In our final regular episode of Transit Unplugged for 2023 we have Paul Skoutelas, President & CEO of APTA, and Petra Mollet, VP of Strategic International Programs at APTA talking with Paul about the year that was in 2023 and what we should be looking forward to in 2024.The boost in infrastructure funding was, of course, the big news of the year, but it's somewhat overshadowed by ongoing funding issues at many agencies across North America.But it's not all bad, because Taylor Swift's Eras Tour introduced a whole new audience to transit this year. In city after city, the Eras Tour triggered massive transit use to get to the concerts.Heading into 2024, everyone is optimistic that we're finally shaking off the focus on ridership numbers and moving towards what is the service we're offering, and are we serving everyone we should?Before we completely close out the year, we have a very special episode. We've traded episodes with the Talking Headways podcast and bringing you a special episode on the philosophy of planning our cities to be more accessible and inclusive. Learn more at https://theoverheadwire.com/.We kick off the New Year with Rep. Earl Blumeneaur talking about his over fifty years of public service and his life-long advocacy for better transit.If you have a question or comment email us at [email protected]:00 Year end wrap up with Paul Skoutelas and Petra Mollet00:02 Introduction and Guest Overview00:50 Reflecting on the Success of Transit Unplugged in 202303:00 Discussion with APTA Leaders: Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Ahead to 202403:52 Insights from Paul Skoutelas on APTA and Public Transit05:47 Discussion on Public and Private Sector Collaboration07:26 Challenges and Successes in Public Transit in 202315:06 International Perspectives on Public Transit15:17 Insights from International Study Missions19:50 Looking Ahead: Trends and Predictions for 202426:53 Closing Remarks27:51 Coming up next on Transit Unplugged

Welcome to the penultimate episode of Transit Unplugged for 2023! This week we wrap our series recorded at the CUTA conference in Edmonton with an interview with Arthur Nicolet, CEO of Transdev Canada (https://www.transdev.ca/en/).Paul and Arthur not only talk about contracting in Canada, but pairing with the episode featuring Transdev US CEO Laura Hendricks, talk about the role of contracting around the world. Contracting seems to naturally pair with public-private partnerships (P3s) and Arthur talks about the benefits for all sides when agencies and private contractors are free to find the best solution to solve the problem at hand, not the solution people initially thought would be the right one.Paul and Arthur wrap the conversation with a look at ahead to 2024 and the role of AI in transit--one of our favorite topics here on Transit Unplugged.Next week in the final episode of 2023, we have Paul Skoutelas and Petra Mollet of APTA looking back at the year and ahead to what's to come.And we're going to have a special bonus episode coming out December 29th, so stay tuned for that.If you have a question or comment, you can reach us at [email protected]:00 Introduction to this episode by Paul Comfort01:48 Introduction and Background of Transdev Canada04:37 Understanding Public-Private Partnerships09:58 The Role of Contractors in Public Transit15:50 Future Trends in Public Transit23:19 The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Public Transit26:01 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Will battery electric buses work in the northern-most large city in North America? This week on Transit Unplugged, we continue our series from the CUTA conference in Edmonton, AB. Edmonton has been leading the way in transit for 20 years. The first city in Canada to have LRT and now the first city to have a hydrogen fuel cell bus in active service. So what's next?Deputy City Manager--and former head of the Edmonton Transit System--Eddie Robar talks about plans to make oil-rich Alberta the hydrogen capital of Canada. Then we get a tour of Canada's largest electric bus garage with current head of Edmonton Transit (https://www.edmonton.ca/edmonton-transit-system-ets), Carrie Hotton-MacDonald. Carrie takes Paul for a tour of the Kathleen Andrews bus garage with modern amenities for drivers and advanced charging for their battery electric fleet.And if you liked this audio tour, you'll love Transit Unplugged TV this month featuring Edmonton! The episode premiers December 14.Coming up next week, we have a special chat with Arthur Nicolet CEO of Transdev Canada to talk about contracting in Canada and what the biggest trends in transit are.Speaking of transit trends, our final episode of the year airs December 27th featuring Paul Skoutelas, CEO of APTA and Petra Mollet VP of Strategy and International Programs at APTA looking back at transit in 2023 and ahead to what will shape transit in 2024.We'll have a special bonus holiday episode we think you'll really enjoy from another transit podcast. Stay tuned for that!Questions? Email: [email protected]:00 Is the great hydrogen pivot coming to transit in 2024?00:00 Introduction to Edmonton's Transit Innovations01:39 Edmonton's Transition to Alternate Fuels02:38 Edmonton's Electrification Journey05:24 Inside Edmonton's Hydrogen Powered Buses09:11 Career Pathways in Public Transportation11:33 ThinkTransit Registration is open!13:05 Interview with Carrie Hotton-MacDonald, Head of Edmonton Transit13:16 In the Kathleen Andrews Bus Garage14:32 Dispatch area14:56 Operator Lounge15:24 In the garage--charging infrastructure16:13 How buses are charged17:28 Inside an electric bus19:12 Dealing with the cold and scale of the garage23:15 Edmonton's New LRT Line and Future Plans25:18 Outside the bus garage

This week we have the first of three episodes recorded during the CUTA (Canadian Urban Transit Association) Annual Fall Conference. In this first episode, Paul first sits down with the President and CEO of CUTA, Marco D’Angelo talking about housing policy, and later with regular contributor Mike Bismeyer, talking about how Mike started his life-long kindness advocacy.Paul and Marco talk about CUTA’s recent report on the housing affordability crisis in Canada https://cutaactu.ca/cuta-report-highlight-how-public-transit-can-help-tackle-canadas-housing-crisis/. Marco talks about some of the recommendations in the report, but more importantly, he advocates for evolving the role of transit in planning and housing to be more active and collaborative at all levels of government.In the second half of the show, Mike Bismeyer and Paul talk about how Mike’s experience being bullied as a kid turned into his life-long advocacy for kindness and mentorship.Next week on the show, we learn about Edmonton Transit’s new hydrogen-powered bus with Eddie Robar and Carrie Hotten MacDonald.If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]:00 Introduction01:28 Discussion on the CUTA Conference and Housing in Canada04:07 Insights on the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)04:32 Exploring the Housing Affordability Crisis in Canada08:29 Recommendations from the Housing Study15:51 Interview with Mike Bismeyer on Kindness and Mentorship21:21 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

This week we’re staying in Phoenix and picking up where we left off last week. Paul talks with current Valley Metro (https://www.valleymetro.org/) CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller about the light rail expansion, but more than that, Jessica talks about how Valley Metro keeps its cool in the scorching summer heat.You would not believe the amount of air conditioning needed for each light rail train. Small hint, it’s more than a house or two.While riding the LRT and streetcars Paul and Jessica talk about how Valley Metro is helping businesses deal with construction and how Artsline brings art to the community while taking transit.As a special feature, Paul talks with Ryan Johnson, CEO of Culdesac, about this car-free planned community outside of Tempe—with its own light rail stop!Valley Metro and Phoenix will be the stars of the show on Transit Unplugged TV in January. Make sure you subscribe on YouTube you so don’t miss this smokin’ hot episode. https://www.youtube.com/@transitunpluggedNext week on the show we have Marco D’Angelo President and CEO of CUTA (Canadian Urban Transit Association) and regular contributor Mike Bismeyer with interviews recorded at the recent CUTA conference held in Edmonton, AB.Question or comment? Email us at [email protected]:00 Beating the heat at Valley Metro01:26 Introduction to Valley Metro Light Rail02:01 Addressing Construction Impact on Local Businesses03:00 Exploring the Valley Metro System and its Expansion04:15 Adapting to Post-Pandemic Ridership Patterns and Heat Challenges11:57 Exploring Culdesac: A Car-Free Neighborhood18:03 New LRT trains at Valley Metro and the growth of LRT18:51 Artsline: community art across Valley Metro stops and stations20:29 The Future of Valley Metro and Transit in Phoenix22:22 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Usually when people vote on ballot measures about transit, the transit agency and supporters want the measure to pass.Not in Phoenix in 2019.That ballot measure would have literally derailed bringing light rail--any rail--to Phoenix forever. Then Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith rallied support throughout Maricopa County and discovered there was overwhelming support for transit and light rail. So much support that the ballot measure was defeated by a landslide.But we start this episode with a somber anniversary, 60 years ago today John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. In a special segment, Paul and our guest Scott Smith reflect on JFK's legacy and call to service.In our feature interview, Paul Comfort talks with the former CEO of Valley Metro (https://www.valleymetro.org/) Scott Smith about that ballot measure, as well as his time as Mayor of Mesa, AZ, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and his run for Governor of Arizona.Paul and Scott talk about the massive investment in light rail in Phoenix and how it ties into the rest of the transit system run by Valley Metro. Scott gives his vision for what LRT means to communities and how rising costs hamper transit projects across North America.Next week we stay in Phoenix with an interview with the current CEO of Valley Metro, Jessica Mefford-Miller to bring us up to speed on the LRT project and a unique car-free community outside Tempe, AZ.We wrap this episode with Elea Carey and our editor Tris Hussey talking about practical tips for agencies facing tough ballot measures in the future.If you have a question or comment you can email us at [email protected]:00 Introduction from host and producer Paul Comfort00:54 Remembering JFK and the Call to Public Service01:24 Reflecting on the legacy of John F. Kennedy and the call to public service05:19 Interview with Scott Smith, former CEO of Valley Metro in Phoenix, AZ05:19 Scott Smith's Journey into Public Service08:37 The Challenges and Triumphs of Building Light Rail in Phoenix13:34 The Referendum Battle and the Future of Light Rail22:05 Reflections on the Transit Industry and Future Perspectives26:02 Marketing minute with Elea Carey and Transit Unplugged Editor, Tris Hussey30:42 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort interviews Adam Hill, Editor in Chief of ITS International Magazine. They discuss the challenges and prospects of high-speed rail in England and the US, including the various political and logistical issues. Adam explains London's new Ultra Low Emission Zone, designed to encourage public transit use and discusses the struggles with its introduction. They explore how public transit can be made popular, touching on how to capture public interest and cater to convenience for the users. Paul and Adam wrap up the episode discussing the impacts of congestion charging and low emissions zones in encouraging public transit use.In Mike's Minute, Mike Bismeyer reports from the CUTA Meeting in Edmonton about the Youth Leadership Summit and his work mentoring future transit leaders.Coming up next week we have Scott Smith, former CEO of Valley Metro reflecting on transit and leadership.If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]:00 Introduction and Introducing Adam Hill01:21 Adam Hill's Background and Role at ITS International Magazine02:38 Challenges and Developments in High Speed Rail17:03 Exploring the Impact of ULEZ in London21:37 Political Implications of ULEZ and Public Transit26:21 Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer28:04 Coming up next week on the show

This week, we give you Part 2 of our special CEO roundtable recorded live at APTA TRANSform Conference and EXPO. The conversation picks up with host and producer Paul Comfort asking the panel what are the big projects they have going on. From Dave Dech's trash clearing to Coree Cuff Lonergan's just culture, each CEO highlights an essential aspect of public transit today.The discussion continues with each CEO talking about the biggest trends facing the industry, including payments, apps, transit-oriented development, and providing a better experience for customers.Make sure you listen to the whole episode with Dave Dech from TriRail, Coree Cuff Lonergan from Broward County Transit, Dottie Watkins from CapMetro in Austin, Tiffany Homler Hawkins from LYNX in Orlando, and Frank White from KCATA in Kansas City.After the CEO Roundtable, Elea Carey has some concrete tips for connecting with employees to help towards what Coree would call a "just culture".We're not done with Orlando yet! This week on Transit Unplugged TV we're featuring Orlando, LYNX, and Brightline Trains! Make sure you check us out on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@transitunpluggedHere is a direct link to the Orlando episode now out https://youtu.be/0E0rtccMjCw?si=wEN85Gn3L9g892QwNext week on the show we have Adam Hill, Editor-in-Chief of ITS International Magazine https://www.itsinternational.com/, talking with Paul about high speed rail and the complexities of lowering emissions from passenger vehicles.If you have a question or comment email [email protected] Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, Passionate About Moving the World's People.00:00 Introduction and Transition to Projects01:06 Dave's Project: Cleaning Up the Tracks02:48 Dottie's Project: New Station Construction06:24 Tiffany's Project: Contactless Fare Payment08:50 Frank's Project: Transit-Oriented Developments11:18 Coree's Project: Creating a Just Culture14:15 Future Technology in Transit22:27 Best Things Happening at Agencies28:40 Marketing Minute with Elea Carey28:40 What's coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Welcome to our 6th anniversary and the start of season 7 of Transit Unplugged. Host Paul Comfort has a special opening reflecting on the past 270+ episodes so far and what lies ahead down the road. In our interview this week, we have Randy Clarke, GM and CEO of WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) https://www.wmata.com/, chatting with Paul from his new LEED Platinum office building.In his first year as CEO, Randy has:fixed safety issues with his trainsimproved frequencyincreased ridershipreduced fare evasionworked to reduce crime on the systemand begun an ambitious project to update the Metro bus routesBy any accounts, a successful first year on the job, but...But WMATA faces a looming budget shortfall larger than many agencies' entire budget. Learn how he's approaching the crisis and what he's doing to protect service levels and his people.After the interview, regular contributor Mike Bismeyer reflects on Randy's leadership and everything else he does across the transit industry.Coming up next week we have part 2 of our special new CEO roundtable recorded live at APTA TRANSform Conference and EXPO. In part two you'll hear about the projects they have on the go, what new technologies they have their eyes on, and what they want to celebrate at their agency.If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected] Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, Passionate About Moving the World's People.Randy Clarke Has Boosted WMATA, But a Budget Crisis Looms00:00 Introduction and Reflection on the Sixth Anniversary of the Transit Unplugged Podcast01:09 Interview with Randy Clarke, GM of WMATA: Leading a Major Transit Agency and Facing Looming Challenges02:07 Randy Clarke's Journey as CEO of WMATA03:04 Challenges and Achievements at WMATA05:58 Addressing the Fiscal Crisis in WMATA10:09 Dealing with the Fiscal Cliff, Funding, and Budgets17:09 Fighting Fare Evasion and Supporting Low Income Riders19:21 Delivering a Bus Route Optimization Project in Only a Year21:35 Efforts to Curb Crime in the Transit System25:48 What Randy Enjoys Most About His Job30:16 Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer: Reflection on Leadership and Mentorship32:12 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

What's it like being the CEO of a transit agency? Paul Comfort asked a panel of five CEOs who've been on the job for about a year what it's been like, what's surprised them the most, and why they love working in transit.Listen to this lively and engaging panel featuring Coree Cuff Lonergan, GM of Broward County Transit, Dave Dech, Executive Dir of Tri-Rail, Dottie Watkins, CEO of CapMetro, Frank White III, CEO of KCATA, and Tiffany Homler Hawkins, CEO of LYNX where they candidly share their experiences, surprises, and insights about leading a transit agency.They discuss how their work impacts the lives of their customers and what it means to them personally. They touch on all the things CEOs have to think about, plus some things you might not have thought about. It's a fascinating roundtable that showcases the passion and dedication of these transit leaders.Also on the show in Elea Carey's Marketing Minute, Elea gives you practical tips for improving internal communications at your agency.Next week is our sixth anniversary and the start of season seven! We kick off season 7 episode 1 (and our 278th episode) with Randy Clarke, CEO of WMATA. Randy talks about his first year on the job, what's gone well, what hasn't, and what a looming fiscal cliff means for his agency, his people, and riders.If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]:00 APTA CEO Roundtable Stories from New CEOs00:00 Making an impact on people's lives00:45 About this episode from your host Paul Comfort01:33 Discussion with five new Transit CEOs recorded live at APTA TRANSform Conference and EXPO32:41 Marketing Minute with Elea Carey35:05 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged--Season 6 : Episode 52Links for this show:American Public Transportation AssociationTri Rail | South Florida Regional Transportation AuthorityLYNX Public Transportation in Orange, Seminole & OsceolaCapMetro – Austin Public TransitBroward County TransitKansas City Regional Transit RideKCCopyright: Modaxo 2024

This week Paul Chats with Carl Sedoryk, CEO of Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) https://mst.org/ , about his jazz-themed BRT line, applying their new vision statement to serve the people who need transit the most better, and how his practice of martial arts makes him a better leader.Monterey-Salinas Transit is in an interesting place, geographically and within the larger transit industry. Nestled on the Pacific coast and the Salinas Valley, Carl serves a unique community from tourists to farm workers. Carl and MST approach serving the community with their new vision statement as a guidepost: Connecting communities, creating opportunities, and being kind to the planet. Everything they do must check one of those three boxes (and hopefully more). From planning for zero emissions to adjusting routes to serve areas with high unemployment/low car ownership, Carl are changing how their system works.Throughout this is an internal guide for Carl: his decades-long practice of martial arts. Hear what values he brings from his practice and how it helps him lead his agency.Mike Bismeyer connects with kindness in MST's vision and then reflects on the recent APTA Transform Conference and EXPO. How he saw examples everywhere of people and leaders sharing and mentoring others.Next week on the show we have an episode recorded live at APTA. It's a new CEO panel with Coree Cuff Lonergan, Dave Dech, Dottie Watkins, Frank White, and Tiffany Homler Hawkins reflecting on their first year as CEO at a major transit agency.Questions/comments: [email protected] Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo. Passionate about moving the world's people.Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Carl Sedoryk Putting Riders and the Planet First(00:02) Does the project match our mission and vision(20:33) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer(22:12) What's coming up next week on Transit UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.6 :51Monterey-Salinas Transit - Learn more about this unique transit district and its jazz-themed BRT line.Modaxo 2024

This week we focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public transit with Eve Machol, Director of Aviation and Transportation Strategy at Microsoft, and Renee Autumn Ray, Senior Director of Transportation Policy at Hayden AI https://www.hayden.ai/. As both our guests point out, AI in transit isn't new; we've been using AI for years, but with recent attention on generative AI tools like ChatGPT, AI is the hot topic on everyone's minds.Eve and Renee talk with Paul and our Producer/Editor Tris Hussey about how transit agencies are already using AI, addressing concerns about using AI at your agency, and what's on the horizon for AI in the short, medium, and long term. From more dynamic route planning to predictive maintenance, traffic control to autonomous vehicles, AI is set to be the next game changing innovation in public transit.We hear from Elea Carey on how to leverage the media to communicate new programs or changes--like AI projects--to the public. It's not easy to get your message out with the right tone and angle, Elea gives you tips on leveraging owned and earned media to get the word out.Next week on the show we have Carl Sedoryk, CEO of the Monterey-Salinas Transit agency, talking about how his martial arts practice makes him a better leader and what's being done to connect more people to more opportunities in his community.If you have a question, email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) AI in Public Transit Past, Present, and Future (audio)(00:03) Eve Michol -- AI is not new(00:20) The future of AI in Public Transit with Eve Michol and Renee Autumn Ray(29:55) Marketing Minute with Elea Carey(31:45) Coming up next week on Transit UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week Paul talks with Laura Hendricks, CEO of Transdev US https://transdevna.com/ , about her career starting as a driver at FedEx, Trandev's global expertise transitioning to zero emissions, and how Transdev combined with First Transit brings more cohesive transit solutions to transit agencies.As the largest private transportation contractor in the world, Transdev is uniquely positioned to apply its global expertise to a wide range of transit needs and challenges. From zero emissions to schools to paratransit, Transdev covers the gamut of needs for communities. And Laura takes the responsibility to build and support a robust transit infrastructure seriously. Laura refers to her leadership role at Transdev as her legacy project--something her children and grandchildren can look on and see her positive impact on the world.Tune in for this amazing interview with one of the world's great transit leaders.In our Mike's Minute segment, Mike Bismeyer reflects on Laura's words and connects them to the CUTA Fall Conference and Young Leaders Summit. Mike zeros in on the importance of mentors and flexibility in your career. You never know just where transit will take you in your career. Listen to Mike's advice in his segment.Next week on the show, we're bringing you a special in-depth look at AI in public transit. Paul and producer/editor Tris Hussey are joined by guests Eve Machol of Microsoft and Renee Autumn Ray of Hayden AI to talk about how AI is changing all facets of how public transit is delivered today and what the future holds in this space.Question or comment? Email us at [email protected] Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world's people.Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Laura Hendricks, CEO Transdev US(00:03) Learning and earning your way into leadership(00:24) Interview with Laura Hendricks, CEO of Transdev U.S.(32:47) Mike's Minute(34:43) Coming up next week on Transit UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week join Paul in conversation with Diana Kotler, CEO of the Anaheim Transit Network https://rideart.org/. Recorded live at APTA Tech earlier this summer, Paul and Diana connect transit, tech, and people in this engaging interview.Diana runs a very unique transit system. It's funded by businesses, but all Anaheim residents and people who work in Anaheim ride for free. Tourists coming to visit the city pay a small fare to ride all day on a completely cashless system. And the goal of the system has always been to support the community and reduce congestion in the city.And, they've been running electric buses for 20 years, AKA, before they were cool.Listen to the whole conversation and learn how the agency was started and their plans to support the tourist industry.Also on the show Elea Carey and our producer/editor Tris Hussey share their ideas for how agencies can help tourists use transit when they visit.Next week on the show we have a special interview with Laura Hendricks, CEO of Transdev U.S. Paul and Laura talk about the role of contracting in public transit around the world and how Transdev is using its global experience to move us towards a zero emissions future.If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected] Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo https://www.modaxo.com/ , passionate about moving the world's people.Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Reducing congestion and preserving culture(00:42) Interview with Diana Kotler, CEO of the Anaheim Transit Network(23:31) Marketing Minute with Elea Carey(26:18) Coming up next week on Transit UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week Mike Noland, President and GM of the South Shore Line https://mysouthshoreline.com/, joins Paul to talk about commuter rail in the Midwest. The South Shore Line connects Northwestern Indiana with Chicago. This busy corridor is used by commuters and casual riders heading into the Windy City for work or fun. Mike talks about the South Shore Line, how he's adapting to changing ridership, and his double-tracking project to expand capacity and flexibility on the line.Commuter rail is in a tremendous state of flux right now. Commuters are coming back slowly, but with very different travel habits than they did three years ago. Choice riders, or people who use the train to quickly get between cities, often travel at "off peak" times like midday, evenings, and weekends. Mike talks about what changes and amenities are needed to get more people out of their cars and onto trains.Mike concludes with a discussion about high-speed rail and what's needed to make these a reality in the U.S.We wrap this episode with Mike's Minute with regular contributor Mike Bismeyer reminding us of the value and learning we get from each other as we head into the fall conference season.Next week on the show, we're joined by Diana Kotler, CEO of the Anaheim Transit Network, and how her business-supported transit system gets tourists and the people of Anaheim around the Happiest Place on Earth (West Coast edition).If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected] 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. https://www.modaxo.com/Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Mike Noland, President of the South Shore Line(27:57) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer(29:23) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged Diana Kotler, Anaheim Transit NetworkChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week Paul continues his look back at his time working at Yellow Transportation with the former CEO of Yellow, Veolia, and Transdev, Mark Joseph (now CEO of Mobitas Advisors--https://www.mobitasadvisors.com/).Mark is a true leader and visionary in the transit industry. Mark recounts how he took a failing taxi business and created a business that would be a leader in public transit contracting.Mark reflects on the future of transit, talking about workforce challenges, the opportunities (and pitfalls) of AI, and how we need to look to technology to move the industry forward.In our Marketing Minute, Elea Carey gives some tips for using generative AI tools like ChatGPT to help create more content for your agency's blog.Coming up next week, we have Mike Noland, President and GM of the South Shore Line, talking with Paul about commuter rail connecting Northern Indiana and Chicago, but more importantly, what's really needed to boost inter-city rail in the U.S.If you have a question or want to be a guest on the show, you can email us at [email protected] Unplugged is brought to 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.Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Mark Joseph Mobitas Advisors(00:23) Mark Joseph, CEO Mobitas Advisors(29:44) Marketing Minute with Elea Carey(31:57) What's coming up next week on Transit UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] 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/Enriched by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] 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.Enriched by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] 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) 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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 serviceCommuter railLight railBus 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/PN3WLZPIf you have a question or comment, you can reach us at [email protected] by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] 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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected].

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/PN3WLZPIf you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 TransdevAnjes Tjarks, Minister of Transport in HamburgLaura Shoaf, CEO of the West Midlands Combined AuthorityRuben Leonor, Strategy & Quality Director at RenfePaul 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 [email protected] 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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] 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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected]; we'd love to hear from you.Enriched by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 BlogComing 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 [email protected] by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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.

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 [email protected] 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.Enriched by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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!Enriched by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] 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.Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Conan Cheung COO LA Metrohttps://vzyfm.co/42wGQ81(00:39) Interview with Conan Cheung, COO of LA Metrohttps://vzyfm.co/3qsUsUE(30:40) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyerhttps://vzyfm.co/3tAj8Zy(32:10) Coming up next week on Transit UnpluggedNext week Alex Esposito, Co-founder and CEO of Circuit, and Marinma Dorado, Founder of Mindset Results.Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Plus how to match your strengths to your job with Josh CohenWelcome 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 [email protected] Unplugged is powered by Modaxo. Modaxo is passionate about moving the world's people, and Transit Unplugged is here to tell their stories.Enriched by Vizzy(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 weekChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 TransitTransit 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 [email protected] by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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.Enriched by Vizzy(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 UnpluggedChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] by Vizzy(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 YouTubeChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

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 [email protected] by Vizzy(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 YouTubeChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Welcome to the 250th episode of Transit Unplugged! What a tremendous milestone and we're only just getting started! We have big plans for the show--the podcast and TV--and we know you'll like what we have up our sleeves.This week Paul is in conversation with Community Transit CEO, Ric Ilgenfritz from Snohomish County, WA. Listen as Ric and Paul talk about not only serving the diverse needs of Snohomish County but also the Bus Rapid Transit plans he has put into motion to get people where they want to go quickly and conveniently. Ric uses stable funding from sales taxes to not only increase operational service levels in the community but also fund capital improvements to better serve the community in the future.Snohomish County, north of Seattle, has a service area of 1300 square miles, including urban, suburban, and rural areas and Ric serves commuters heading south, plus a large and diverse community of 650,000 people. He accomplishes this with commuter coach buses, BRT, regular bus service, and paratransit running throughout the county. Because his community is so closely tied to the universities and businesses to the south, Ric works closely with his colleagues at Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Everitt Transit to make sure all the systems are coordinated together, including the expansion of the Sound Transit Light Rail project into Snohomish County. As light rail reaches his service area, Ric will be able to curtail service to Seattle and redeploy those assets to improve frequency and service levels in the rest of the county.Listen to the whole story and how his experience working in Washington D.C. helps him serve his community now.All this plus Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer.Next week on Transit Unplugged, we continue our discussion of the transition to zero emissions transit with Doran Barnes, CEO of Foothill Transit, and Karl Gnadt, Managing Director of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, with more on hydrogen fuel cells. We also get book recommendations from Jim Haring, CIO of MV Transportation in our leadership segment.If you have a question or want to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Ric Ilgenfrtiz CEO Community Transit (00:02) Interview with Ric Ilgenfritz - CEO of Community Transit Learn more about Community Transit on their website https://vzyfm.co/3mK9FPD (27:55) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer https://vzyfm.co/3tAj8Zy (29:29) Coming up next week Doran Barnes, Karl Gnadt, and Jim Haring (30:27) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube https://vzyfm.co/3SB9Bx3Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Recorded live at ThinkTransit in Nashville, this CEO Roundtable brings together four of North America's brightest transit leaders for an in-depth discussion about their lives, careers, and the future of transit in North America. Join Paul in conversation with:Doran Barnes, CEO of Foothill TransitMonica Backmon, CEO of the Northern Virginia Transportation AuthorityErinn Pinkerton, CEO of BC TransitBilly Terry, Executive Director of the National Transit InstituteIn the episode, you'll hear Doran and Erinn talk about their pragmatic approaches to zero emissions and reducing carbon emissions with real solutions any agency can explore. Including diesel options you might not have considered before. There are a lot of diesel buses out there, and that isn't going to change anytime soon, so maybe fueling them with renewable diesel that produces less CO2 is the "yes, and..." in the transition to zero emissions.Monica dives into how she works with a disparate set of stakeholders, balancing the needs of one group versus those of the larger region. Monica also reflects on how important it was to have a mentor when she started as CEO at NVTA; now, she's giving back as a WTS mentor, helping others climb the career ladder.Finally, Billy talks about leadership development and training. NTI provides essential training to transit professionals across North America. While the pandemic forced all of the classes online, this now has become an opportunity for NTI to continue to offer those classes online so they can reach people who aren't able to travel or have an NTI session come to their agency.We'll be hearing more from Doran about hydrogen fuel cell buses on an upcoming episode of Transit Unplugged, as well as leadership segments and, as always, insights from transit leaders on solving today's transit challenges.Next week we have Ric Ilgenfritz, CEO of Community Transit, talking with Paul about serving a diverse community north of Seattle, WA. Ric talks about helping commuters get to Seattle and helping people in his community get around a region with urban, suburban, and rural routes.If you have a question, comment, or want to be a guest on Transit Unplugged, email us at [email protected]. Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Transit Unplugged CEO Roundtable Live at ThinkTransit 2023 (00:10) Welcome and introductions (03:14) Doran Barnes career history and Foothill Transit https://vzyfm.co/43L0M90 (07:32) Monica Backmon on her career and NVTA https://vzyfm.co/3GVk1TP (13:35) Erinn Pinkerton her career and BC Transit https://vzyfm.co/43KQxBC (20:08) Billy Terry and NTI https://vzyfm.co/41kRTkY (25:58) Monica Backmon on working with boards (29:37) Doran Barnes on his customers and zero emissions (35:23) Erinn Pinkerton on low carbon versus zero emissions (39:43) Billy Terry on training leaders (44:07) Round table what's the favorite thing from the past week (51:58) Roundtable future of transit and the industry (55:16) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged Ric Ilgenfritz, CEO of Community Transit, will be Paul's guest next week. https://vzyfm.co/3mK9FPD (56:09) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube https://vzyfm.co/3SB9Bx3Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Singapore is one of the most densely packed cities in the world. Designed to be a "car-light" city, most people rely on public transport to get around. Learn about this fully-integrated and accessible system from Andy Thompson, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Singapore.Paul Comfort and Andy Thompson discuss how Go-Ahead Singapore helps people in Singapore get from place to place with buses, subways, and more. Because so many people rely on public transport, it's essential the entire system be accessible and inclusive. From small placards people without visible disabilities can show to get a seat (a Go-Ahead innovation) to digital wayfinding, Singapore's transport system could be one of the most accessible systems in the world.Andy also talks about his career journey across continents before landing in Singapore to manage Go-Ahead there. This interview gives you a taste of what transit is all about in this island city-state. If you'd like to learn more about Singapore, watch the recent Transit Unplugged TV episode.Also on the show, Mike Bismeyer talks about the recent TripSpark Ignite conference...and the act of kindness that came from the trip.Next week we'll have the live CEO roundtable from ThinkTransit that happened just last week. It's a great conversation from the main stage, unplugged and in-depth.If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Promoting Inclusive Public Transport in Singapore (00:20) Interivew with Andy Thompson, Go-Ahead Singapore (31:10) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer (32:47) Coming up next week the Transit Unplugged Live CEO Roundtable (33:45) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTubeChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week Paul is in conversation with Craig Cipriano and talking about how he put together the plan for New York MTA to transition to zero emissions. We talk a lot about the technology side of the problem. Hydrogen vs battery electric. How to charge batteries. Where is your hydrogen coming from. But what we don't talk about is how agencies need to adapt and change processes, workflows, and even the structure of their organizations to make it happen.The first thing Craig did to attack the problem head on, was to get everyone together--all the stakeholders--and created a new project management office. This office tackled the thorny problems of who would do what and who would have the final say on which decisions. It was the holistic view of the challenge that ensured departmental silos would be broken down and everyone who needed a say--from workforce to facilities, operations to maintenance--had a seat at the table.But some of Craig's best lessons from his conversation with Paul had to do with how he actively managed his career. He took advantage of opportunities. He sought out new things to learn. He got out of the office and into the field to learn more about the entire operation at the MTA. This active approach helped him climb the ladder at the MTA from mechanical engineer to eventually COO.His career advice is a must-listen no matter where you are in your career or what part of transit your work in (or even in transit at all).Also on the show:Paul talks about Andy Byford joining Amtrak and what that means for rail in the U.S.Elea Carey talks about building, protecting, and enhancing your agency's brandPaul reads from his first book Full Throttle on putting people first.Next week on the show, we have Andy Thompson of Go-Ahead Singapore on that city-state's integrated and accessible transit system. If you want to learn more about Singapore and its transit system, watch the episode on Transit Unplugged TV.If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

We often highlight large transit systems on Transit Unplugged, but there are hundreds of smaller transit systems that are just as--maybe even more so--innovative who also provide those critical links in their community. Kendra McGeady, Director of Pelivan Transit, is one of those innovators. Her coverage area is thousands of square miles in Oklahoma, supporting the Cherokee Nation, other tribes in the area, and the wider community as well. Like many rural transit services, Pelivan provides an essential link for people depending on transit to get to work, school, the store, and health care.Kendra also talks about her PICK Transportation pilot that connects people in the region with a more flexible on-demand service than a traditional call-ahead and book system. And while the pilot has been very successful so far, it hasn't been without its challenges. As Kendra relates, in the first few days of the pilot launch, a driver was assaulted, and their brand-new van was stolen. While everything turned out okay, it was a wake-up call for her. After that incident Pelivan added cameras, panic buttons, training, and other safety measures to ensure her drivers--and the community--would feel and be safe on her buses.You can hear Kendra tell the whole story in the episode, and it highlights that the problem of driver assaults in transit isn't a big city problem but a nationwide problem. Kendra was also a guest--like previous guest Noah Berger--on the Preventing Driver Assaults podcast (hosted by Paul and Kristen Joiner) and we encourage you to listen to her episode (episode six) as well as the other episodes in the series.Also on the show, Mike Bismeyer relates his special connection to Oklahoma to his career in transit and how it has shaped his mentorship and kindness journeyNext week, Paul, Tris, and many past guests will be at ThinkTransit in Nashville, TN. If you'd like to join us, there's still time to register. Get all the details on the ThinkTransit website.If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Kendra McGeady - Pelivan Transit (16:59) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer (19:01) Interview with Kendra McGeady, part 2 (25:44) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged (26:24) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTubeChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

We have an info-packed show for you this week. We lead off with Paul in conversation with David Leininger of Leininger Analytics, talking about the current banking crisis and what agencies need to think about. Where David says you have to check for risk isn't where many of you would think! We then move on to Kirt Conrad talking about SARTA  and its fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses--the third largest in the country! Finally, learn about building your emotional intelligence (EQ) from Shair Burgess of UTA. This is another great leadership development segment that will get you thinking about how you approach emotions and feelings at work.This episode highlights the depth and breadth of what we talk about here on Transit Unplugged. Going from the latest news that affects transit, technologies that will shape the future of the industry, and how to become a better leader inside and outside of work. There's nowhere else you'll find experts like these!Also on this episode, Elea Carey asks, how well do you really know your market? Regular market research and assessments are critical to your agency staying in tune with your community.Coming up next week, Kendra McGeady of Pelivan Transit will be Paul's guest on Transit Unplugged In-Depth.If you have a question, comment, or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]. Resources mentioned in Kirt Conrad's episode:National Renewable Energy LaboratoryCALSTARTZero Emissions Bus Resource, AllianceCenter for Transportation and the EnvironmentEnriched by Vizzy(00:00) What the financial crisis means for your agency, hydrogen fuel cells, and EQ (00:18) What's on the show this week (02:15) Interivew with David Leininger founder of Leininger Analytics (13:17) Interview with Kirt Conrad CEO of SARTA (31:56) Elea Cary's Messaging Minute (33:30) Interview with Shari Burgess (53:47) Coming up next week Kendra McGeady (54:28) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube!Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

Noah Berger of the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA or MEVA) has done two amazing things at his agency: he's increased ridership 122% and gone zero fare--even going so far as removing the fareboxes from the buses. And the amazing thing about it is the why. Noah believes if take care of all your riders in general, you'll get more riders overall. He gives the example of accessible buses. They are great for people with disabilities, but they are also great for parents with strollers, people with groceries, and that person who doesn't need a lift, but appreciates having only one step to get on the bus.Noah believes transit needs to be a part of the community, really a part of it. MEVA embraces the people and cultures of his region. He's creating hubs for people to gather and small businesses get attention. He's worked with arts groups to give homes to custom-painted pianos and benches. He's ensuring everything about MEVA is made to get people where they need to go. From route numbers that make sense to route planning that get people to and from the places efficiently Noah is always thinking about his customers.Noah will be part of a first-of-its-kind debate at the Executive Summit during ThinkTransit on zero fares vs fare enforcement. Given his experience and results, it's going to be a good debate. It's not too late to register for the Executive Summit or ThinkTransit. We have all the registration information on the ThinkTransit website.Next week we have Kirt Conrad of STARK talking about hydrogen fuel buses and Shari Burgess in our leadership segment.If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected] the episode page on TransitUnplugged.com to see the pianos, bench, and minibus.Enriched by Vizzy(00:00) Noah Berger Administrator, Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (00:18) Interview with Noah Berger, Administrator of the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority Link to MVRTA below https://vzyfm.co/3kRfqdx (01:10) Preventing Driver Assaults from CTAA Preventing Driver Assaults podcast with Paul Comfort, Noah Berger, Niorka Mendez, and Kristen Joiner https://vzyfm.co/3JCSMPs (13:01) MeVa Paratransit bus (14:25) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer Connect with Mike on LinkedIn! https://vzyfm.co/3tAj8Zy (16:05) Interview with Noah Berger Continues (16:53) Piano 1 (16:59) Piano 2 (17:13) Piano 3 (17:30) Custom bench (34:28) Coming up next week Kirt Conrad and Shari Burgess (35:31) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube https://vzyfm.co/3SB9Bx3Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week we have the companion interview to the Transit Unplugged TV episode from Hawaii, with Jon Nouchi, Deputy Director of the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services. For the first time, Paul doesn't just sit down with our guest; he walks and rides with Jon on the Number 8 electric bus. Jon tells Paul about his department's commitment to preserving the Hawaiian language and culture right down to having bus announcements in English and Hawaiian. While the conversation wanders into pineapples and food, Jon also reflects with Paul on their spirit of innovation as a crossroads of cultures in the middle of the Pacific. More than pretty beaches and volcanoes, Hawaii and its people are creating transit solutions that are uniquely theirs.We continue with retired Navy Command Master Chief and co-founder of Lions Guide, Keith "Flip" Griffin, with leadership lessons especially for people in the crucial middle-management layer. Middle managers are the glue that keeps organizations coordinated and connected, and Flip gives advice for managing up to the executives, down to their people, but also out and ahead to what lies on the horizon. This, and the rest of his advice, is crucial for anyone who wants to move up the ladder, and then what to do once you get there.Also on the show, Elea Carey talks about translating your agency materials into other languages. Google Translate might work okay, but native speakers will give you the edge when trying to really convey your meaning.Next week on Transit Unplugged In-Depth, we have Noah Berger, Administrator at the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, talking about his agency, and some really cool pianos.Tune into Transit Unplugged News and Views wherever you get podcasts, including now YouTube!If you have a question or want to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Jon Nouchi and Keith Griffin (01:12) Interview with Jon Nouchi on the Number 8 Bus https://vzyfm.co/3F3wxQf (13:41) Elea Carey's Messaging Minute https://vzyfm.co/3EhVMyh (15:41) Interivew with Kieth "Flip" Griffin on Leadership https://vzyfm.co/3kXxSkD (29:10) Coming up next week Noah Berger https://vzyfm.co/3kRfqdx (29:46) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged on YouTube https://vzyfm.co/3SB9Bx3Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

We are excited to bring you this special episode of Transit Unplugged with world-renowned speaker and leadership expert Stephen M. R. Covey. In this riveting conversation, Paul and Stephen talk about what it means to lead people, organizations, and ourselves, today.Stephen Covey, already an expert on leadership and leadership development, faced a challenge while merging Franklin Quest and the Covey Leadership Center to form FranklinCovey. People who had been rivals and competitors were now working together and building a new company.And as Stephen tells it, things were not going well.As he studied the problem, Stephen realized the root cause was a lack of trust. Stephen figured out how to help build trust within the company and how that changed everything for the better and turned things around.Inspired by this experience, Stephen wrote the best-selling book Speed of Trust. Then based on that book's success, Stephen wrote Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of the Year by the Outstanding Work of Literature Awards.As Paul and Stephen explore the connections between trust, inspiration, and how we lead people, Stephen talks about how we should change our mindset to leading people and managing things. As Stephen says, people want to be led, not managed. They want to feel trusted in their job and then be able to extend that trust back to the company and its leaders.We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did and share it with others.If you'd like to learn more about Stephen Covey and the Global Trust Practice at FranklinCovey, visit https://www.speedoftrust.com/. And as an extra bonus...you can now find the Transit Unplugged podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@transitunpluggedpodcast!Also on the show, Mike Bismeyer connects Stephen's message of trust and inspiration with kindness and mentorship.Next week our newsmaker interview is with Jon Nouchi, Deputy Director of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu and our leadership segment features Keith Griffin of Lions Guide.If you have a question, comment, or want to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Stephen M. R. Covey This week we have a special episode focused on leadership with world-renowned expert and best-selling author Stephen M. R. Covey. Transit Unplugged is now on YouTube! Subscribe today! https://www.youtube.com/@transitunpluggedpodcast https://vzyfm.co/3Zv8Yr0 (00:22) Interview with Stephen M. R. Covey Learn more about Stephen's work at Speed of Trust https://www.speedoftrust.com/ and FranklinCovey https://www.franklincovey.com/ https://vzyfm.co/3y1ZYOK (13:57) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer Learn more about Mike Bismeyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kindnessiscoolbythebiz/ https://vzyfm.co/3tAj8Zy (15:42) Interview with Stephen M. R. Covey, continued https://vzyfm.co/3y1ZYOK (30:16) Coming up next week Jon Nouchi and Keith Griffin Subscribe to the newsletter to stay in the loop at TransitUnplugged.com https://vzyfm.co/3EbUSmJ (31:06) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube! Subscribe on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@transitunplugged https://vzyfm.co/3SB9Bx3Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week we bring you two fantastic and thoughtful interviews on Transit Unplugged News and Views. First, transit consultant Christian Kent of Transit Management Consulting, LLC, talks with Paul about two essential topics:Delivering paratransit servicesEnsuring our hiring practices are inclusive and welcoming for disabled applicants.Christian talks about how the world of delivering paratransit has changed in the 30-odd years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) first enacted the rules. He believes there are better, faster, and more sustainable ways to deliver paratransit by looking beyond "typical" paratransit solutions and towards solutions like TNC (transportation network companies) and fully accessible transit. Christian then segues into hiring the disabled. We are in critical need of workers, and the unemployment rate among the disabled is still around 70%, but are our hiring practices inclusive? Do disabled applicants feel welcome to apply? Something we all should ask ourselves when it comes to hiring.We then move on to another powerful leadership segment with Shawn Moon, Senior Consultant with FranklinCovey. Shawn is the co-author of Leading Loyalty: Cracking the Code to Customer Devotion and talks with Paul about the four critical facets of leadership and building an engaged team. Shawn continues with the three critical pillars of building loyalty with customers and the people you work with. Leadership and loyalty are intertwined together with what Stephen M. R. Covey will be talking about next week with a special Transit Unplugged In-Depth: leadership and trust.Also in this episode:Paul talks more about the Executive Summit during ThinkTransit and one of the burning issues facing the transit industry: fares. You can read more about the Executive Summit on the Trapeze blog.Elea Carey talks about how to spread the word that a career in transit isn't just all about driving. There are hundreds of careers in public transit from mechanics to marketing, plumbing to planning and more.As mentioned above, our special guest next week is Stephen M. R. Covey co-founder of the Global Trust Practice at FranklinCovey. This powerful episode will have you captivated from the first minute and keep you enthralled for the entire show.If you have a question or want to be a guest on Transit Unplugged email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Christian Kent and Shawn Moon Transit Unplugged News and Views (00:24) Transit News of the Week with Paul Comfort (10:20) Interview with Christian Kent (33:08) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey (34:59) Interview with Shawn Moon (49:37) Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged (50:33) Subscribe to Transit Unplugged TV on YouTubeChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

This week we give you the first of three podcast episodes from Paul's recent Pacific tour that took him from Hawaii to Malaysia to Singapore. We kick things off with the CEO of Sarawak Metro, Ts Mazli Mustaffa. Sarawak Metro is in a unique position where they are tasked with building and expanding public transit in their region--a challenge that always fosters innovation. As you'll hear in Paul's conversation with Mr. Mustaffa, they have a tremendous innovation running in Sarawak: an autonomous, green hydrogen-powered trackless tram that works like light rail, but on wheels. This gives them the ability to flexibly manage the service without needing to worry about tracks or railways.The autonomous rapid transit solution has also had a side benefit as a way to create jobs and technology innovation in the region. From generating green hydrogen to power the fleet to the technology that makes the buses autonomous the Sarawak region is at the cutting edge of these two key technologies.Also in this episode, Mike Bismeyer brings us Mike's Minute reflecting on last week's guest Eulois Cleckley's leadership segment focusing on people and mentoring.Next week we have transit consultant Christian Kent chatting with Paul about recruitment and retention and then we have Shawn Moon of FranklinCovey talking about leadership. Shawn will also be a speaker at the Executive Summit during ThinkTransit.We're very excited to announce our March 1st show will be entirely dedicated to leadership with our very special guest Stephen M R Covey author of Trust and Inspire and Smart Trust. Stay tuned for more about Stephen M R Covey's upcoming episode.Stay tuned for more about Stephen M R Covey's upcoming episode.If you have a question or would like to be a guest on Transit Unplugged, you can email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Ts Mazli Mustaffa, CEO Sarawak Metro (00:30) Interview with Mazli Mustaffa, CEO Sarawak Metro (15:56) Mike's Minute with Mike Bismeyer (18:39) Interview with Ts Mazli Mustaffa, part 2 (25:29) Coming up next week Christian Kent and Shawn Moon (26:14) Attend the Executive Summit at ThinkTransit Learn more at https://www.trapezegroup.com/thinktransit/executive-summit Only $149 and includes access to the entire ThinkTransit conference. https://vzyfm.co/3KctetrChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.

One of the hardest things about transit is getting new technology into production. Something that sounds great, but is just a little on the cutting edge is hard for agencies to practically test and trial. This is where The Partnership for New York City and The Transit Tech Lab come in. Stacey Matlen, VP of Innovation at the Partnership for NYC, talks with Paul about how she's helping technology companies and the region's transit agencies test out new ideas and bring the best into production. Right now they have two competitions going for operational efficiency and human capital and you can learn more about these competitions in the show and on the Transit Tech Lab website.We continue our new leadership series with Eulois Cleckley, Director and CEO of the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works, talking about his formula for helping build leaders and being a leader in his agency. Eulois has been on the show before talking about his vision for transit, now we see how that vision for transit is reflected in his leadership vision. "...Leadership really is about people and it's about the people you serve. And it's also about the staff that comes, works very hard for you every single day. And so if you're not focused on making sure you're preparing and protecting your staff, and you're leading your staff and you're setting a sound vision for them; you're really putting a department in a bad position to not be as effective as what it could be. And then for those employees that are highly talented and could go on to do great things, you're suppressing their ability to do so."Also on the show:Paul tells about the retirement of an industry legend, and three new CEOs taking the helms' of their agencies this month.Elea gives us some ideas for swag that won't just end up being thrown away.Next week on Transit Unplugged we have the first of several interviews from Paul's recent Pacific tour. Listen to Paul in conversation with Ts Mazli Mustaffa, CEO of Sarawak Metro in Malaysia, as they talk about the metro system and their green hydrogen efforts.If you have a question or would like to be a guest on the show, you can email us at [email protected] by Vizzy(00:00) Stacey Matlen and Eulois Cleckley (00:04) Opening and Transit News of the Week (05:58) Interview with Stacey Matlen , VP Innovation, Partnership for NYC (16:32) Messaging Minute with Elea Carey (18:19) Leadership segment with Eulois Cleckley (28:43) Coming up next week Ts Mazli Mustaffa (29:24) Check out Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube!Chapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.