“This pandemic has really given the public transit industry a gut punch.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today’s episode, join us for an exclusive CEO Roundtable featuring Inez Evans (IndyGo), Scott Bogren (CTAA), Wade Coombs (Strathcona County Transit), Julie Timm (GRTC), Kevin Quinn (MTA Baltimore), and Bill Carpenter (RGRTA). Learn how their agencies are managing through COVID-19, what lessons they have learned, and how they believe this pandemic will affect the future of transportation.To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We have to be extremely focused on what the customers’ needs are, and I think that’s the only way we’re going to get back up to pre COVID-19 ridership levels.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss how transit agencies are partnering with charitable organizations to help their local communities. We then hear from Erinn Pinkerton, CEO of B.C. Transit, about how she believes public transit will change in the coming months. Plus, listen to a reading from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“This has had a tremendous impact on our bus systems and paratransit systems.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss how rural communities are dealing with COVID-19, and if there is a federal transit stimulus coming for Canada. We then hear from J. Roger Morton, President and GM of Oahu Transit Services, about the impact COVID-19 is having on his agency and its existing projects. Plus, Jeff Ardnt, CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, reads his chapter from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We can truly put our hand on our heart and say we built a system for Edmontonians.”Eddie Robar has a degree in psychology and HR. But he got into the transit world after completing school. It didn’t help him at first, but his schooling is handy as the Branch Manager for Edmonton Transit Services (ETS).Robar talks about ETS’s network redesign, where 40,000 residents participated in feedback – ultimately, changing its original transit plan by ~20% to match community response. He shares how ETS’s new name and network are about a “connected service, a connected network, for a connected community.”Electric buses are also a hot topic – ETS ordered 40 Proterra buses. The process was a bit harder than they thought as they tried to solve three problems: long-term maintenance of the vehicles, charging simplification and garage space, and flipping a fleet from diesel to electric.Finally, Robar shares one of the items he’s most proud of during his time at ETS – its low-income pass program. The pass program has a tremendous impact on those classified as low-income. “People don’t have to choose between whether they go to work today or whether they go get groceries.”There is a ton going on for ETS, and if you want to know more, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“This pandemic is like the entire nation is having a hurricane that just won’t go away.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss some of the unintended consequences agencies are dealing with after removing fares. We then hear from Mike Bismeyer for “Mike’s Monday Minute,” where he encourages us to stay safe and pay it forward to those in need. Paul then talks with Jeff Arndt, President and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, about what changes his agency is making and their plans for the FTA funding they received. Plus, listen to a reading from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I think the moment that public transit has right now is to really change the narrative in the COVID-19 environment.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss the guidelines released by the CDC for both transit drivers and passengers. We then hear from Elea Carey, who shares why she believes now is public transit’s time to shine, and Paul talks about the impacts of lost farebox revenue. Finally, hear Robbie Makinen’s foreword from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I do think that when we get out of this COVID-19 world, transit will go back to where it was before.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss some of the ways transit agencies are using this service downtime productively. We then hear from Peter Varga, APTA Board Member and former CEO of The Rapid transit system, about his thoughts on how agencies can recover from COVID-19 and the impact of the U.S. federal transit stimulus package. Peter then reads his chapter on the Federal Transit Authority from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Over the years, we have seen a lot of change in the paratransit industry, but certainly nothing quite like what we’re going through now.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss some of the ways transit agencies are adapting due to COVID-19, including partnering with food banks and delivering groceries. We then hear from Mike Bismeyer for “Mike’s Monday Minute,” where he encourages us to stay safe and pay it forward to those in need. Paul then talks with Jeff Zarr, Senior Demand Response Consultant at Trapeze Group, about what he’s hearing from paratransit agencies across the country and some of the changes they are implementing. Plus, guest author David Pickeral shares his Q&A chapter from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We will try and use the resources and funding we have to keep everyone fully employed, socially distanced, and safe.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss the release of U.S. federal funds for transit agencies, and what that will mean for your agency. We then hear from Julie Timm, CEO of the Greater Richmond Transit Company, about GRTC’s new zero-fare system and how they’re trying to keep unnecessary transit ridership down. Plus, guest author Paola Realpozo shares her chapter on the future of passenger rail from the bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We’re going to get through this crisis like everyone else, we’re going to come out the other side of this, and I think the industry will be even healthier.”As COVID-19 affects public transit dramatically, we’re proud to present a special edition of Transit Unplugged led by transit evangelist and Trapeze VP Paul Comfort. In today's episode, we discuss how the newest changes in the public transport industry, including layoffs and social distancing procedures. We then hear from John Walsh, Senior VP of Sales at Proterra, about how to operate an essential business during COVID-19 and what shelter-in-place orders reveal about the necessity of electric vehicles. Plus, Paul shares another reading from his bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“My goal is to make every operator the best operator they can be.”Wade Coombs started his transit career washing buses for Saskatoon Transit. Shortly after, he became an operator and eventually worked his way into management. Now he’s Director of Transit for Strathcona County Transit.In this episode, Coombs discusses regionalization and what it is like working with seven other transit operators within the Edmonton Metro area, and how they are working on a single, Smart Fare system. Coombs also shares the importance of creating good relationships with employees and advises on how to grow your transit career. Finally, he goes into how they’ve created efficiencies to make their budget work smarter and how they are working on a pilot for on-demand services for off-peak rides.If you want to know more about Strathcona County Transit, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Our ridership is way down, revenues aren’t coming in, but transit operators are still continuing to provide lifeline services.”On today's episode, we discuss how Washington D.C.’s stimulus package will affect the transit industry, and then hear from Mike for "Mike's Monday Minute," a selection of feel-good stories and highlights. We then have a Newsmaker interview with Marco D’Angelo, CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, on what's been happening with Canadian legislation, and some bigger-picture impacts of COVID-19. Plus, Paul shares a reading from his bestselling new book, “The Future of Public Transportation.”To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“It’s easier to manage the hecticness when you have a plan in place."Community safety is a paramount concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s your riders or employees, it’s essential to understand what you can do to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.While things are changing rapidly, six guests talk about how they are handling COVID-19. As they develop plans for different scenarios, all of them have increased cleaning and sanitation measures. You’ll hear from transit leaders from the U.S.A. (MATA, DART, OmniRide, Texas Transit Association), Canada (Saskatoon Transit), and Australia (Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies).To keep informed on COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Don’t ever lose sight of the importance of the people in your organization.”Non-emergency medical transportation is a fundamental transportation option for those going to see a healthcare professional. Carter Pate, Interim CEO of LogistiCare, joins Transit Unplugged to talk about some of the nuances of this part of the transportation world and the importance of efficiency in Medicare and Medicaid scenarios.Pate also has numerous leadership roles (PwC, MV Transportation), and shares his advice on how to become a good leader. He also thinks the most exciting years of mobility are in front of us, highlighting the future benefits of artificial intelligence and driverless vehicles.If you want to know more about LogistiCare, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Electric technology should be part of the strategy of every transit agency.” – Ryan PoppleRecently, there’s a great emphasis on lowering emissions and using clean energy. In the past, public transit did that with hybrid-electric vehicles. While many agencies primarily still operate diesel fleets, with a smattering of electric in the mix, new fuels and propulsion systems are rapidly entering the market, pushing transit toward zero-emission buses. In this special mobility innovations episode, you’ll get to hear from some of the leading experts of alternative fuel options within public transit. Discover the jumps Proterra has made in electric vehicle technology over the years. Learn about hydrogen fuel and the amazing work SunLine Transit is doing – going so far as creating hydrogen fuel. Finally, you’ll hear about (Dallas) DART’s progression into using compressed natural gas (CNG).Check out Proterra, SunLine, or DART if you want to learn more.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I don’t look at anything as a failure. I look at it as a learning experience.”When the best-laid plans go a bit awry, what do you do? Stephen Bland, CEO of WeGo Public Transit, learns, reassesses, and keeps moving forward.Stephen has spent his career in public transit. He’s run small agencies that have as few as eight buses. And now he is running the show in Nashville, Tennessee, where they carry 35,000 passengers each weekday. Nashville’s infrastructure was built around the personal automobile. The need for change and investment in public transit was recognized. In 2018, there was an ambitious referendum to provide $8-9 Billion towards a transit investment program. Unfortunately, it failed. The failure of the referendum wasn’t the outcome Nashville MTA (the agency name at the time) was looking for, but with the leadership of Bland, Nashville pushed forward.In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Bland talks about why the referendum failed, but how their plans set them up for future success, and how that also led them to rebrand to WeGo Public Transit. Additionally, the referendum helped them establish future plans, and Bland talks about some of the things they are still able to move forward with – new transit centers, new account-based faring programs, and transit signal priority projects. He also dives into their Better Bus program that eliminates redundant routes and stops.You won’t want to miss this one. And if you want to know more about WeGo, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“While we have to think about the future, we also have to think about the here and now and making sure that we’re improving the customer experience.”Atlanta and the surrounding area is the third fastest-growing region in the U.S. That means more people and more traffic, so public transit is essential to help boost the economic vitality and development of the region along with reducing congestion.Jeffrey Parker, GM and CEO of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), joins Transit Unplugged to talk about the present and future for the agency. Parker discusses the importance of MARTA becoming a more customer-centric organization – improving the reliability of the bus service, implementing new bus stops, and renovating rail stations are just part of this larger picture. Additionally, he highlights MARTA’s plans for new bus rapid transit and light rail services, and how it is essential to still focus on state of good repair while expanding service.If you want to know more about MARTA, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We've got to move people around our region and get them more access to jobs.” – Lee Harris, Mayor of Shelby CountyFunding for public transportation is a concern for every transit executive. Gary Rosenfeld, CEO of the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), and Lee Harris, Mayor of Shelby County, are working hard to secure a $10 million increase in funding for MATA and the Shelby County area. For this to work, they need the county to invest in public transit for the first time.MATA is in an interesting position because it serves the entire Shelby County area, and the additional funds will go directly to increasing route frequency throughout the county. Listen to how they purpose to raise the additional funds – maybe you can get some ideas for your region. They also share the importance of transit funding, especially as an attempt to reduce the poverty rate. Check out MATA, Shelby County, Transit Vision, or future4transit.com if you want to learn more.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“No one is going to use transit unless they feel it meets their needs” – Ron KilcoyneThere are two guests this week on Transit Unplugged – Butch McDuffie, Director of Athens Transit, and Ron Kilcoyne, Senior Manager at Transportation Management & Design Inc. (TMD Inc.).Butch discusses Athens’ bus art shelter program, what it was like building a transit facility with zero federal dollars, and the unique qualities of running transit in a major college town. Ron shares his three-legged stool strategy for growing and sustaining ridership. He also talks about rebooting networks and when to add microtransit.  Check out TMD Inc. or Athens Transit if you want to learn more.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Passenger railway does a good job [in Australia] moving big numbers of people into city centers.”Bidding 2019 goodbye, Paul Comfort breaks down the top three trends from interviewing transit’s top leaders over the past year. He highlights autonomous vehicles, mobility as a service, and strategies to increase ridership.Additionally, we end 2019 with an interview from David Franks, CEO of Keolis Downer. Having spent time in UK, Irish, and Australian rail systems, Franks shares some of the differences of the regions. He also discusses how one of their light rail systems has 100% OTP (against its contractual commitments) and their new light rail line that doesn’t have catenary wires.If you want to know more about Keolis Downer, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Anything we can do to make the people’s vision, the people’s goal, and the people’s plan is part of what we’re trying to produce.”Culture is a big proponent of how Dinero Washington tries to run SporTran. As CEO, Dinero understands that culture facilitates a good working environment and is a way for employees to buy-in to your transit agency. “Sometimes, you forget your employees are who truly make the agency successful.”But it isn’t just the agency staff that helps drive the direction of SporTran. The passengers and the community are paramount to building a successful network. In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Dinero walks us through the step-by-step process of how he created the new vision and mission for SporTran. Through community engagement with over 200 meetings, SporTran’s four-year project finally concluded with a revamped network eliminating over half of its bus stops with reduced headways – some by up to an hour.This episode shows the true value of listening. So, sit back, and listen to the great insights from one of the only agencies in the US with a massive increase in ridership. If you listen, you might just pick up a few tricks.If you want to know more about SporTran, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We measure economic, environmental, and social benefits and try to drive to that bottom line.” – Doug Morgan, Director at Calgary Transit“As transit people, we have to figure out how we add value to people's lives.” – Phil Verster, President and CEO at Metrolinx“I did it really wrong before I learned how to do it right.” – Eddie Robar, Branch Manager at Edmonton Transit Service“What is the role of all transit agencies? And how is our role changing in the entire industry?” – Erinn Pinkerton, President and CEO at BC TransitRecorded live at the CUTA 2019 Annual Conference and Transit Show, Transit Unplugged brings you another fantastic look at what top leaders are doing within the transit industry. These four leaders discuss their leadership style, the importance of taking risks, and why diversity in the workforce matters. They also discuss unique agency structures, dealing with massive capital investment programs, bus network redesigns, the electrification of their fleets, and the use of CNG vehicles. This episode caps off our little tour through Canada. And it’s always good to end on a high note.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“You can choose what you want the future to look like.”One-hundred years ago, Mr. William P. Eno started a transportation specific think tank. The Eno Center of Transportation (Eno) provides government and industry leaders with timely research and pragmatic fact-based voices on policy issues. It publishes rigorous, objective analysis of critical and emergent issues facing the transportation arena.Today, Robert Puentes, President and CEO of Eno, joins Transit Unplugged and shares with us the three primary ways Eno supports the transportation industry – communication and outreach, working on policy issues, and providing the industry with a professional development program.In this episode, Robert discusses some hot topics facing the public transportation industry – congestion pricing, mobility as a service, autonomous vehicles, and infrastructure projects. He shares his knowledge and excitement of some of the pilot programs happening within the U.S.A. and highlights some global trends that you might be able to use to your advantage. If you want to know more about Eno, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“In transit, we sometimes err on the side of the known rather than on the side of the innovative.”On the second anniversary of Transit Unplugged, Paul sits down with Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx. Metrolinx is a Crown corporation (state-owned enterprise) of the Ontario government, in Canada, and is the planning organization for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).Metrolinx operates commuter bus and rail, and the Union Pearson Express (an airport express running between Union Station in Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport). Metrolinx is also in charge of major construction projects that will expand service in the GTHA worth ~$30 billion.With so much investment, one of Phil’s main priorities is to run Metrolinx like a business to lessen the burden on the taxpayer. His goal is to, at a minimum, generate enough revenue to break-even. Some of the ways Phil plans to do this is by generating revenue from corporations to name a station, reducing the standard fare by one dollar to help increase ridership, or offering off-peak service to gain additional riders.Finally, Phil discusses the importance of customer satisfaction and why safety is his number one focus. It’s a great episode to celebrate Transit Unplugged turning two. Thank you for listening and for being with us on this ride.If you want to know more about Metrolinx, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“The best thing that probably happened to the transit industry was some healthy competition.”Debbie Dalle Vedove started her transit career as an operator. She moved up the ladder and transitioned to a few different agencies before finally landing the top spot at Hamilton Street Railway (HSR). Debbie, now the Director of Transit for HSR, uses her experience as a frontline worker to transform HSR into a customer-centric organization.The transit world is changing quickly, and competition means that people now have a choice other than personal vehicles or public transit. The focus HSR has on the customer will help redevelop their network, one that includes a new light rail system (in conjunction with Metrolinx), and give them a chance to stand out from the competition. Debbie talks about their customer survey (with ~6000 participants) and how they are going to use that to figure out how to provide service to where people want to go.Finally, she shares a story of celebrating Maurice Powell, who has been an HSR bus driver for 50 years (and counting). Maurice fits perfectly into Debbie’s customer-centric vision as he is “excellent with the customers, and it is really, really amazing that he's able to do that [every day].”If you want to know more about HSR, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We're all here for one reason, to provide service to a customer.” TransLink is the recipient of APTA’s 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. TransLink’s CEO, Kevin Desmond, discusses their impressive 18% growth in ridership from 2016-2018, and how their customer-centric mindset was paramount in winning this prestigious award.  Desmond also talks about their open innovation call and some recent innovations they’ve introduced. He shares his thoughts on the foundation for a successful transit agency (land use and transit hubs). Finally, he suggests that “the decade of the 2020s is liable to see massive disruptive change in our industry,” and how that plays into the three primary focuses for TransLink’s future – expansion, partnering with disrupters, and electrification of their fleet.   If you want to know more about TransLink, check out their website.  Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes. 

“Our motto is, ‘We’ll do whatever it takes to get it done.’” BC Transit has a service area of 944,000 square kilometers (360,000 square miles – which is about 40% larger than Texas) and encompasses 130 communities with ~1200 buses and 81 different transit systems. It’s quite the job, and Erinn Pinkerton, President and CEO at BC Transit, is up to the challenge. Pinkerton discusses BC Transit’s unique structure and how they leverage their partnerships (purchasing power, building and contract expertise, rolling out pilots after deemed successful). She also talks about their funding structure and how that works between the provincial and local governments or transit agencies. Finally, she explores her customer-centric focus (including things like travel training), considerations for clean energy, and thoughts on rideshare. If you want to know more about BC Transit, check out their website. Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I like to hear what we do well, but I really want to hear what we can do better.”Rocky Donahue started his career at Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) as a financial analyst. Thirty-seven years later, he is still at Pace and is now the Executive Director. Pace operates suburban bus, ADA paratransit, on-demand services, and vanpool in one of the largest service areas in the US.As ridership and congestion issues plague North America, Donahue does a deep dive into their new arterial rapid transit (ART) system. Unlike bus rapid transit, ART doesn’t have a dedicated lane but uses technology to reduce travel times and gain riders’ trust. Counter to the declining ridership trend, their bus on the shoulder program has seen incredible increases in ridership over the past few years. The new ART system hopes to gain similar popularity.Find out about that and more on this episode of Transit Unplugged. If you want to know more about Pace, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We’re responsible for keeping London moving.”Transport for London (TfL) hauls six million passengers every day on their buses alone. That’s intense. And it makes Simon Reed’s job crucial to the mobility of Londoners.Reed, Head of Technology and Data, Surface Transport at TfL, does a deep dive into congestion charging – its history, how it works in London, and how it helps fund TfL. He gives Paul an update on their contactless card system and lets us in on how and why TfL has gone completely cashless.Like most places in the Western world, bus ridership is declining. Reed talks about the potential reasons for the decline, drawing correlations to new mobility options and how authorities aren’t matching the supply of resources against the demand from the people. He also expresses his ideas on the death of single-function smartphone applications and offers alternative solutions to provide transportation information through the apps your riders already use. Finally, he questions public transit’s role of being the mobility aggregators, suggesting that open-sourced data and third parties might offer better solutions.If you want to know more about TfL, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Our opportunity in Transport for Wales is to sync up all of these different modes and pull them together into a way that makes it as seamless and as easy to access for consumers as possible.”Transport for Wales (TfW) is a non-profit agency that was created by the Welsh government three years ago to help deliver customer-focused services, expert advice to government, and infrastructure investment. It’s exciting to have Lewis Brencher, Communications Director of TfW, join Transit Unplugged and talk about such a newly formed transit authority.Brencher shares the challenges of building and investing in rural and urban areas equally. He also gets into the unique competitive dialogue method they used during the procurement of their rail services. He then gets into the issue of declining bus ridership across Wales and the UK, and some potential strategies they are looking into to course-correct the ridership levels. Finally, Brencher talks about how intermodal ticketing and mobility as a service can improve travel, making it as easy as possible to travel across different modes.If you want to know more about TfW, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“What I love about transport [is] you’re changing people’s lives. You’re changing cities.”What do India, Qatar, and Australia have in common? It’s where our next guest of Transit Unplugged oversees some of the most innovative public transport operations in the world. Transit Unplugged is lucky to have Leila Frances, President Middle East and Hyderabad of Keolis and Chairman of Keolis Downer, as our guest this week.Frances discusses the automated metro services in India and Qatar, which makes Keolis the world leader in automated metro operations. She also does a deep dive into the importance of data in decision making. Data can give everyone (employees, passengers, politicians, residents) a better understanding of how public transport affects their daily lives. It can impact operations by analyzing trends – seeing the correlation of external factors that impact and extend dwell times. You can use data and real-time information to communicate with passengers, creating a positive passenger and community experience by setting expectations during times of expansion and building individualized experiences for your riders. She also shares her insight on her approach to management through their visualization rooms. By holding everyone accountable and giving them operational information (through KPIs), it gives every employee a better understanding of what is going on within the business. Finally, she talks about how on-demand service, the potential of flying public transport, and Hyperloop might factor into the future of transportation.If you want to know more about Keolis, Keolis Downer (Australia and New Zealand), the Doha Metro Project (Qatar), or Keolis Hyderabad (India), please check out the associated links.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“If we don’t need to do it, dump it. If we do need to do it, we’ll make it a lot better.”Transit Unplugged continues its journey through the United Kingdom. On this episode, Paul is in Glasgow, Scotland to visit the third oldest subway system in the world, dating back to 1896. While there he chats with Gordon Maclennan, Chief Executive of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). Having the third oldest subway in the world means major modernizations are taking place. Maclennan dives into the £288-million plan to modernize the system track and station refurbishments, tunnel upgrades, and new railcars.The two, once again, discuss the unique elements of a deregulated bus service, one that spans the entirety of the UK. They specifically chat about the interesting aspect of competitors sharing the same bus stop and the timetable challenges that sometimes arise because of their competing nature.An engineer by trade, Maclennan arrived at SPT in 2006 and became the Chief Executive in 2010. He expresses his enjoyment of his role, saying, “I do enjoy it, and it’s a very, very worthwhile and fruitful career, in terms of your personal development.”If you want to know more about SPT, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Anywhere in the world, running quality, high-frequency service draws people in, giving people great service at a value that they cannot beat.”Giles Fearnley, Managing Director for First Bus, is a great ambassador and evangelist for the transportation industry. First Bus runs about 19% of buses operating within the UK, but like many places, bus ridership is on the decline at ~2% per year.Fearnley discusses how congestion issues and the economy are predominant factors in declining ridership. His strategy to combat declining ridership is to improve the customer experience. Some of the tactics involve providing new faring options, ticketing and real-time information through the First Bus mobile app, increasing bus frequency, and changing their bus networks. The technology enables riders to leverage information and different payment options. Finally, the redesigned networks better connect people to jobs, shopping, universities, etc. This change has helped Bristol increase ridership ~46% over five yearsIf you want to know more about First Bus, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We’re nothing without [our] people.”The role of a public transport provider has unique challenges depending on authority, city, or region. Our guest today, Paul Cox, has been in the transport business for 25 years and experienced transport’s role in Australia, Europe, and Asia. Currently, Cox is the CFO at Tower Transit, a privately-owned operator, and he is presently focused on operations within London and Singapore.In this episode, Cox talks about the unique aspects of how London often contracts per route, the challenges that can bring, and how that differs from their operations within Singapore. He also discusses the transition of employees after a successful tender. Finally, he shares the importance of creating a fulfilling job constructed via culture and value.If you want to know more about Tower Transit, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We’re beginning to see … a massive change in the way in which people buy mobility.”Transit Unplugged ventures across the pond for a six-part series that highlights public transport in the United Kingdom. In this first episode, our guest is Dave Pearson, Director, Transport Services at West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Pearson explains how public transport operates within a deregulated market. Except for London, ~80% of bus service in the UK runs on a commercial basis, while the transport authority commissions the other 20%.There is also a great discussion on some of the challenges facing rail structures within the UK. Pearson shares that the best way to move transit forward is to give riders a personalized experience and how demand responsive transport might play into that in the future. Finally, Pearson highlights West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s multimodal, multi-operator ticketing scheme.If you want to know more about West Yorkshire Combined Authority, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Let’s not sit still. Let’s not think what we do today is adequate for the future. Let’s find new ways to better serve our customers and better serve our communities.” – Paul Skoutelas, President and CEO of APTA“You can’t develop your transportation system, particularly your public transit services in a vacuum from land use and vice versa.” – Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink“We know what we want. We know what the end is. It’s how we get there that is the hard part.” – Brad Thomas, President of First Transit“I think one of the barriers that people have to riding public transit in the U.S. is that we don’t make it easy.” – David Stackrow, Chairman of APTA“What could be very innovative [is] going to the third dimension, I think public transport will also go to the air.” – Stefan Kalt, CEO of the Regional Transportation Agency in Baden-Wettingen AG, SwitzerlandRecorded live at the biggest global transit event, UITP, Transit Unplugged brings you even more from the world’s top transit leaders. In this episode, our guests explore the correlation between an increase in transit ridership and customer service, land use, political climates, and urban density. They also share their thoughts on open-payment systems and mobility as a service. Additionally, they get into autonomous vehicles and the secondary benefits this technology will bring to your current transit operations.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“People want reliable services. And if you can’t deliver what you promise to the customer, it doesn’t matter how good the rest of the technology is.” – Ian Dobbs, Deputy President of UITP “I finally have figured out the solution … we should be running it all.” – Nat Ford, CEO of Jacksonville Transportation Authority“I think assets are probably one of the most important things in our industry.” – Nicolas Gindt, CEO of Keolis Downer Victoria - Yarra Trams “As we continue to try and put on more services to move more people, we have to find the technology that’s going to help us do that quickly and safely.” – Alan Fedda, Deputy CEO of Public Transport VictoriaRecorded live at UITP 2019, Transit Unplugged comes to you with another roundtable discussion from some of the world’s top transit leaders. In this episode, you’ll hear from our guests about the different challenges they are facing around the globe. Plus, you’ll learn what each one thinks is the top innovation for public transportation.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I like to challenge our employees to keep moving forward and keep doing good things for the community.”Before making his way into the transit industry, Jorge Cruz-Aedo spent 27 years in local government and a little bit of time in the private sector before joining the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA). He spent 5 years as CCRTA’s CFO and is now the CEO. On this episode, Jorge discusses the autonomous vehicle project CCRTA is working on with Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, and the unique way he was able to finance their new 90,000 square foot facility. He also goes into the importance of culture and customer service within the CCRTA.If you want to know more about CCRTA, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“We don’t build railways just for the sake of building a railway. We do it because we are going to transform people’s lives.”Steve Butcher started his career 38 years ago with British Rail by sweeping platforms. Now, he is the Executive General Manager at John Holland. In this episode, Butcher discusses the design, build, operate, and maintain model, and what it’s like to be part of billion-dollar projects within the rail space.He also goes into how important detail is for these massive projects. These projects are setting the agenda for generations to come, and what they look like from day one will be different from year seven. And as Butcher says, it’s about making “railways as easy as going to the pub or the chip shop… [it’s making] public transport so easy that people don’t even think of any other mode of transport.”If you want to know more about John Holland, check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I’m a railwayman. I dream about railways. I probably have for 59 and three-quarter years.”The Australian adventure continues with Howard Collins, CEO of Sydney Trains and New South Wales (NSW) TrainLink. Collins started his career at London Transport eventually working his way to the role of COO of the London Underground before making the jump to the land Down Under. On this episode, he discusses rebuilding a system while trying to increase capacity. He also elaborates on the importance of accountability and shares an anecdote about how railways can revitalize communities. Finally, and impressively, Collins notes that he has traveled 133,000 kilometers on his service – now that’s someone that loves public transport. If you want to know more about Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink, you can check out the Transport for NSW website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Our whole mission is about making the city attractive, safe, and easy to move around.”We continue with part five of our seven-part series of Transit Unplugged in the land Down Under. This week we are joined by Emma Thomas, former Director-General at Transport Canberra. Thomas started her career as an aeronautical engineer and joined the Air Force. She discusses how Transport Canberra “puts the livability in Canberra.” Thomas also talks how public transit plays into our well-being (mental health and health of a city), and new ways to make people more mobile – Transport Canberra’s new light rail line, the importance of data and journey planning, and the potential of new transportation modes.If you want to know more about Transport Canberra, you can check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“Railways are very, very complicated systems, and they require thousands of things to happen in order each day for them to work effectively.”Continuing our adventure Down Under, our guest has spent his entire career in the rail industry. James Pinder started as an engineer in the U.K. before eventually becoming the CEO of V/Line, the regional rail operator for the state of Victoria, Australia. Pinder discusses the challenge of trying to modernize the whole system while V/Line’s service is growing (at ~10% per year). He also gets into his philosophy of how he builds his team and the culture of V/Line. Finally, he lets us know that “V/Line is about improving in the basics around safety, performance, operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and coming right back to why we exist.”If you want to know more about V/Line, you can check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“The mission of this organization is to be the most respected and the best railway in Australia.” Our adventure continues in the land Down Under with CEO of Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), Raymond O’Flaherty. On this episode, O’Flaherty discusses why MTM focuses on passenger experience as a measurement of success in addition to your standard reliability of service KPIs. He also elaborates on the importance of interchanges between systems and modes, the investment into MTM, his focus on teamwork, and why he created a podcast to communicate better with his organization. If you want to know more about Metro Trains Melbourne, you can check out their website. Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“What makes a fantastic difference for Yarra Trams, is its brand and its incredible value in every Melburnian’s heart. And I realized that every time I’m meeting new people.”  Transit Unplugged continues its adventure in Australia with Nicolas Gindt, CEO of Keolis Downer Victoria and operator of Yarra Trams. Yarra Trams is the largest tram network in the world. It has a diverse fleet of ~480 trams with 250 kilometers of track (times two as Nicolas likes to say), with 2300 employees.   On this episode, Nicolas discusses the challenges of operating a diverse trams system – with some trams being weeks old compared to some that have run for 60 years. Sometimes it’s because they must create parts in-house or that the manufacturer no longer exists, and it’s the challenge of integrating the different technologies between all the different trams.   Nicolas highlights how about 75% of the network shares its service with the road and other vehicles. Finally, he elaborates on the challenges of building additional infrastructure for a tram network and trying to make the system more accessible for people with disabilities.   If you want to know more about Yarra Trams, you can check out their website.   Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.  

“For the very first time, handheld technology has allowed us to say to people, ‘Your value of time has suddenly shifted.’”Transit Unplugged has left North America and traveled to Australia. Our first guest on this seven-part series in the land Down Under, Jeroen Weimar, CEO of Public Transport Victoria (PTV), was one of the people that helped set up Transport for London and jumped around the industry a bit before landing at PTV.With Melbourne being one of the fastest growing developed cities in the industrialized world, the state of Victoria is investing heavily in transportation. The regional government is spending $38B on new rail, new road tunnels, upgrades, and general transport infrastructure spending, which gives PTV an excellent opportunity to advance public transport in the region.Public Transport Victoria has many different modes – bus, metro, commuter rail, etc. – but the most notable mode is the largest tram system in the world. Between all these modes, PTV has ~2 million passengers every day. About 20 or so years ago, they started outsourcing operations of their entire service, but the passengers only see a single entity – PTV. Weimar notes the difference between outsourcing and privatizing since PTV owns the “infrastructure, track, power, everything.”On this episode, Weimar discusses how contracting out their service is the way that PTV provides safe, efficient, and reliable service. He also goes into the challenge of running some legacy systems while PTV invests in new technology. Finally, he shares the plan for PTV’s new mobile payment platform and the importance of transport to communities.If you want to know more about PTV, you can check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I love what we do as an industry. What we do really matters.”Today's guest originally hails from the neighbor to the North in the province of Nova Scotia. But after making his way to the USA, he spent some time at MBTA before settling in at Capital Metro (CapMetro) in Austin, Texas. Randy Clarke, President and CEO of CapMetro, joins Transit Unplugged to discuss CapMetro’s Project Connect plan which is set to transform the future of transit for Central Texas. He also goes into their Cap Remap program which redefined the routes in Austin by focusing on a grid style network, reflecting the new development of the city, and frequency - which has helped increase ridership in Austin. If you want to know more about CapMetro, you can check out their website.  Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.  

“If real-estate is location, location, location, transit is frequency, frequency, frequency.”Jeffrey Arndt started his career as a traffic engineer and had a long stint at Houston Metro before making his way to VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio. Now President and CEO of VIA, Arndt highlights the importance of frequency to transit service. Additionally, he discusses VIA’s new bus shelters, plans for a new advance rapid transit service, and mobility on demand. Plus, you’ll learn about some of the awards VIA has won over the past year.If you want to know more about VIA, you can check out their website.Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.

“I wanted to spend my time doing something to make where I was better.” – Katharine Kelleman “Don’t run away from the people that need you every day.” – Robbie Makinen “There is no sense in running what people aren’t riding.” – Lauren Skiver It’s exciting to introduce the first ever Transit Unplugged Live. Held as one of the keynotes during the 2019 ThinkTransit Conference, five of transit’s top CEOs were up on stage talking about the scope of their agency, career path getting to their current position, the big projects they are focused on, and the future of transit technology.  Here were our amazing guests that were with us in sunny Tampa, Florida: Phil Washington – CEO, LA Metro Lauren Skiver – CEO, SunLine Transit Robbie Makinen – CEO, KCATA Katharine Kelleman – CEO, Port Authority of Allegheny County John Sisson – CEO, Delaware Transit Corporation Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.