, Mike Bismeyer talks about a recent leadership conference where leaders shared the things they do outside of work to help the community. From volunteering at animal shelters to helping veterans, mentoring young to people to just being part of the community, these leaders showed that not only is kindness cool, sharing these acts of kindness helps build a stronger team.

Next week on the show, we have Alex Esposito, Co-founder and CEO of Circuit, talking about targeted microtransit to get people out of cars and onto public transport and Marinma Dorado on matching what you love to do with the work you choose to do.

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

Transit Unplugged is presented by Modaxo. Modaxo is passionate about moving the world's people, and we're passionate about telling the stories of the people who make it happen.

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(00:00) Conan Cheung COO LA Metro

https://vzyfm.co/42wGQ81

(00:39) Interview with Conan Cheung, COO of LA Metro

https://vzyfm.co/3qsUsUE

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

https://vzyfm.co/3tAj8Zy

(32:10) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Next week Alex Esposito, Co-founder and CEO of Circuit, and Marinma Dorado, Founder of Mindset Results.

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How LA Metro is Already Getting Ready for the 2028 Summer Olympics with Seleta Reynolds May 31, 2023

Show notes

Plus how to match your strengths to your job with Josh Cohen

Welcome to the first of two special episodes featuring leaders from the second largest transit system in the U.S.--LA Metro! In this first interview, Paul chats with Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer and interim Chief People Officer at LA Metro, about planning for the future of LA Metro including the upcoming 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. Seleta reflects on how to build a lasting legacy for Los Angeles from transit to how Angelenos think about community and their streets. Seleta also talks about her own career journey from intern to GM at LADOT and now her dual role at LA Metro. Seleta is passionate about transit but also passionate about finding new ways to make our streets livable and useful.

In our leadership segment, Paul dives into career journeys with Josh Cohen, CEO of Mobility Leadership Advisors, about building a career that's based on your strengths and values, not other peoples'--or your own--expectations of what the "right" career path is supposed to be. You can sign up for Josh's weekly newsletter and get his insights delivered straight to your inbox. In Josh's segment, you can hear many of the themes Seleta Reynolds talked about in her career journey--matching your career with your passions and your values.

Also on the show, Elea Carey connects the dots between Josh's and Seleta's interviews with some advice for marketers in how to be successful--and healthy--in their careers.

Next week, we continue with our LA Metro series with Conan Cheung, COO of LA Metro, talking about safety and connecting with the over 10 thousand LA Metro employees who keep that city moving.

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

Transit Unplugged is powered by Modaxo. Modaxo is passionate about moving the world's people, and Transit Unplugged is here to tell their stories.

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(00:00) Seleta Reynolds - Josh Cohen

(00:29) Interview with Seleta Reynolds

(19:52) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey

(21:28) Josh Cohen Leadership Segment

(32:32) Coming up next week

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

Creating tourist-friendly transportation in Banff, AB May 24, 2023

Show notes

This week we're continuing our tour of Western Canada with Martin Bean, CEO of Roam Transit in Banff, AB. Roam Transit, like many transit agencies in tourist destinations, has a dual role. One is to get the residents of the Bow Valley from Canmore to Banff (who all ride for free by the way) where they need to go, the other is helping the over four million visitors who come to Banff National Park and Lake Louise each year explore the region (and leave their cars behind).

Beyond transit passes for hotel guests or people arriving by tour bus, Roam Transit is pretty special in a lot of other ways--and all focused on preserving the natural beauty around them.

Roam Transit wraps their buses with pictures of the local wildlife taken by local nature photographers. From deer to elk to bears to martins (a kind of weasel) Roam Transit gives you a taste of what animals are roaming around--some of which you could even run into while in downtown Banff.

Because they are in the middle of one of the most beautiful places in the world, environmental stewardship is a big part of how they do things. Their operations facility doesn't have a furnace, but runs off waste wood burned as part of a community heating system. They have over 680 solar panels on the roof that generate enough power to charge up three battery electric buses plus the whole building. There's getting power from a sustainable grid and then there's getting your power from your own solar power grid.

Tune in to hear all about these topics plus how Roam Transit works with Parks Canada, trains new drivers, and helps the community leave cars behind to help the environment and congestion.

Also on the show:

Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer, and his special connection to Roam Transit
Transit Unplugged TV videographer and director Jaime Cuadra talks about filming the special episode coming up in June on the Rocky Mountaineer excursion train.

Check out the Transit Unplugged TV episode from Vancouver, the first stop on Paul's look at transportation in Western Canada.

Next week we have Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer and Interim Chief People Officer at LA Metro, talking about getting ready for the 2028 Summer Olympics. And Josh Cohen of Mobility Leadership Advisors on finding the right fit in your career growth.

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

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(00:00) Martin Bean Roam Transit Bow Valley Regional Transit Services

(18:30) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismyer

(20:12) About future Transit Unplugged TV episodes

(25:49) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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

Focusing on Better Customer Experience and Micro Innovation in Transit May 17, 2023

Show notes

This week, we have two intersecting interviews covering customer experience and innovation in transit. We start off with Paul talking with Aaron Weinstein of Transit CX about creating customer experience (CX) programs within transit agencies. We continue with Brandon Bartneck, GM of Edison Manufacturing and Engineering and the host of the Future of Mobility podcast, talking about transit innovation and manufacturing.

Aaron talks about building a customer experience mindset within transit agencies. As Paul notes in the interview, according to APTA, customer experience-customer service is the number one KPI agencies are tracking. It makes sense; you can’t grow ridership and attract new riders if the experience of using transit isn’t enjoyable. Aaron outlines the steps for creating a customer experience program and how journey mapping helps you figure out where your rough spots are--and then fix them.

We move from CX to innovation and manufacturing with Brandon. Edison Manufacturing helps companies produce things at small scale to test and trial. Or things that companies will only need a few of.

Why is this important to innovation? Because right now, as we test and trial new zero and low emissions vehicles or new autonomous vehicles, we need to prove the model before large scale manufacturing is worth the risk. How does this connect with CX? As Brandon talks about with Paul, the coolest scooters, e-bikes, autonomous vehicles, or microtransit options won’t make a difference to mobility or access to transit if the entire experience is connected and seamless throughout the entire journey. Shiny, new innovations won’t get the results people are looking for unless integrated payment solutions, and convenient pickup/drop off options are part of the picture too.

We also hear from Elea Carey with her Messaging Minute, talking about playing the long-game in transit marketing messaging.

Next week on Transit Unplugged we hear from Martin Bean, CEO of Roam Transit in Banff, Alberta. Martin talks about how he’s providing transit solutions not just for his community, but the millions of tourists who come to Banff every year. Paul’s chat with Martin was all part of his tour of Western Canada in April. Want to get a peek? Check out the Transit Unplugged TV episode from Vancouver.

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(00:00) Transit Customer Experience with Aaron Weinstein and Innovation with Brandon Bartneck (01:50) Aaron Weinstein on improving customer experience in transit (15:09) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey (17:21) Interview with Brandon Bartneck host of Future of Mobility and GM of Edison Manufacturing and Engineering (35:27) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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

Announcing Paul’s Newest Book Plus Meeting the Needs of a Growing City in Everett, WA May 10, 2023

Show notes

Tom Hingson knows transit inside and out. Learn how the City of Everett, WA tackling battery-electric range issues with inductive charging. And announcing Paul's newest book--Comfort Food.

We return to Snohomish County this week to the City of Everett (and county seat) to learn about this network within a network from Everett Transit Director Tom Hingson. With a transit career spanning 40 years, Tom has seen it all, from behind the wheel to behind the scenes as a transit leader. Everett is one of the larger cities between the Canadian border and Seattle and is part of Snohomish County--learn more about that transit system from Ric Ilgenfritz--which means Tom needs to help his community not only get around the city but also connect with Community Transit, Sound Transit, and King County Transit. Like all transit systems, Tom is transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet. Everett Transit is using grid-powered battery electric buses for the backbone of his green fleet. Unlike larger systems (like Community Transit surrounding his service area), he doesn't have long runs to manage. He doesn't have to work about range as much as being able to charge buses throughout the day.

Tom is opting for inductive charging below the buses at key transit hubs so buses can run all day and just switch out drivers. This is a big transition for Everett Transit which has traditionally operated with drivers assigned to a bus rather than a route. So the driver returns to the depot at the end of their shift, and another bus goes out. As Everett Transit moves to zero emissions buses, this will move to the more typical model of drivers switching buses mid-route.

But the biggest thing on Tom's mind is growth. Pressed for space, Tom and his team are looking at how or if they could merge with Community Transit to fund growth and grow the network overall. There are a lot of moving pieces, and Tom explains all of them in his conversation with Paul.

Also on the show...

Paul's newest book Comfort Food is out and available on Amazon! Paul talks about how this cookbook came to be--thanks to contributor Mike Bismeyer--and just a few of the recipes from all-star public transportation celebrities from around the world. Paul will be signing his books at conferences all over North America. We'll let you know where he'll be on the show.

We hear from Mike Bismeyer talking about Tom's dedication to doing more than just moving people, but how he works within the larger community and government to make it all happen.

Next week we have two great guests. Aaron Weinstein from Transit CX talks about improving your customer experience (CX) by building a customer experience mindset in your agency. Then Brandon Bartneck talks about how small-scale manufacturing is essential to the experiments and innovation we need in transit today.

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

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(00:00) Tom Hingson and Comfort Food Cookbook (00:21) Interview with Tom Hingson, Director of Everett Transit (21:36) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer (23:20) Announcing Comfort Food (30:25) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged News and Views (32:00) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube

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

Going Green with Hydrogen and Two Books to Level Up Your Leadership May 03, 2023

Show notes

We continue our discussion on the transition to zero emissions with Doran Barnes, CEO of Foothill Transit, and Karl Gnadt, Managing Director of the Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District, talking with Paul about their hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus fleets. Doran currently has the largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in North America with 20 and growing to over thirty in the future. Karl manages one of a few agencies that generates its own hydrogen for its fleet of buses. Together they talk about the challenges and benefits, of electric buses powered by fuel cells.

As both say, battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell have strengths and weaknesses--and there will be a place for both solutions in the future. What's essential is for agencies to talk, plan, coordinate, and share with each other. There isn't going to be a single way or perfect solution that works for everyone, but by working together, we'll reach our zero emissions goals.

In the leadership segment, MV Transportation CIO Jim Haring tells us about two leadership books that have helped him as he's grown as a leader. Radical Candor and the Oz Principle give leaders tools to help care deeply but challenge directly and re-frame what it means to be accountable. In Radical Candor, Jim cites the way to help grow a team isn't just leading with empathy but using that empathy to help people grow and challenging them when they need it. If people aren't challenged and feel safe to dig deeper--even if it means failing--they won't grow. And a team with people who aren't growing will inevitably stagnate.

Which ties right into the Oz Principle. In the book a central tenet is re-framing accountability as what will you do to step up and do what's needed to get the results you want. Is it enough to try, but when circumstances beyond our control get in the way, give up, or do you push that little bit more to get there. Everyone has moments when they look at a situation and say "this just isn't going to work because...", but then if you're accountable, you dust off and think, "fine, well what can I do to get where I need to go..."

Together these books are a powerful way to rethink and reframe how we approach work and leadership.

Also on the show, Elea Carey talks about how to help your message get more attention in her Messaging Minute.

Next week, we come back out to the Pacific Northwest with Tom Hingson Director of Everett Transit and how he's planning for the future of transit in his city.

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

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(00:00) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Fleets and Leadership Lessons (01:18) Feature interview with Doran Barnes and Karl Gnadt on hydrogen fuel cell technology in public transit (23:02) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey (24:35) Business Book Review with Jim Haring CIO of MV Transportation (37:37) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged (38:47) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube

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