The DOT POD

Work at NYSDOT can sometimes be a messy business. Think about maintaining worm-composting toilets at a state rest are - or transforming roadkill into renewal by cleaning and composting animal carcasses from our state highways. Those are just a couple of the MANY challenging jobs our dedicated DOT employees tackle daily, and we'll find out more about them on this episode that looks at the dirti...

This episode explores a critical part of emergency preparedness at the New York State Department of Transportation - our yearly staging area drills. These drills aren't just routine exercises, they're basically huge rehearsals for real events, ranging from hurricanes and floods, to snowstorms and other emergencies. Recently, Josh and Anya had the chance to observe a staging drill in Utica...

Safety doesn’t just happen by accident; it takes carefulplanning. To keep New York’s roadway safe DOT has developed a Strategic Highway Safety Plan which is aimed at drastically cutting down on serious crashes and fatalities, with the ultimate goal, of course, being zero deaths. In this episode, Josh and Anya explore the key factors thatmake us vulnerable to serious crashes, what DOT is doing to p...

In this episode, we are shining a spotlight on rail safety - an essential aspect of our transportation system, that millions of people rely on for their daily commutes as well as in getting the goods we need. But did you know that the New York State Department of Transportation plays a crucial role in keeping our rail system safe? Guests Mike Labello and Brian Galvin walk us through the vital work...

We often hear of the inspiring stories of DOT workers who go above and beyond their duties, helping those in need; like aiding stranded drivers during major snowstorms or after accidents. On this edition of The DOT POD, we're sharing the stories of DOT employees who come to the aid of animals in distress. Josh and Anya are joined by DOT workers Brett Stoner, Ryan Wilson, and Kim Latour. From r...

DOT's projects and initiatives are deeply rooted in our communities. But to truly meet the needs of the people we serve, we've got to meet them where they are. This principle is at the core of public engagement and we're continually seeking innovative ways to connect with our communities. On this episode, Project Director for the I-81 Viaduct Project, Betsy Parmley, and Community Liaison and Publi...

The New York State Department of Transportation prioritizes safety 24-7, 365, to ensure our roadways remain safe for everyone who uses them. Every time we travel, whether it's our daily commute, or shuttling our kids to school, we share the road with large commercial trucks and motor carriers. But have you every thought about the people responsible for making sure these trucks and their driver...

Airports are critical to the health and well-being of the communities in upstate New York. They are gateways to local economies and make lasting impressions. In September, $230 million was awarded to nine upstate airports as part of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. On this episode, Josh and Anya sit down with Deputy Chief Engineer Carlos Rivera and Aviation...

On this episode of The DOT POD, NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez joins Josh and Anya to discuss how we're ensuring better infrastructure, enhanced safety, and greater mobility for all New Yorkers.

The women of DOT represent an extraordinary collective of dedicated professionals who thrive in a field that has long been viewed as predominantly male. In honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting a newly formed Women's Group in DOT's Long Island office that is dedicated to uplifting and empowering the women who are making significant contributions to DOT and the transportat...

As DOT works to rebuild and enhance our vast transportation network, we're often reminded that our state has a rich history far older than our modern infrastructure. Sometimes our projects reveal what life was like hundreds, even thousands of years ago and on this episode of The DOT POD we dig into the kind of discoveries that are being made as w shape our transportation system. Josh and Anya...

In June of 2019, New York signed into the law the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) to help address climate change. This was furthered by Governor Hochul's Executive Order 22: which directs state agencies to adopt a sustainability and decarbonization program. On this episode of The DOT POD, we welcome in someone who is helping to lead the charge, New York State Department...

While we don't often think of what goes on under our feet, the drillers of DOT's Geotechnical Engineering Bureau are tasked with exactly what makes up the ground beneath us. On any given project, drillers will take core samples, allowing engineers to create a soil profile and select the most appropriate foundation type for the structure being analyzed. On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh...

In 1960, Ed Donovan joined what is now the New York State Department of Transportation, and 64 years later, he is still at it, serving as an Engineer in Charge on Long Island. Josh and Anya traveled to Long Island to meet with Ed and talk about his history, his longevity, and his wealth of knowledge, built over 60 years at the Department. In this episode, Ed discusses working on extended and const...

In this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya are on location in Hauppauge, NY on Long Island to talk about bascule bridges - what they are, how they work, and how we maintain them. There are five bascule bridges, essentially drawbridges, on Long Island that are owned and operated by New York State DOT. We sat down with a couple of employees who work with these bridges daily. Mitch Rippe is a brid...

Though the weather outside is frightful, the hardworking men and women of the New York State Department of Transportation are out there ensuring the roads throughout the state are safe to drive on. In this edition of The DOT POD, hosts Josh and Anya welcome in two employees who are on the front lines of this seasonal battle; Kevin Kelsey, a Maintenance Supervisor 2 in the Southern Tier, and Mike K...

Last month, New York State Department of Transportation's Office of Traffic Safety & Mobility welcomed their counterparts from Maine DOT to learn from each other in through peer exchange experiences. Josh and Anya welcome back Becky Gibson-Schott, Director of Transportation Systems Management and Operations in the Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility for NYSDOT, and Colby Fortier-Brown, an As...

On this episode, hosts Josh Heller and Anya Kardos celebrate the first anniversary of The DOT POD, which launched just over a year ago, on November 16, 2023. They look back on the year that was, which included 27 different episodes that highlighted the people, projects, and initiatives that pushed the New York State DOT forward. Join Josh and Anya as they hop in the way-back-machine and revisit so...

New York State agencies are hiring for thousands of critical positions open across the state. To help agencies fill these positions, the Department of Civil Service has developed the NY Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) Program. This program streamlines the appointment process to allow State agencies to hire diverse, qualified permanent employees quickly and without exami...

In this episode of The DOT POD, host Josh Heller finds himself in a bit of a “tight spot” as he and co-host Anya Kardos head to Alexandria Bay, New York, to get a first-hand look at the New York State Department of Transportation’s brand-new mobile Confined Space Training Trailer. Their journey offers a unique opportunity to delve into NYSDOT’s enhanced confined space training and how this new mob...

The DOT POD's hosts are back on the road, this time visiting Rome, NY to explore the innovative world of micro transit. In this episode, Josh and Anya sit down with guests Ross Farrell, Director of NYSDOT's Public Transportation Bureau, and Steve Koegel, Vice President of Communications and Business Planning for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro). They discuss Centro's...

On this edition of The DOT POD, hosts Josh and Anya are once again on site at the Great New York State Fair talking about recruitment. The New York State Department of Transportation is constantly on the look out for the best and the brightest to join the DOT team, with openings throughout the entire Department. Joining the podcast are recruitment coordinator, Dan Patrignani, and motor equipment m...

On this special episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya travel to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of that tragic day. Listen in as they speak with two former DOT employees, Mukesh Desai and Craig Ruyle, who worked right around the corner from the Towers. They'll take us through the events of that day and the aftermath in the days th...

With the first day of school right around the corner, countless parents will be sending their children to school on those bright yellow school buses. But in order for that bus to be on the road, the New York State Department of Transportation makes sure that they pass one of the most rigorous inspections in the country. This episode of the DOT POD is on location at the Great New York State Fair wh...

One of the Great annual traditions in New York is the Great New York State Fair which is set to kick off at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. This year's event is primed to be another exciting affair with nearly a million people expected to walk through the turnstiles. But with so many people coming to experience this tremendous event, and many of them arriving by car, a great deal of co...