Transit Unplugged

In the public transit industry, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants. People who set the stage for the progress we're making now. The next several episodes on Transit Unplugged epitomize this fact looking back powering our way forward. This week Paul talks with Karen Philbrick, Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute . Named for Secretary Norman Mineta, the Institute co...

On today's special edition of Transit Unplugged. We want it to honor the memory of Jeff Parker, CEO of MARTA in Atlanta, after his recent tragic death. He was a strong leader for his city and our industry, and will be sorely missed. Original show notes from February, 2020: “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 th...

This week Paul catches up with Laura Koprowski, CEO of Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority ( TARTA ) and they talk about Laura's plan to revitalize TARTA with a new leadership team, new branding, and a new focus on customer experience. Laura and Paul also talk about the successful ballot measures that will help TARTA expand service and have a stable financial future. Next week, Paul interviews...

This week we have a special double interview episode on Transit Unplugged News and Views . Paul, and special guest Mischa Wanek-Libman Executive Editor of Mass Transit Magazine , speak with two of Mass Transit's 40 Under 40 honorees. We start the show with Shofi Ull Azum, MBA , Operational Innovations and Performance Manager, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority ( KCATA ), followed by Brittne...

This week Paul chats with Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink in Vancouver, BC. Kevin succeeded Paul as CEO of MTA Baltimore and now is the head of a multi-city transit network in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Kevin talks about managing North America's largest autonomous subway systems (SkyTrain), the major expansion projects underway, and life in Vancouver. Next week on Transit Unplugge...

It's the end of the year and the last episode of Transit Unplugged for 2021. This is a really special episode with Paul Comfort convening a panel with our producer Tris Hussey, regular contributors Elea Carey and Mike Bismeyer, and a special guest Mike Dukart, Dir. of Sales at TripSpark. On the show, we talk about what are going to be the hottest trends in 2022, and a little look back at the past...

Welcome to our second special episode of Transit Unplugged, the Best of Transit Unplugged In-Depth. In this episode, you'll hear excerpts from five of the best interviews this year. You'll hear ... Anne Graham, National Transport Authority, Ireland ( full episode ) Ahmed Bahrozyan, Road and Transport Authority, Dubai, UAE ( full episode ) Leslie Richards, SEPTA ( full episode ) Nat...

Kicking off a trio of special episodes on Transit Unplugged is a transit tech episode with guest host Tris Hussey. Tris interviews Daniel Saddy, Director of (IT) Architecture at Trapeze about cyber and computer security at transit agencies with real, concrete advice on how agencies can help protect themselves. Then we have a special technology expert panel with Sebastian Vaitus, VP of Innovation a...

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

In our final episode from APTA EXPO 2021, Paul chats with Jane Grogg, Director of Sarasota County Area Transit . If there was one singular thing that is the hallmark of the post-COVID transit world, it's on-demand microtransit. Jane Grogg replaced fixed routes that had lower ridership and replaced them with on-demand microtransit. And it's been a smashing success! Typically these low ridership fix...

Update: An audio issue kept one of the panelists from being heard. We've pushed out an updated audio track. In the second of three APTA EXPO special episodes, this week it's the highlight of the week--the special panel of the 5 top women leading transit today. Nadine Lee (CEO,  Dallas DART ), Leslie Richards (CEO,  SEPTA ), Lauren Skiver (CEO,  SunLine Transit ), MJ Maynard (CE...

Paul and Tris were at APTA EXPO 2021 in Orlando, FL last week and recorded several interviews while they were there. From "Get to Know the GM" with the heads of Vontas and Trapeze Group and interviews with transit leaders to our amazing panel of amazing women leading transit agencies in the U.S., Paul and Tris covered a lot of ground in a few days. This week we highlight two of the interviews from...

This week's episode comes to you from Las Vegas, Nevada when Paul visited RTC of Southern Nevada CEO MJ Maynard and her team. These segments are excerpted from the upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episode--the first episode for Transit Unplugged TV. Also in this episode are Deputy CEOs Francis Julien and David Swallow as well as Antonette Braddock who talks about RTC's new mobile app for their networ...

Welcome to season 5! Kicking off Season 5, Episode 1 we have a chat with Roger Helmy, Director of Product Management at Modaxo. Then Paul talks with regular contributor Mike Bismeyer about his Kindness is Cool campaign. We hear from Elea Carey on how to keep your messaging relevant and top of mind for riders. And finally, Paul and Tris talk about everything going on at APTA EXPO 2021. Paul will be...

This week's show is an edited re-broadcast of the UITP and Trapeze-sponsored Connected Journeys webinar from earlier this summer. Paul leads a discussion with: Abimbola Akinajo, CEO, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)  Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Djan Fanny, Director of Operations, AMUGA About what they are doing to promote public transit...

This is a very special Transit Unplugged News and Views. This week we not only hear from Katrina Heineking and W.C. Pihl from Transdev about autonomous vehicles, but Paul reveals all the things going on at APTA EXPO in a few weeks. In the news segment, Paul gives you all the details on what's going on with Transit Unplugged, Transit Unplugged TV, and the other places you can find him at APTA EXPO....

Paul travelled to Nashville, TN to talk with Nashville MTA CEO Steve Bland and his leadership team about all the improvements and innovations they've done in the past year. From safety to route planning to stations and stops, there is little that they haven't improved on. Which is, of course, music to our ears. This episode was also filmed for an upcoming episode of Transit Unplugged TV.  Peo...

One of the biggest challenges at transit agencies during the pandemic has been making sure there was enough money to stay in operation. In New Mexico, the Department of Transportation took a unique approach that underscores the spirit of cooperation we found throughout the transit industry. They funded the operating expenses for the 21 transit agencies in the state and were able to do that because...

As a woman in transit and the tech industry, it’s not every day that you get to see female leaders in transit share how they got to where they are today and the hurdles they had to overcome to do so. Transit has traditionally been a male-dominated industry; and years ago, it would’ve been rare to see a female CEO rise up the ranks. It’s inspiring that that’s no longer the case. On today’s episode...

More and more agencies are going green and reducing their carbon emissions. There are lots of ways to get there, but one that isn't talked about often is hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. Karl Gnadt of Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District is serious about going zero emissions. And truly zero emissions. In October his agency will open its solar-powered hydrogen generating and fueling complex and...

Julien Dehornoy, CEO of Yarra Trams , is responsible for the iconic Melbourne streetcar tram system. This is storied tram system has run continuously since 1884 and is the longest light rail system in the world. Which is a blessing and a curse. Julien wants to modernize the tram system to make it more efficient, more nimble, more accessible, and faster. But that's easier said than done when you're...

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

Imagine starting your transit career as a driver when you were nineteen and then going on to launch an entirely new transit service for one agency and now at the helm to launch a revamped service for an up-and-coming transit agency. This is what Josh Baker of DASH (Alexandria Transit) has done in his career thus far with more great plans on the way. This is one of those "wow, that's amazing" inter...

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

This episode of Transit Unplugged In-Depth comes from the SUN Conference in Missoula, Montana. Paul sat down with Scott Bogren of CTAA , Ed Redfern of The Bus Coalition , Rich Sampson of SWATA , and Elea Carey to talk about the massive infrastructure bill that just passed the U.S. Senate. In this very special episode, Paul and the guests dive into why this bill could be a historic, watershed momen...