The DOT POD

When severe storms swept across the state recently, they left a path of destruction in their wake. The tornado damage left trees and power lines strewn across roads, and buildings and cars destroyed. But once the weather cleared, the New York State DOT got to work in clearing debris, fixing roads, restoring signals, and helping communities get back to a sense of normalcy. In this episode of the DO...

State workers, be they members of DOT, or any other agency, work hard every day to keep New York running smoothly. But these employees, just like any other, need someplace to turn for support. The Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, is designed to be there for all State employees, and on this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Nancy Nuding, and EAP Coordinator at NYSDOT's Main Offic...

Each year on the second Sunday in July in downtown Utica, NY, tens of thousands of runners converge for the annual Boilermaker Road Race. This 15k event is more party than race, as the entire community bands together to create a carnival atmosphere for runners and spectators alike. But to put an event like this on, so much of the work goes on behind the scenes, long before the opening gun. NYSDOT...

On this edition of The DOT POD, hosts Josh and Anya hit the road and travel to Mohawk Valley Community College to attend the Annual NYSATE Conference. NYSATE, which stands for the New York State Association of Transportation Engineers, held their annual conference in Utica, NY and The DOT POD was there. Brian Hoffman, NYSDOT Professional Engineer with Region 2's Design Group, and Bob Rice, Regiona...

It's nearly pollinator week and at the New York State Department of Transportation, we are doing all that we can to help support the pollinators that are so essential to our everyday lives. On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya sit down with Principal Landscape Architect Peter Dunleavy and Maintenance Environmental Program Manager Mary Ellen Papin to talk about exactly why pollinators are...

On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Janet Ho, the Assistant Commissioner for Finance and Integrated Modal Services. Janet talks about her role, as well as the winding path that brought her to the Department of Transportation.

May is National Bike Safety Month, and with the weather getting warmer, and the days getting longer, it is the perfect time to get out and get riding. With that in mind, Josh and Anya welcome to the DOT POD Karen Lorf, State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator with the Department of Transportation. Karen discusses active transportation, complete streets, and bicycle etiquette, all in an effort to e...

In 2023, the New York State Department of Transportation experienced 214 work zone traffic intrusions. The majority of these crashes were caused by distracted driving, following too closely, unsafe lane change, or disregarding traffic warning signs. Workers' Memorial Day takes place on April 28 and is a chance to remember the many highway and transportation workers who have made the ultimate sacri...

On this edition of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya are joined by the Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Performance, Deb Nelson. From her more than 30 years of experience at DOT, to her background in forestry, and her first job out in the wilds of Alaska, find out more about this integral member of the Department of Transportation.

On this special "Celestial Edition" of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya discuss the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse occurring across New York State on April 8, 2024. They are joined by the Director of Interagency Operations for the Governor, Jessica DeCerce, and DOT's Director of the Transportation Systems Management and Operations Bureau, Becky Gibson-Schott. While this will no doubt be an awe inspiri...

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode of the DOT POD features some of the inspiring women of the New York State Department of Transportation in their own voices. Listeners will hear from: Stephanie Winkelhake: Chief Engineer Nancy Kamel: Regional Transportation Maintenance Engineer, Long Island Deb Nelson: Director, Office of Policy, Planning & Performance Jennifer Hawkins: Program E...

In the heart of Rochester, directly adjacent to the iconic Frederick Douglass Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge, lies the Roc City Skatepark. Since its opening in 2020, the skatepark has been a welcome space where skateboarders, rollerbladers, BMXers, and other progression-oriented sports enthusiasts come to embody the sport, sharpen their skills, and enjoy endless hours of outdoor recreation. The...

Weather in New York is a bit unpredictable, to say the least. But the first-of-its-kind New York State Weather Risk Communication Center (SWRCC) aims to improve the state's collective preparation and response to extreme weather events. Hosts Josh and Anya travel to the University at Albany's ETEC Building to sit down with the Director of the NY SWRCC, Dr. Nick Bassill, and NYSDOT's Director, Emerg...

The Syracuse I-81 Viaduct Project is one of the largest and most ambitious projects in New York State transportation history. On this episode of The DOT POD, we not only take a look at the project, but specifically, who is going to be working on this transformational project. Host Josh Heller is joined by guest host TeNesha Murphy, the Community Liaison and 1-81 Viaduct Project Assistant for NYSDO...

The New York State Department of Transportation and SUNY Cobleskill are working together to train the next generation of skilled trades technicians in the field of diesel technology and agricultural equipment technology. This industry is currently challenged by a sharp increase in retiring technicians, as these retirees take with them decades of applied skills and intuitional knowledge. NYSDOT and...

During the devastating flooding in July of 2023, the route 28N bridge, in the community of Long Lake, sustained enough damage to render it impassable. This led to a nearly 80 mile detour for residents to get to the neighboring community of Newcomb. However, NYSDOT was able to have a temporary bridge in place within three weeks, and not only fixed, but improved, the 28N bridge in a matter of months...

The DOT POD welcomes in Mike Rossi who recently became the Acting Director of NYSDOT's newly created Office of Data and Information Technology Management. We talk about this brand new office and what it entails, along with finding out more about Mike, including that he is a third degree blackbelt.

With the snow and ice season now firmly under way, The DOT POD welcomes in Rob Fitch and Joe Thompson to discuss the use of road salt, the importance of protecting the environment while also keeping roads safe for the traveling public.

The DOT POD tackles the snow and ice season. Guests Joe Thompson (Snow and Ice Program Manager) and Chris Rafuse (Maintenance Supervisor in Region 3’s Onondaga West residency) discuss how the New York State Department of Transportation navigates the New York winters. From pre-winter prep, to storm response, and everything in between, we take a look at the inner workings of this crucial aspect of t...

The DOT POD welcomes in Harry White, a NYSDOT bridge engineer with decades of experience who combines wit and hilarious anecdotes to break down the cutting-edge concepts behind some of the Department's bridge designs.

Welcome to The DOT POD, the official podcast of the New York State Department of Transportation.