Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes:

How Autonomous Vehicles Are Fitting into the Bigger Public Transit Landscape Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

This is a very special Transit Unplugged News and Views. This week we not only hear from Katrina Heineking and W.C. Pihl from Transdev about autonomous vehicles, but Paul reveals all the things going on at APTA EXPO in a few weeks.

In the news segment, Paul gives you all the details on what's going on with Transit Unplugged, Transit Unplugged TV, and the other places you can find him at APTA EXPO. If you'd like to stay in the loop about everything that's going on, and get reminders when events are happening, sign up for updates on the Trapeze APTA EXPO microsite.

Next, we hear from Katrina and W.C. about everything Transdev is doing with Waymo in the autonomous vehicle space.

Finally we hear from Mike about mentorship. Mentorship is one of the most fulfilling things you can do in your career. If you have the chance to do it, take it.

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

Full transcript for this episode is available on TransitUnplugged.com.

Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit Is Coming Back Strong with New Innovations Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

Paul travelled to Nashville, TN to talk with Nashville MTA CEO Steve Bland and his leadership team about all the improvements and innovations they've done in the past year. From safety to route planning to stations and stops, there is little that they haven't improved on.

Which is, of course, music to our ears.

This episode was also filmed for an upcoming episode of Transit Unplugged TV.

People you will hear:

Steve Bland, Nashville MTA CEO
Approaches to COVID Response and Workplace Safety – Nick Oldham
Better Bus and Service Restoration Reshuffling – Felix Castrodad and Katie Freudberg
Stop Improvement Program and the Nolensville Pike Bike/Transit Corridor – Trey Walker and Lydia Benda
Transit Signal Priority and our Emerging Headway Management System in the Charlotte Corridor – Dan Freudberg & Lydia Benda
WeGo Link – Dan Freudberg
Telling our Story and Getting Riders Back – Renuka Christoph

Next week we're getting behind the wheel of micro transit with Waymo and Transdev.

How transit agencies in New Mexico came together and weathered the pandemic storm Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

One of the biggest challenges at transit agencies during the pandemic has been making sure there was enough money to stay in operation. In New Mexico, the Department of Transportation took a unique approach that underscores the spirit of cooperation we found throughout the transit industry.

They funded the operating expenses for the 21 transit agencies in the state and were able to do that because the three largest agencies in the state agreed to forego their share of federal funding to help the other 18 agencies.

David Harris, Director of Transit and Rail Division in the New Mexico Department of Transportation tells Paul how this unique funding plan came together and how his state of 2 million people is connected by bus and rail.

Next week we have a special episode from Nashville, Tennesee and hear from not just the head of the agency, but his executive team as well. The interviews from the episode will also air as one of the upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episodes, along with extra behind-the-scenes footage of the agency and the city.

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

Until next week, ride safe and ride happy.

Four Inspiring Women Leading the Way in Australia Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

As a woman in transit and the tech industry, it’s not every day that you get to see female leaders in transit share how they got to where they are today and the hurdles they had to overcome to do so. Transit has traditionally been a male-dominated industry; and years ago, it would’ve been rare to see a female CEO rise up the ranks.

It’s inspiring that that’s no longer the case.

On today’s episode of Transit Unplugged, we put together more than just an interview with one female transit leader – for the first time ever, we brought together an all-female panel from leaders on transit in the land down under, to talk about their journeys, share career advice, and learn from their inspiring stories.

Four years ago, I was one of the individuals behind the scenes that worked with Paul Comfort to create the Transit Unplugged podcast. To witness the evolution of where we started to where we are today encourages me to continue to shoot for the stars and shows me the power of female leadership in such an important industry.

That’s why this note might sound a little different than our other show notes. Normally they’re written by our producer, Tris Hussey, but for today’s all-female show, I decided to peek out from behind the curtain and share a few words about what episodes like this, and stories like these, mean to a young female and dare-I-say leader in transit.

I hope you enjoy the episode and share it – more people need to hear these stories.

Now, I’ll head back behind the scenes!

Vicky Abihsira, Director of Integrated Marketing, Trapeze Group

This week's guests are:

Magda Robertson, General Manager, Torrens Connect
Catherine Baxter, COO Metro Trains
Samantha Abeydeera, Executive Director Strategic Operations, Transport for New South Wales
Michelle Batsas, Executive Director, UITP, Australia and New Zealand who also hosts the Women Who Move Nations podcast

Next week on Transit Unplugged News and Views we have David Harris Director of Transport and Rail for the Department of Transportation in New Mexico.

If you want to get in touch with the show, be a guest, or have feedback, you can email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Going truly zero-emissions in Champaign-Urbana, Karl Gnadt on deploying hydrogen fuel cell buses Sep 22, 2021

Show notes

More and more agencies are going green and reducing their carbon emissions. There are lots of ways to get there, but one that isn't talked about often is hydrogen fuel cell electric buses.

Karl Gnadt of Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District is serious about going zero emissions. And truly zero emissions. In October his agency will open its solar-powered hydrogen generating and fueling complex and deploy its first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. Making this deployment truly zero emissions. No fossil fuels will be burned to power these buses. A truly fantastic achievement.

Paul, of course, has his usual transit industry news update and at the end of the show, he reveals some exciting changes coming to the show.

If you have feedback, comments, or like to be on the show, just drop us a line at info@transitunplugged.com.

Julien Dehornoy of Yarra Trams on the Challenge of Updating an Iconic Tram System Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

Julien Dehornoy, CEO of Yarra Trams, is responsible for the iconic Melbourne streetcar tram system. This is storied tram system has run continuously since 1884 and is the longest light rail system in the world.

Which is a blessing and a curse.

Julien wants to modernize the tram system to make it more efficient, more nimble, more accessible, and faster. But that's easier said than done when you're working with legacy systems.

In this episode, you'll hear about Julien's vision for the future of the tram system and for public transport as a whole in Melbourne.

Next week on Transit Unplugged News and Views we head to Illinois and learn about the hydrogen generating and refueling complex at Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District. Hope you'll tune in.

Feedback? Questions? Want to be a guest on the show? Email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

David Bruffy and Mountain Line Transit Giving People What They’re Asking For: More Transit Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

It's not often you get the results of a customer survey and the results clearly say, "we think you're doing great, can you do more of it please?". But that's what David Bruffy of Mountain Line Transit in Morgantown, West Virginia found when he got feedback from his community.

And while his plans for helping his community, including microtransit and helping the unbanked in a universal fare program, are important, just as important is what he does to recharge. David runs Smoke n Mirrors Photography as a side business/passion project that helps him stay grounded and use both sides of his brain.

It's important, as Mike Bismeyer will tell you in his Mike's Minute segment, to have those things to connect you with others. Especially now we need to have ways to connect and see the bigger world around us.

Speaking of survey's Elea Carey gives some great advice for using open and close-ended questions in surveys. Both types are essential to getting a complete picture of what people are really thinking.

Next week on Transit Unplugged In-Depth Julien Dehornoy of Yarra Trams is talking with Paul about light rail.

We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at info@transitunplugged.com with comments, questions, or if you'd like to be a guest.

Until next week, ride safe and ride happy.

Josh Baker on Relaunching DASH and Untangling the Spaghetti Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

Imagine starting your transit career as a driver when you were nineteen and then going on to launch an entirely new transit service for one agency and now at the helm to launch a revamped service for an up-and-coming transit agency.

This is what Josh Baker of DASH (Alexandria Transit) has done in his career thus far with more great plans on the way.

This is one of those "wow, that's amazing" interviews from a person who has done and tried almost everything there is to do in transit.

Josh and Paul also reflect on how traffic patterns have changed in the Washington DC Metro area and how transit needs to--and will--adapt to these changes.

Next week we hear from David Bruffy of Mountain Line Transit in West Virginia on what his community says it needs in a transit system and how David is making that a reality.

What’s data got to do with it? To do transit right, everything. Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

This week on Transit Tech, Tris interviews Tyler Dvorak of Trapeze and Terry Bills of Esri about the how and why of using data at your agency. Combining data sets, especially spatial and demographic data, gives transit agencies tremendous decision making power. Learn why the agencies who most effectively use data to learn about customers and make decisions are also the agencies who are most successful at delivering services to those customers.

In her Messaging Minute, Elea Carey talks back to school communications strategies to get kids back on transit.

And in Paul's transit industry news, he covers the results of an Imperial College of London study on COVID in transit.

Plus more news from around the transit industry.

Special Panel Discussion: What the U.S. Infrastructure Bill Means for Transit Agencies Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

This episode of Transit Unplugged In-Depth comes from the SUN Conference in Missoula, Montana.

Paul sat down with Scott Bogren of CTAA, Ed Redfern of The Bus Coalition, Rich Sampson of SWATA, and Elea Carey to talk about the massive infrastructure bill that just passed the U.S. Senate.

In this very special episode, Paul and the guests dive into why this bill could be a historic, watershed moment for public transit in the U.S. The pandemic opened eyes at all levels of government that public transit isn't just a local issue, it's a national imperative. The ramifications of this five-year investment in transit infrastructure allow transit agencies to create, as Ed Redfern said, "Not your grandma's or parent's transit system anymore."

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected