METROspectives

Virginia, Minn.’s Arrowhead Transit is the second largest rural public transit system in the U.S. In our latest edition of METROspectives, Arrowhead Tranit’s Dominick Olivanti and Colette Hanson join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss public transit from a rural provider perspective. Topics include: ·       Arrowhead Transit’s driver shortage. ·       Bringing Innovation to a rural tra...

In our latest edition of METROspectives, Rashidi Barnes, CEO of California’s Tri-Delta Transit and Maggie Pears, managing consultant at the Center for Transportation the Environment, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss their roles in the California Transit Training Consortium (CTC) and more. Topics include: ·       The Consortium’s recent rebrand. ·       The need for new and ongoi...

In a special audio-exclusive edition of METROspectives, Transdev US CEO Laura Hendricks and COO’s Susan Sweat and Lauren Skiver join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: ·       How their unique backgrounds play a role in building a culture at Transdev. ·       The impact public transportation has in providing communities with access to services and opportunities. ·       Building...

MJ Maynard, CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: ·    The RTC’s tech adoption approach. ·       How AI can make an impact on the public transit industry. ·       Working with the power of data. ·       How to forge partnerships with vendors. Make sure you're signed up for the METRO Express newslett...

Today, Jannet Walker-Ford,Lead, Advisory and Planning business, at WSP and David Scorey, CEO of Keolis North America, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: ·       Walker-Ford’s new position as Chair of Keolis North America. ·       The new face of mobility in North America in a post-COVID world. ·       Worldwide approaches to contracting. ·       Carbon reduction and zero-emi...

Today, Paul Comfort, Transit Evangelist and SVP/Chief Customer Officer at Modaxo, and Davey Kim SVP/Principal, National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy, at WSP USA, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: ·         Paul’s “The New Future of Public Transportation” book. ·         The Federal Government’s Role in Funding Public Transit. ·         Political Will to Rep...

Today, Mark Aesch, CEO/Founder of TransPro Consulting, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: ·       How to think differently about public transportation. ·       Moving away from the ridership question. ·       Finding the right story for your agency to tell. ·       The Rays The Mark Foundation. Make sure you're signed up for the METRO Express newsletter, so you don'...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Anthony Incorvati, Business Development Manager, Americas, for Axis Communications, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman from the APTA EXPO show floor. Topics include: Axis Communications’ product portfolio How AI can be a good fit for transit Finding what works best for a transit agency Tech and public transit’s future Sponsored by Axis Communications ....

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Peter Aczel, CEO for Vontas; Jonny Simkin, CEO of Swiftly; and David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: A first of its kind partnership between Vontas, Swiftly, and Transit How open APIs will make larger-scale integrations a reality How supplier partnerships can improve the overall pas...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Scott Bogren, Executive Director for the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: What issues CTAA members are currently facing, including procurement and vehicle availability. New (and old) mobility approaches to better serve communities. The ongoing funding issues for smaller transit...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Peter Aczel, CEO for Vontas, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: The company’s product portfolio Its Innovative Solutions Award victory with Fresno, Calif.’s FAX How Vontas completed the FAX project in 10 months A sneak peak on what’s in store at APTA’s TRANSform & EXPO in Orlando, Fla. Make sure you're signed up for the METRO E...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Jared Schnader, Sr. Director, Bus Initiative Lead, at CALSTART, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: New lessons learned at more and more agencies scale up their ZEB programs. The importance of planning for the ultimate goal when working with utilities. The viability of zero-emissions being scaled nationwide. Hydrogen and the possibility...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, John Andoh, former Hele-On Mass Transit Administrator/GM John Andoh joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: The experience of running public transit on the island. Rebuilding and reconnecting transit’s relationship with the community. Partnering to build new mobility models. Zero-Fare public transit. Make sure you're signed up for the M...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Sophia Robison, Community Engagement Advocate and Urban Planner at SocialPinpoint, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: The benefits of “hybrid” engagement. Building better equity during the public outreach process. The power of building trust in the community. Successful engagement examples during the pandemic. Make sure you're sign...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Mark Szyperski, President/CEO for On Your Mark Transportation joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: How and why bus operations are lacking in their marketing practices. Free and low-cost marketing tips for bus operations. The driver issue and how it could be remedied. The state of the motorcoach industry. Make sure you're signed up for th...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Michael Keroulle, President/CEO, Americas, at Alstom, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: How AI can help build equity on our roads. How automation can truly impact public transit now. Challenges facing transit agencies today. AI’s possible impact on transit in the future. Make sure you're signed up for the METRO Express newsletter so y...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Michael Keroulle, President/CEO, Americas, at Alstom, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: What his first year on the job was like after coming on board both during COVID and following Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier. The company’s rebranding efforts following the acquisition. New products and services being delivered to the North Ame...

Welcome to our rebranded video series METROspectives. Today, Randy Cantor, Transportation Services Manager for the Carteret County Area Transportation System (CCATS) in Newport, N.C., joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman. Topics include: The decision for CCATS to test propane usage for its fleet. The agency’s partnership with ROUSH CleanTech and its decision to expand their propane usage. How...

Fresh off of his trip to Dubai for UITP MENA, Transit Evangelist Paul Comfort joins METRO’s Alex Roman to discuss how the taxicabs in that region work together with public transit, as well as why some mobility models are slow to take hold in the states. He also discusses the benefits of contracting, his forthcoming book on equity and inclusion, and how he is merging his love for music and public t...

Transit’s ridership dip during the pandemic didn’t stop all agencies from forging ahead.    In this episode of Roads, Rails, & Reels, NJ Transit President/CEO Kevin S. Corbett discusses: - How the pandemic impacted the agency. - How it moved forward through its “While You Were Away Campaign,” which focused on capital projects to update and improve services.   - Corbett also talk...

The Center for Transportation and Environment recently conducted an analysis , which projected that public transit systems could go zero emissions by 2035 at a cost of between $56.22 billion and $88.91 billion. Dan Raudebaugh, Executive Director of the Center for Transportation and the Environment , or CTE, joins METRO’s Alex Roman to discuss the center and its work, as well as the report, includi...

For several years, the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University in Chicago has studied the intercity bus industry and shared its findings both in its annual report and in the pages of METRO Magazine . Joseph Schwieterman, professor at the university and director of the institute, joins METRO’s Alex Roman to discuss some of the findings in this year’s report, as well as...

Jason Ferbrache, administrator, and Jesse Rush, director of operations, for Oklahoma City’s EMBARK join METRO's Alex Roman to discuss the many initiatives going on at their agency, including an eight-mile, 32-stop BRT line. They also discuss how the pandemic brought the EMBARK team closer together and how the agency views mobility post-pandemic. Follow METRO on social media: Twitter Facebook

Retiring Greater Dayton RTA CEO Mark Donaghy joins METRO’s Alex Roman to discuss his 45 years in the industry, the important role public transit plays in providing equity in communities across the nation, and his unique tie to desegregation in Omaha, Nebraska. He also discusses his greatest achievements in the industry, how transit has changed in his 45 years, and his post-retirement plans. Follow...

Jessica Mefford-Miller, executive director for St. Louis’s Metro Transit, joins METRO's Alex Roman to discuss the many initiatives going on at her agency, including an electric bus program, new on-demand solutions, and the addition of mobile ticketing, as well as how the pandemic has impacted the region and how it will shape the future of mobility. Follow METRO on social media: Twitter Facebook