Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes:

What will public transit look like in 2022? Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

It's the end of the year and the last episode of Transit Unplugged for 2021.

This is a really special episode with Paul Comfort convening a panel with our producer Tris Hussey, regular contributors Elea Carey and Mike Bismeyer, and a special guest Mike Dukart, Dir. of Sales at TripSpark.

On the show, we talk about what are going to be the hottest trends in 2022, and a little look back at the past year. We hope you enjoy it.

Next week (and next year), we'll have Kevin Quinn the new CEO at TransLink in Vancouver, BC, Canada on the show.

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

Until next week, we hope you've had a wonderful holiday and have a happy New Year.

Best of Transit Unplugged In Depth for 2021 Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to our second special episode of Transit Unplugged, the Best of Transit Unplugged In-Depth.

In this episode, you'll hear excerpts from five of the best interviews this year. You'll hear ...

Anne Graham, National Transport Authority, Ireland (full episode)
Ahmed Bahrozyan, Road and Transport Authority, Dubai, UAE (full episode)
Leslie Richards, SEPTA (full episode)
Nat Ford, Jacksonville Transport Authority (full episode)
Jeremy Yap, Land Transport Authority, Singapore (full episode)

Next week we'll have a special end-of-year panel looking ahead to the biggest trends in public transit for 2022.

If you have comments, questions, or would like to be a guest email anytime at info@transitunplugged.com.

Special Transit Technology Episode: Cybersecurity and transit tech in 2022 Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

Kicking off a trio of special episodes on Transit Unplugged is a transit tech episode with guest host Tris Hussey.

Tris interviews Daniel Saddy, Director of (IT) Architecture at Trapeze about cyber and computer security at transit agencies with real, concrete advice on how agencies can help protect themselves.

Then we have a special technology expert panel with Sebastian Vaitus, VP of Innovation at Vontas, Priyanka Palacholla, Sr. Director of New Product Initiatives at Vontas, Tyler Dvorak, Product Director Mobility Planning at Trapeze, and Sabrina Blais, Product Manager for Safety at Trapeze talking about what they think will be the hottest transit tech trends next year.

Next week we'll have a special Best of 2021 episode and the last episode of the year will be a special panel looking at the future of transit joining Paul and Tris.

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

Innovation, growth, and expansion in Singapore with Lee Ling Wee Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

Paul returns to the island nation of Singapore to chat with Mr. Lee Ling Wee, Deputy Group CEO and President, International, SMRT Corporation. Like his earlier interview with Jeremy Yap earlier this year, the conversation focuses on how Singapore and SMRT are innovating and pushing towards a low/no emissions future.

Paul sets the stage for the interview with Trapeze General Manager for the ASEAN region Frank Hesse. Frank makes his home in Kuala Lumpur and offers great context into public transit in the entire Southeast Asian region.

Next week on Transit Unplugged, we'll have a special transit technology episode with a look at cybersecurity and a panel of experts on what the tech trends will be in 2022.

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

On Demand Microtransit taking off in Sarasota, Florida Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

In our final episode from APTA EXPO 2021, Paul chats with Jane Grogg, Director of Sarasota County Area Transit.

If there was one singular thing that is the hallmark of the post-COVID transit world, it's on-demand microtransit. Jane Grogg replaced fixed routes that had lower ridership and replaced them with on-demand microtransit.

And it's been a smashing success!

Typically these low ridership fixed routes also tend to have big headways (30 minutes or more between buses), which means people aren't really excited about taking transit when almost anything else would be faster.

But replace that fixed route with flexible and adaptable on-demand and people see how convenient it is to leave their car at home and take transit.

Listen to this super interview with Jane, plus Elea Carey and Mike Bismeyer give us their insights this week.

To wrap the show, Paul gives you a peek behind the curtain at what we have coming up over the next three months.

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

Transit Leaders Panel: 5 of the most powerful women in transit today Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

Update: An audio issue kept one of the panelists from being heard. We've pushed out an updated audio track.

In the second of three APTA EXPO special episodes, this week it's the highlight of the week--the special panel of the 5 top women leading transit today.

Nadine Lee (CEO, Dallas DART), Leslie Richards (CEO, SEPTA), Lauren Skiver (CEO, SunLine Transit), MJ Maynard (CEO, RTC SNV), and Bacarra Sanderson Mauldin (Chief of Staff, MATA Transit) shared the stage and talked about their visions of transit, life as a leader, and career advice for anyone who aspires to step into their shoes.

The audience around the Trapeze-Vontas booth was in rapt attention for the entire panel, and now you can too.

This episode will also air as the third episode of Transit Unplugged TV in 2022.

Live from APTA EXPO 2021: It’s electric with Chris Harris and Lauren Cochran Scoville Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

Paul and Tris were at APTA EXPO 2021 in Orlando, FL last week and recorded several interviews while they were there.

From "Get to Know the GM" with the heads of Vontas and Trapeze Group and interviews with transit leaders to our amazing panel of amazing women leading transit agencies in the U.S., Paul and Tris covered a lot of ground in a few days.

This week we highlight two of the interviews from those three days.

First up is Chris Harris, Associate Director of Transportation at Auburn University in Alabama talking with Paul about running a transit system for students at the university.

That interview is followed by Tris interviewing Lauren Cochran Scoville, VP of Sales at Proterra, and what agencies need to know before going green with low and no emissions vehicles.

Next week on Transit Unplugged In-Depth we'll have segments from the Women Leaders in Transit Panel recorded live at the Trapeze-Vontas booth.

Visit the full post for complete show notes and a transcript, with links to our new social media profiles on TransitUnplugged.com.

Bringing public transit to a transit desert in the desert–MJ Maynard and RTC of Southern Nevada Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

This week's episode comes to you from Las Vegas, Nevada when Paul visited RTC of Southern Nevada CEO MJ Maynard and her team. These segments are excerpted from the upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episode--the first episode for Transit Unplugged TV.

Also in this episode are Deputy CEOs Francis Julien and David Swallow as well as Antonette Braddock who talks about RTC's new mobile app for their network.

At RTC MJ Maynard and her team are doing great things for their community. They used COVID relief funds to bring service to a public transit desert in the desert with on-demand microtransit, kept essential runs and operators running during the pandemic, and continued their pilot/program with an autonomous vehicle shuttle from downtown to the medical center.

MJ Maynard was also a part of the women leaders in transit panel just held at APTA EXPO 2021 (and a future episode of Transit Unplugged In-Depth and Transit Unplugged TV).

If you have questions, comments, or want to be a guest on Transit Unplugged, email us any time at info@transitunplugged.com.

The three big transit trends, making kindness cool, and more APTA EXPO 2021 events Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to season 5! Kicking off Season 5, Episode 1 we have a chat with Roger Helmy, Director of Product Management at Modaxo. Then Paul talks with regular contributor Mike Bismeyer about his Kindness is Cool campaign.

We hear from Elea Carey on how to keep your messaging relevant and top of mind for riders.

And finally, Paul and Tris talk about everything going on at APTA EXPO 2021.

Paul will be at the Trapeze-Vontas booth (booth 353) talking with GMs Teresa Domingo and Peter Aczel from 11-12:30 on Monday. We'll be taping a live Transit Unplugged segment at the Tripspark booth (booth 769) at 1:30.

Tuesday is the big day with the live CEO roundtable at 11:30 then Cocktails with Comfort at 3:00 where we celebrate 4 years of Transit Unplugged and show the Transit Unplugged TV teaser.

You can learn more about what's on tap at APTA EXPO 2021 on the Trapeze-Vontas APTA EXPO 2021 event page.

Links mentioned in the post:

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

Multi-modal solutions, advanced ticketing, and loyalty programs: Innovation from Africa and the Middle East Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

This week's show is an edited re-broadcast of the UITP and Trapeze-sponsored Connected Journeys webinar from earlier this summer.

Paul leads a discussion with:

Abimbola Akinajo, CEO, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)
Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
Djan Fanny, Director of Operations, AMUGA

About what they are doing to promote public transit and develop more integrated, connected journeys in their cities.

This episode brings home how, around the world, all transit agencies face the same challenges getting people to choose transit over private cars. The innovations the panelists are bringing in--like loyalty card programs and autonomous taxis--are truly innovative tools we all need to take note of.

Next week on Transit Unplugged, Paul talks with frequent contributor Mike Bismeyer about his Kindness is Cool campaign and his recent CUTA award. Then Paul will talk with Modaxo's Roger Helmy about innovations in transit and what their vision of the future of transit is.

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

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