Shifting Ears

There are a lot of major archeological sites in the Valley, but what does archeology have to do with Valley Metro? Grab your Indiana Jones hat and dig in as Brittany and Madeline talk with Valley Metro Deputy Director of Capital Planning Robert Forrest about how Valley Metro projects reveal a lot about Arizona's past. Stick around for the entire episode for the chance to win a prize! If you have i...

Temperatures can reach triple-digits during Arizona summers, but not in Valley Metro vehicles. That’s because we believe air conditioning is a necessity, not a privilege. Listen in as Brittany and Madeline sit with Valley Metro’s Bus Operations Manager Joey Templeton and Maintenance Supervisor Timothy Valenzuela to find out how we keep our vehicles cool and comfortable. Stick around for the entire...

You don’t have to be a transit rider to experience all the benefits of public transportation. Join Brittany and Madeline as they speak with Valley Metro transportation planners Marty Ziech and Peter Valenzuela about the Quality of Life study and get a snapshot of how Valley Metro impacts lives in Maricopa County.  Visit valleymetro.org/quality-of-life to see the results of the Quality of Life...

Jessica Mefford-Miller, Valley Metro's new CEO, sits down with Brittany and Madeline to outline her vision for the future, what drew her to the Valley of the Sun, and how she approaches managing one of the largest transit systems in the nation. Stick around for the entire episode for the chance to win a prize! If you have ideas about a future episode of Shifting Ears, email them to podcast@valleym...

Gas prices are rising and so are the number of public transit users. Did you know that a 1-day pass is currently cheaper than a gallon of gas? Join Brittany and Madeline as they chat with Aaron Xavier, Senior Service Planner for Valley Metro, about all the trends impacting our ridership numbers. And stick around for the entire episode for the chance to win a prize! If you have ideas about a future...

Operating a light rail or streetcar vehicle is much different than driving a car and takes a lot of training. Join Brittany and Madeline as they speak with James Mullins, a Rail Operations Instructor for Alternate Concepts, Inc. (ACI), about what goes into training new operators. And stick around for the entire episode for the chance to win a prize! If you have ideas about a future episode of Shif...

Part of the success of building light rail is getting to know your community. Join Brittany and Madeline as they speak with Gary Flunoy, Small Business Outreach Administrator, about how he connects with the community and helps Valley Metro connect small and large businesses during light rail construction. If you have ideas about a future episode of Shifting Ears, email them to podcast@valleymetro....

At Valley Metro, we always think about the future and what's ahead. Start the new year off right by listening to Brittany and Madeline sit down with Chief Executive Officer Scott Smith to discuss all the exciting projects in store for Valley Metro in 2022. Plus, Scott discusses his soon-to-be retirement. If you have ideas about a future episode of Shifting Ears, email them to  podcast@valleym...

As the year comes to a close Brittany and Peter countdown the top 12 accomplishments of Valley Metro in 2021. Plus we honor our fellow employees for their years of service.

This week Brittany and guest host Peter Valenzuela speak with Chief Information Officer Phil ‘Oz’ Ozlin about Valley Metro’s Drone program. Find out how we’re using drones to take the agency to new heights and learn how a farm boy from Virginia became the head of the IT department. If you have ideas about a future episode of Shifting Ears, email them to  podcast@valleymetro.org . Thanks for r...

Join Brittany and special guest-host Peter Valenzuela as they connect with Commute Solution’s Program Supervisor, Lillian Duarte, to discuss RideShare month. Find out how you can sign up and win prizes while helping the environment, saving time and money, and building new relationships. For more information on RideShare Month, visit  https://www.valleymetro.org/commute-solutions/rideshare-mon...

Listen as Brittany sits down with special guest-host, Peter Valenzuela, and Valley Metro's new Director of Capital Development, Henry Ikwut-Ukwa. Henry brings decades of experience and a fresh perspective to both our agency and the community it serves. We couldn't be more excited for the future of transit and what that means for the Valley we call home.

Tempe Streetcar is the first modern streetcar line in the Valley. This week, Brittany and Madeline sit down with Safety Certification Manager, Mark Germanowski, for an inside look at the Tempe Streetcar and all the tests performed before it’s cleared for service. For more information on the Tempe Streetcar, visit  https://www.valleymetro.org/project/tempe-streetcar If you have ideas about a f...

At Valley Metro, we value our ridership and want customers to have a great experience riding with us. That's why we have a new app available. This app will allow riders to view their bus or rail in real-time in addition to other valuable features. Listen as Brittany and Madeline chat with Customer Service Manager, Diana Kebbekus, and Enterprise Systems Engineer, TJ Thornal, as they discuss the app...

Here at Valley Metro, we're all about community, which is just one of the reasons we see many team members at the agency who share familial ties. Join Brittany and Madeline as they connect with Business Assistance experts, Bree and Debra Boelke, and Marketing Manager, Moriah Bedient with Commute Solutions Program Coordinator, Suzanne Day, to learn what it's like working alongside someone you know...

At Valley Metro, safety and security are at the top of our list when it comes to creating a great experience for riders. That’s why we’ve created Alert Valley Metro, an app that allows riders to quickly and discreetly report incidents. Listen as Brittany and Madeline chat with Taylor Dunn and Denni Metzger from OCS about what's it like to work on the communications side of Alert VM. ––– Learn more...

As Phoenicians, we're well-acquainted with the heat/ So, obviously, climate change is something we're thinking about in everything we do. To celebrate Earth Day, we're chatting with Sustainability Coordinator, Mackenzie McGuffie, about Valley Metro's journey toward being a perfect partner in the plan to save our planet. Learn more about the Statewide Sustainability Roadmap . Learn more about...

It's the hottest ticket in town! Listen as Brittany and Madeline sit down with First Transit General Manager, Lynn McLean, for an inside look at Valley Metro's employee vaccination event. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and find a location near you.

We're continuing our Women's History Month celebration with the talented Heather Freitas, whose colorful artwork for Valley Metro's Spring Artsline Spotlight highlights women trailblazers throughout history. There are 19 women featured across several art pieces on light rail and the large-scale mural wall at the Roosevelt/Central Ave light rail station.  This display of influential women alig...

Whether in transportation, aviation, or leadership in the courts, there are so many women who have worked hard to set the stage for all we do today. This week, Brittany and Madeline sit down with Debby Thacker and Michele Wallick, two trailblazing women at Valley Metro, as they share their experience and lessons learned from many years on the job. We'll be back in two weeks with another Women's Hi...

This week, Brittany and Madeline sit down with Senior Transit Planner, Joshua Matthews, to get the lowdown on all the exciting changes happening over at the Operations and Maintenance Center (OMC) Expansion Project and discuss where we go from here.

Take a ride with Brittany and Madeline as they experience the brand-new MCI buses.

You might not have noticed, but... downtown is kinda one big construction zone at the moment. Trust us, we know how annoying that can be which is why we're here to remind you that all this chaos leads to some big improvements, just down the line. Listen as Brittany and Madeline connect with Luis Mota for an inside look at what goes into a huge project like South Central Extension/Downtown Hub and...

It may be a new year at Valley Metro but great teams coming up with great ideas is clearly a pastime of our agency. Listen as Brittany and Madeline sit down with GIS Coordinator, Jeff Wilkerson, and CSD Planner, Peter Valenzuela to learn how they took a simple tool we've been using for years and pushed it to new levels. Check out the Go Getty with Artsline contest and share it with someone you kno...

Well, we've done it. We made it through a year unlike any other and, wow, do we have some stories to tell. But those stories will have to wait because this episode is all about you! Join Brittany and Madeline as they touch on a few of Valley Metro's biggest achievements in 2020 and wrap things up by celebrating this year's milestone employees. Congratulations to everyone on a job well done and a v...