Transportation Radio

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , ITE Global District Director Farukh Ijaz, PE , shares his inspiring journey from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to becoming a transportation leader and entrepreneur in the United States. Farukh reflects on how relationships, mentorship, and a passion for transportation shaped both his career and the growth of Consulting Services USA . He also discusses his...

Episode Summary In this episode, Alan Hejl talks about how his work at General Motors addressing the vehicle needs of the disabled, along with the travel difficulties experienced by his wheelchair-bound wife, inspired him to form his company, Spark Access . Hejl dives into how those personal experiences pushed him to advocate for the mobility needs of the disabled – especially in terms of how grea...

In this special anniversary episode, host Bernie Wagenblast and ITE Executive Director and CEO Steve Kuciemba celebrate 10 years of ITE Talks Transportation . Together, they reflect on a decade of conversations with industry leaders whose insights have helped shape discussions on transportation safety, transportation systems operations and management, emerging technologies, and other critical issu...

Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Russell McMurry – commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation – discussing his emphasis areas as 2025-2026 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ; emphasis areas focused on safety, National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA compliance, ways to improve project...

Laurie Matkowski , PMP, Planning Practice Lead at GFT , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to explore the evolving world of transportation operations and TSMO. From managing everyday mobility to preparing for global mega-events like the FIFA World Cup , Laurie shares insights on the critical role of alignment, technology, and human decision-making in keeping systems running smoothly. The c...

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Eric Rensel , Founder and CEO of Rensel Consulting , shares insights on how the industry can attract, develop, and retain the next generation of transportation professionals. From the power of mentorship and storytelling to the importance of early STEM exposure and alternative career pathways, Rensel draws on nationwide workforce development efforts an...

In this episode, Darlene Goehl – research engineer and research group lead at the  Texas A&M Transportation Institute – explains how new infrastructure being developed in Texas can help prevent thousands of monarch butterfly deaths as they migrate across busy roads in North America. Episode Notes In this podcast episode, Darlene Goehl joins ‘The Stream by AASHTO’ to discuss the joint work of t...

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , host Bernie Wagenblast speaks with Bryan Jones , Assistant City Manager for the City of Menifee, California , about how a Safe System Approach at the local level moves beyond traditional traffic safety strategies to examine how roadway design affects public health, emergency response, municipal budgets, and overall livability. Jones, coauthor of the Fe...

Michael Sanderson —CEO of Sanbell and 2018 ITE International President—shares how his “people first” philosophy has shaped his career and his approach to building strong teams on this episode of ITE Talks Transportation . He explains that leadership in technical fields isn’t about command-and-control, but about setting a clear vision, building culture, and trusting experts to deliver. Sanderson em...

Episode Summary In this episode of The Stream by AASHTO , George McCue , Emerging Mobility Assistant Director at the Indiana Department of Transportation , and Dr. Steven Pekarek , Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University , discuss a new electric vehicle project that seeks to create a wireless, electrified roadway that charges vehicles as they drive across the road. Th...

Episode Summary In this episode, Dan Medeiros – senior field representative for The Conservation Fund – discusses mountain lion conservation efforts in California as it relates to transportation infrastructure construction, motorist and wildlife safety, along with helping improve ecosystem linkages.  Episode Notes In this episode, Dan Medeiros joins The Stream by AASHTO to discuss his work with Th...

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , host Bernie Wagenblast speaks with Lorraine Martin , President and CEO of the National Safety Council , about the need to view roadway deaths as a public health crisis. Martin outlines proven strategies and emerging technologies that are advancing progress toward the goal of zero fatalities. She discusses how cultural change, infrastructure design, and...

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Jean-Paul Brissett , CEO of Quality Counts , discusses how data and artificial intelligence are reshaping transportation decision-making. Brissett examines how new technologies are enhancing access to and interpretation of data while raising critical questions about privacy and ethics. He also reflects on the evolving role of human judgment in an incre...

This episode of ITE Talks Transportation dives into the newly released 12th edition of the ITE Trip Generation Manual . Guests Chris Brehmer of Kittleson & Associates and Eric Tripi of GHD highlight how the manual reflects multimodal travel patterns, with expanded data on walking, transit, and emerging land uses. They discuss new additions such as trip rates for fast-food restaurants, dog park...

Episode Summary In this episode, Tziporah Feldman discusses the specific policy issues Scenic America addresses, such as the impact of undergrounding utility construction on parks and open spaces; billboards and sign control; and intersection of community planning and scenic byways. Episode Notes The latest episode of The Stream by AASHTO podcast features an interview with Tziporah Feldman , polic...

Episode Summary In this podcast episode, Michael Perez – Brasfield & Gorrie associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Auburn University – shares his journey with breaking into stormwater engineering and erosion control, the rewards of working as a professor, and the successes and future of Auburn’s Stormwater Research Facility . Episode Notes This podcast series is part of...

On this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Steve Latoski, Director of Public Works for Mohave County , Arizona, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in managing rural roadways. He highlights the importance of low-cost Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), funding strategies like the Highway Safety Improvement Program , and the growing role of technologies such as AI in enhancin...

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , sustainability mobility consultant Manuel Calvo discusses how Seville rapidly transformed into a bike-friendly city by building an 80-kilometer protected bike lane network in just a few years. The initiative succeeded due to strong political will, public support, and strategic design focused on everyday users rather than just avid cyclists, and a fast,...

Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Garrett Eucalitto , commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the 2024-2025 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials , discussing his commitment to “safer communities, safer users, and safer workers” and federal surface transportation reauthorization a...

In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Joey Paskey, Director of Public Works for the City of Las Vegas , discusses the unique transportation challenges in a fast-growing city like Las Vegas, where she oversees a diverse infrastructure system that serves both residents and more than 40 million annual visitors. She emphasizes the city's proactive safety approach, including a Vision Zero...

Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Ted Boling , a partner with Perkins Coie , with over 30 years of public service – who discusses recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act , or NEPA, and the removal of regulations by the Council on Environmental Quality , or CEQ. Episode Notes This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Mana...

Episode Summary In this episode, Ken Kunkel – principal research scholar at the North Carolina Institute of Climate Studies at North Carolina State University – explains how transportation agencies can use the Atlas 15 weather tool developed by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration to measure the impact of extreme precipitation on infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. Episode Notes...

Bill Schultheiss , P.E., Vice President and Director of Design and Engineering at Toole Design , and Katy Sawyer , P.E., Principal Engineer at Toole Design, join the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the new AASHTO Bike Guide . They highlight the importance of community engagement in planning bicycle infrastructure and share how planners can effectively navigate national, state, and loca...

Natalie Draisin, Director of the North American Office and the United Nations Representative for the FIA Foundation , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about the current state of road safety on the global level. She talks about how the United States compares to other parts of the world when it comes to road safety, strategies for successfully implementing the Safe System Approach,...

David Kriger, principal of David Kriger Consultants, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss emerging trends in urban goods movement and how they're impacting the space. He also talks about drivers of change in urban freight related to factors beyond land development and road infrastructure, and uses case study examples to highlight what cities in the United States and Canada ar...