The DOT POD

For a lot of people, DOT is not just a job - it's part of their family story. From watching their parents suit up to respond to storms, or hearing about projects at the dinner table, these are people who learned at a very young age that public service isn't glamorous, but it truly matters, and that's why they are proud to carry forward that tradition of service. In this episode, Josh a...

Engineering shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, including the roads and bridges we travel every day. At the New York State Department of Transportation, women engineers are leading major transportation projects, mentoring future professionals, and helping shape the future of transportation across our state. Every year on June 23rd, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the outstan...

Josh and Anya are in the City of Buffalo talking about Queen City Forward, an effort that's all about rethinking the future of transportation in Western New York, starting with the Kensington Expressway, also known as The 33. Joining the show are Queen City Forward Project Assistant Taje Jenkins-Jones, and Ryan Whalen, DOT's Public Information Officer for the Buffalo Region. Both are from...

This episode is all about those iconic structures that connect our communities - supporting our local economies and carrying motorists safely to their destinations every day. We're talking about bridges. Josh and Anya are in Buffalo to talk with two NYSDOT engineers who are each in charge of a significant bridge project in the region. Joining the show are Daryl Nolan, the Engineer in Charge fo...

What if the biggest threat to your workday wasn't an accident or traffic jam, but the equipment humming away on your desk? Today, we are pulling back the curtain on seemingly harmless workplace items and emails that are, in reality, attempts to steal not just your identity, but any kind of information that might prove valuable to bad actors. On this episode of the DOT POD, we are introducing y...

This episode is launching during National Work Zone Awareness Week. A time to highlight the importance of work zone safety and to remember the men and women who have lost their lives while working to keep our roads maintained and safe. On March 17, 2006, Patrick Mapleson was filling potholes along Sunrise Highway on Long Island when a driver lost control of his cement truck and crashed into Pat's...

On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya take a deep dive into one of the most ambitious and transformative transportation efforts currently underway in New York's Capital Region -Reimagining I-787. Greg Wichser and Kelley Kircher join the program to talk about the effort that not only addresses aging infrastructure along a major corridor from the City of Albany to the Community of Green...

For newer snowplow operators, this winter season wasn't just busy - it was an opportunity and a masterclass in maneuvering plows in whiteouts and adapting to rapidly changing conditions. Josh and Anya traveled to Binghamton to sit down with one of DOT's newer snowplow operators, and one of their experienced instructors. Equipment Operator Instructor Ryan Ashman and Highway Maintenance Work...

We're celebrating Women's History Month and we're doing it the best way we know how - by highlighting a leader who is not only shaping transportation in New York State, but also the world of women in transportation. Josh and Anya are joined by Linda Lubey, the new Director of the Office of Traffic, Safety, and Mobility. Linda started her career when the transportation field was still m...

When you think of the New York State Department of Transportation, you probably imagine projects, planning, or filling potholes and snowplowing. And while that's definitely part of the job, DOT employees don't just live and breathe transportation. They've got plenty of hobbies and passions outside of work. In this episode, Josh and Anya welcome in a few of these employees to find out w...

If you've been on social media during a snowstorm or just before our morning commute, chances are DOT popped up in your feed. Sometimes those posts don't just pop...they explode. Case in point, last month's major statewide snowstorm. Millions of people viewed an eight-foot tall snowbank, with one of our DOT employees standing next to it for scale...and boom, that picture went viral. Je...

On this episode of the DOT POD, we are talking about something that New Yorkers see on many of our roadways - HELP Trucks. Those white trucks that seem to show up at exactly the right moment - when flat tires, spinouts, or dead batteries happen. Recording from the Hudson Valley, Josh and Anya welcome in HELP Truck Operator Jerry Gamone, Manager for DOT's Traffic Management Center in Hawthorne,...

The Livingston Avenue Bridge has been carrying trains across the Hudson River since the Civil War era. Now, more than 150 years later, it's being replaced to meet the needs of modern rail travel while also expanding pedestrian access with a design that respects its historic roots. On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Jeff Moryl, Director of DOT's Project Management Offi...

The New York State Department of Transportation is all about serving our communities and over the years we've expanded our focus to encompass a wide range of initiatives that listeners may not at first associate with transportation. One area where our department has taken the lead on a nation level is in the fight against human trafficking. In honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Josh and...

In this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya visited one of DOT's Traffic Management Centers, or TMC's. These 24/7 hubs are the eyes and ears of New York's roadway network. Inside, skilled operators track live camera feeds and analyze data so they can take quick action in case something serious happens like a crash, storm, or floods. Joining the podcast are Senior Transportation Analy...

Every time we pull up to an intersection and the light cycles smoothly from green, to yellow, to red, there is literally a team behind that moment - those who work behind the scenes in our NYSDOT Signal Shops. In this episode of the DOT POD, we are stepping into a world that most drivers rarely think about...until the lights go out. We are talking about traffic signals at one of our many signal sh...

Its hard to believe that the DOT POD is celebrating its second birthday. And from safety stories to snowstorms, wildlife rescues to worm toilets, this year's podcast had it all. Join Josh and Anya as they take a look back at all the great stories shared by the people who are keeping New York moving!

This Veterans Day the DOT POD is taking time to honor the veterans within our DOT family; the people whose dedication to our country continues through their service to the people of New York. Their sacrifice, discipline, and commitment inspires all of us, and on this episode, Josh and Anya are joined by one of these dedicated employees who is ensuring that our veterans are supported every day at D...

When it comes to battling snow and ice, no one does it better than our DOT crews. Plowing and deicing may look straightforward, but there's a lot of science and skill behind the scenes. On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya are joined by Rob Fitch, Director of DOT's Office of Transportation Maintenance, and Joe Thompson, DOT's Snow and Ice Program Manager, to give a behind the...

Many airports are run by counties, or airport authorities, but Republic Airport on Long Island is actually owned and operated by the New York State Department of Transportation.   The airport is one of the busiest in New York State in terms of aircraft operations and it is home an annual airshow and supports regional sporting events and venues including the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage...

On this episode of the DOT POD we are celebrating our 50th episode! And what better way to mark the occasion than to give you 50 on 50...Route 50, that is. Anya and Josh and on the road, literally, as they record the episode while cruising down the 31 miles that make up New York State Route 50, going from Scotia to Gansevoort. Joining them on the drive is Region 1's Valerie Deane who shares so...

Changes are happening to the traffic lights you drive through every day! On this episode of The DOT POD, we are talking about traffic technology that's being implemented right now to make our signals smarter and ready to talk to the vehicles of the future. Josh and Anya, recording from the Great NY State Fair, are joined by Ryan Meagher from DOT's Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility.

They may look like one armed trailers, but Automated Flagger Assistance Devices are proving to be a game changer for worker protection in our New York State work zones. On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya travel to the Great New York State Fair and sit down with Matt Petrie, the Director of DOT's Bureau of Employee Safety and Health. Join them as they discuss the importance of work z...

On any given day in New York, animals are vulnerable to being struck by vehicles on our roadways...and these collisions aren't just dangerous for wildlife. On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya discuss how the New York State Department of Transportation is working to provide safe passage for wildlife with the safety of nature and humans in mind. They are joined by two people who are he...

In this episode of The DOT POD we are heading into the halls of NYSDOT's Main Office where a group of dedicated employees ensure everything runs like clockwork. We are talking about our facilities team. They are the hardworking caretakers of our mail room, crucial documents, surplus, and inventory. They take care of our lost items and help us organize our events. In short, they do a TON of wor...