Between Two Shovels with Derek Minnema

James Corless has spent nine years as Executive Director of SACOG, the regional planning agency for the greater six-county Sacramento area. Before that he was in Washington D.C. fighting to keep federal infrastructure funding alive through the Tea Party era. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, Derek Minnema sits down with James for a wide-ranging conversation about what regional planning actua...

California high-speed rail has been called a train to nowhere and a budget disaster. Nancy Miller, Vice Chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, has heard every version of that argument. She has also been on the board since 2017, guiding the project through lawsuits, funding gaps, route changes, and two very different presidential administrations. In this episode of Between Two Shovels,...

Just days after Congress released the Build America 250 Act, Derek Minnema sits down with ARTBA President and CEO Dave Bauer for a full breakdown of what is inside the bill, why it matters, and what it will take to get it across the finish line. Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction and welcome 0:24 - Initial reactions to the Build America 250 Act 2:01 - Why transportation reauthorization matters for eve...

Matt Lampa is the lead civil engineer on a 34-mile regional expressway. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, we walk through what it actually takes to design, fund, and deliver a corridor-level infrastructure project from inside a small public agency. The conversation covers Matt's path from baseball to civil engineering, the difference between working as a consultant versus managing one, how d...

Chris Cox is a land planner, landscape architect, and development consultant who helps property owners, builders, and developers unlock the potential of their land through feasibility, permitting, and compliance. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, we dig into what it actually takes to develop property along the Capital SouthEast Connector corridor, from wetland constraints and California tige...

John Merchant has lived in Rancho Murieta for 40 years. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, he sits down with Derek Minnema to talk through what four decades of growth in southeast Sacramento County actually looks like from the ground, and why the roads connecting his community to the rest of the region have not kept pace. The conversation covers the deteriorating state of Scott Road and Grant...

From forming one of the nation's first MPOs in Las Vegas to serving as Caltrans' Chief Environmental Engineer, Steve Borroum has spent decades at the intersection of transportation, air quality, and land use policy. In this episode, he breaks down what the data actually says about Vehicle Miles Traveled, why induced demand isn't the full story, and what really drives traffic growth. St...

Most people have never heard of a freight broker. Travis Dodge has spent 11 years as one, and in this episode he pulls back the curtain on how freight actually moves across the country, how brokers make their money, and what is really happening in the trucking industry right now. Travis is the founder of Wheelhouse, a freight brokerage based in Oakland. He launched the company in September 2024 af...

Eric Sauer, CEO of the California Trucking Association, and Chris Shimoda, principal lobbyist for CTA, join Derek Minnema for a full conversation on what is happening in the California trucking industry right now. From the regulatory environment and electrification challenges to supply chain fragility, freight bottlenecks, and the fight for transportation funding. Chapters:00:00 Introduction and G...

GoodFellow Brothers built the Capital SouthEast Connector's White Rock Road expressway, the first modern four-lane expressway in the Sacramento region. In this episode, Vice President John Hovde and Project Manager Josh Nichols break down exactly how they did it, from winning the bid during COVID lockdowns to finishing with a bike path that was never in the original contract. Chapters: 00:00 I...

Steve Miklos served as Folsom's mayor and was chairman of the Connector JPA when Derek Minnema was hired as executive director. This conversation covers the origin story of the Capital SouthEast Connector, from forming the JPA in the early 2000s to securing 75% voter approval in 2004. Steve shares what it was like navigating ideological opposition at SACOG, building regional consensus across f...

Will Kempton shares five decades of transportation infrastructure experience, from creating California's first local sales tax measure to leading Caltrans through historic emergency responses. This conversation covers the origins of self-help counties, lessons from the MacArthur Maze collapse, and what it takes to build unanimity for major infrastructure projects. KEY MOMENTS: 0:00 Introductio...

Right-of-way acquisition has changed dramatically from the days when governments simply took land for railroads. Ann Grava, Real Estate Program Manager at the City of Elk Grove, breaks down the modern process cities follow to acquire property for public infrastructure projects, from early relationship building through final compensation. Learn how independent appraisals work, what rights property...

Mike Sturino, President and CEO of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, discusses cutting-edge transportation technology including wireless EV charging roads, AI-powered infrastructure, and smart highway systems. Learn about Sweden's successful wireless charging pilot on Gotland Island, Chicago's ongoing programs, and how Middle East innovations are shaping the future...

California's supply chain is more vulnerable now than during COVID—and most people don't even realize it. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, Derek Minnema sits down with Amanda Blackwood, Strategic Advisor at the Supply Chain Federation, to discuss the mounting challenges facing America's goods movement infrastructure. From ineffective indirect source rules to tariff uncertainty a...

Matt Smeltzer, Deputy Director of Engineering for El Dorado County, takes us inside the largest capital improvement project in county history: the $20+ million Mosquito Road Bridge that crosses a 400-foot canyon. This isn't your typical bridge project. For nearly 30 years, Matt has been working to replace a century-old swinging bridge that emergency vehicles couldn't even cross. The new br...

Sacramento State civil engineering graduate Orgil Batchuluun sits down to share his first-year insights from the transportation industry. From passing the EIT exam early to navigating private vs public sector decisions, this conversation covers the real challenges new engineers face. Derek Minnema dives deep into career advice, AI adoption in engineering, mentorship strategies, and what it takes t...

Join Derek Minnema as he sits down with longtime friend and BKF Engineers' Glenn Armstrong to discuss 25 years of changes in the civil engineering industry. From their Sacramento State days getting through structures lab together to navigating today's funding landscape, this conversation covers the real challenges facing engineers today. Glenn shares insights on the shifting priorities in...

Michael Quigley, Executive Director of California Alliance For Jobs, joins Derek Minnema to discuss the state's massive infrastructure funding challenges and opportunities. From cap and trade reauthorization to decades-delayed water projects, discover the real story behind California's infrastructure priorities. Key Topics Covered:-Cap and trade program generating $4B annually-Sites Reserv...

Why is housing affordability slipping further out of reach, and what can be done about it? In this episode of Between Two Shovels, Tim Murphy, President & CEO of the North State Building Industry Association, unpacks the complex mix of costs, regulations, and policies shaping California’s housing crisis. From six-figure fees to legislative reforms, this conversation offers an inside look at wh...

Transportation engineers Mike Schmitt and Chris Gregerson from Kimley-Horn join Derek Minnema for an in-depth discussion about modern traffic analysis challenges. The conversation covers VMT implementation struggles, safety improvements on rural infrastructure, post-COVID travel pattern changes, and emerging technologies' impact on transportation planning. Their professional insights reveal th...

On Between Two Shovels, I have a conversation with Zach Liptak from Dokken Engineering about the environmental side of the Capital Southeast Connector project. As someone who's been in the trenches of this project for years, I wanted to share some eye-opening insights about what it really takes to build infrastructure responsibly. Key Insights: - Environmental mitigation can cost $3 million fo...

Join infrastructure thought leader Derek Minnema and his team at the Connector JPA as they pull back the curtain on the complex realities of delivering major transportation projects in California. In this candid conversation, Derek and his leadership team reveal how navigating regulatory hurdles, securing funding, and managing stakeholder expectations requires strategic vision and adaptability tha...

In this episode, Derek Minnema, Executive Director of Connector JPA, sits down with Kevin Bewsey, Executive Director of the Sacramento Transportation Authority, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of transportation funding in California. They discuss:-Kevin’s career journey from civil engineer to countywide transportation leader-How VMT mitigation strategies could reshape project funding...

In the premiere episode of Between Two Shovels, Derek Minnema, Executive Director of Connector JPA, sits down with Principal Civil Engineer Matt Lampa to unpack the high-stakes challenges of modern infrastructure delivery. From securing federal funding to navigating complex environmental regulations, Derek offers unfiltered insight into why local agencies like Connector JPA are filling the vacuum...