This week Paul comes to you from the Bluegrass State and historic Louisville, Kentucky. Paul visited Carrie Butler, Executive Director of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), in-person in her office in the former Union Station from the Louisville-Nashville rail line. You can read more about Paul's visit in his post on the Vontas blog . Carrie started at TARC almost a year ago in the midst of the pandemic, but that challenge only seems to have buoyed her optimism and drive to bring fresh o...
Aug 04, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 43
This week on Transit Unplugged News and View we have the first Transit Tech segment. These will be monthly segments where we interview on new innovations in transit technology. This week Tris chats with Dr. Farrokh Mansouri, head of data science at Trapeze, about using machine learning and AI to predict how weather and traffic affect on-time performance. If you're interested in how Trapeze approaches machine learning and AI you might like Farrokh's recent blog post . Paul gives his weekly look i...
Jul 28, 2021•27 min•Season 4Ep. 42
This week we wrap up our mini-tour of Latin America with Paul's conversation with Joubert Flores, Chairman of ANTPTRILHOS in Brazil. Joubert has been an integral part of the transit industry for over 45 years and his insights into where the transportation system in Brazil has been, and where it's going in the future, are essential listening for all transit agencies. To close out this pair of interviews, Paul hosted a roundtable with Paola Realpozo, VP Marketing at Trapeze, and Juan Goritti, Sale...
Jul 21, 2021•36 min•Season 4Ep. 41
This week on the first episode of Transit Unplugged News and Views (what we use to call Comfort's Corner) Paul chats with Andrew Bata of UITP, North America . Paul and Andrew talk about Andrew's former role as Chief Innovator at New York MTA. He and Paul continue with his vision of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for transit agencies around the world. Elea Carey continues the thread with how agencies should communicate getting people back to transit. And finally, Paul wraps up th...
Jul 14, 2021•39 min•Season 4Ep. 40
The bustling city of Fortaleza could be a model for how operators, transit agencies, and cities can work together to deliver sustainable, technology-enabled public transit. This week Paul chats with Dimas Barreira is the president of SINDIONIBUS, a group of 17 transit operators serving the city of Fortaleza and the surrounding area. What's unique in Fortaleza isn't the close partnership between SINDIONIBUS and the city, but the confederation of independent companies who have come together to agr...
Jul 07, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 39
What do you do when you're given the reins of one of the biggest rail projects in history that's three years late and well over budget? How do you take something that has gone decidedly off the rails, back on track? For Mark Wild of Crossrail UK, it meant going back to the fundamentals of project management. He focused on grappling with the enormous complexity of the project, correcting things that had gone off course, and building a team that could adapt to uncertainty. No project of this scale...
Jun 30, 2021•29 min•Season 4Ep. 38
Paul's on vacation this week so our producer Tris Hussey is in the host's chair for this episode. News in this episode: Proterra goes public on the NASDAQ US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg highlights and thanks the transit industry for its work getting people vaccinated . Robert Yu was tapped as President and General Manager for Oahu Transit Services . Vince Pellegrin, COO of Metro Transit retires after 24 years at the agency . We wish him the best on his retirement. The Chicago Tran...
Jun 23, 2021•25 min•Season 4Ep. 37
This week Paul chats with Naif Bin Hwail of Saudi Arabia's Transport General Authority (TGA) on how his agency built a structure to serve millions of people--including the millions visiting Mecca and Medina for the Haj--using bus, rail, and taxis. In his conversation with Paul, Naif Bin Hwail talks about developing bus rapid transit (BRT) in several cities and expanding the rail network to serve the millions of people who come to Saudi Arabia. Unlike many transportation agencies, TGA is also res...
Jun 16, 2021•26 min•Season 4Ep. 36
This week on Comfort's Corner we have two newsmaker interviews for you. First, we talk with Candace Moore of the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority about how she's used asset management data to improve maintenance in her fleet of nearly 200 vehicles. Then we travel to Saskatoon, SK, and hear an excerpt from Cory Shrigley's ThinkTransit session on how they used real-time ridership data to quickly adapt their service to meet the needs of essential workers during pandemic lockdowns and help he...
Jun 09, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 35
" We want to promote caring commuting culture here, a gracious one, ... working together with everyday commuters to try and improve each other's commute." This week Paul talks with Jeremy Yap, Deputy Chief Executive for Public Transport, Policy and Planning for the Land Transport Authority, Singapore. In this wide-ranging interview, we learn how Singapore is creating and expanding a transit system to serve its 5.6 million people with bus and rail service that is clean, efficient, and kind. From ...
Jun 02, 2021•42 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Show notes: Welcome to Comfort's Corner for May 26th, 2021. This week on Comfort's Corner we have a special newsmaker segment with board members of the North American Transit Alliance (NATA) and the International Association of Public Transit (UITP) discussing the results of a new study on private contracting in public transit agencies. UITP completed the study on behalf of NATA and conducted interviews with transit agencies from around the world. The results of this study and give a rich, diver...
May 26, 2021•41 min•Season 4Ep. 33
This week Paul chats with Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi of the RAK Transport Authority in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the seven Emirates in the UAE and home to over 60 km of beaches, the world's longest zip line, and... A really innovative and integrated transit system. From buses to taxis, e-scooters and e-bikes to ferries, RAK Transport is creating a uniquely integrated system powered by new apps and technology. Unlike many North American transit auth...
May 19, 2021•30 min•Season 4Ep. 32
This week is a special Comfort's Corner with a focus on access and equality in the transit system. After this week's transit news, we hear from Julie Timm of the Greater Richmond Transit Company on how she is looking at how the fare system, might not be fair to the people who need and depend on it most. Julie's segment was taken from her Virtual ThinkTransit talk she gave on April 28th, 2021. In part three of Comfort's Corner, Paul talks about his new vision on the future of transit. Beyond tech...
May 12, 2021•41 min•Season 4Ep. 31
" ...it was really that project that showed me how much transportation can add to the economic development of a region, can hurt, or help, neighborhoods. can really impact people at their business levels ... in the communities they choose to raise their families... " This week Paul is joined by Leslie Richards General Manager of SEPTA (Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) . In this Transit Unplugged episode, you not only learn about Leslie's career path but how she is tackling challe...
May 05, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 30
In the third of our special Transit Unplugged episodes from Virtual ThinkTransit, we have the final keynote from Day Three. Our final keynote of the conference had Geoff Gray step into Paul Comfort's shoes to moderate this amazing panel of Phil Verster, President and CEO, Metrolinx ; Erinn Pinkerton, President and CEO, BC Transit ; and Alex Wiggins, CEO, New Orleans Transit . Phil started off highlighting projects underway that will keep going to meet the needs of one of Canada's fastest-growing...
May 03, 2021•47 min•Season 4Ep. 29
This is the second of three special Transit Unplugged episodes from Virtual ThinkTransit. Our Day Two keynote was by Lauren Skiver, CEO of SunLine Transit Agency . challenged us to find our power and purpose to innovate. Lauren hit head-on the challenge of innovating in a regulated business like transit. We have a great responsibility to our staff, riders, and everyone else sharing the road, but we also have a responsibility to make sure transit evolves with the times and does more. Innovations ...
May 03, 2021•24 min•Season 4Ep. 28
In the first of three special Transit Unplugged episodes, we bring you the keynote from Day One of Virtual ThinkTransit (VTT). Robbie Makinen's (CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority ) keynote was an inspiration to the entire audience. Robbie is well known as an inspiring speaker and he did not disappoint today. He lost his sight about eight years ago and related a story about sitting in the car with his son and how it was a turning point for him. Everyone is dealt a bad hand some...
May 03, 2021•25 min•Season 4Ep. 27
“This industry is absolutely crucial for people to live their lives in the way that they are used to doing.” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Luke Antoniou, Editor of Intelligent Transport, joins Paul Comfort to discuss new transit trends in Europe and his thoughts on Mobility-as-a-Service. Paul also shares an exciting Q&A from ThinkTransit featuring Elea Carey, John Sisson, and Sam Sargent. If you want to know more about Intelligent Transport, chec...
Apr 28, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 26
“I have always said that crisis breeds innovation.” Joining the Transit Unplugged podcast for this episode is Clinton Forbes, Executive Director at Palm Tran. Clinton chats with Paul Comfort about Palm Tran’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, their new flex routes for remote areas, and shares his thoughts on the future of electric vehicles. Clinton also joins Paul’s lightning round to share his favorite books, hobbies, and more. If you want to know more about Palm Tran, check out their website ...
Apr 21, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 25
“We're looking at the big picture. Where are we going? What's happening? How do we make this all make sense together?” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Valerie Neilson, Deputy Director of the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, joins Paul Comfort to discuss the role of a metropolitan planning agency and how they interact with the local community. Valerie also chats about her passion for “complete streets” and prioritizing safety for users of all ...
Apr 14, 2021•39 min•Season 4Ep. 24
“I think we are best prepared and situated to be holistic transportation service providers, and we should not limit ourselves and stay in one lane.” Joining the Transit Unplugged podcast for this episode is Nat Ford, CEO of Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Nat chats with Paul Comfort about the latest and greatest innovations at the JTA, from vaccine buses to microtransit, and shares more about JTA’s unique autonomous vehicle Test and Learn track. If you want to know more about the JTA, che...
Apr 07, 2021•30 min•Season 4Ep. 23
“We're fortunate enough to work in a community that is supportive of our efforts.” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Brian Litchfield, Transit Director for the Town of Chapel Hill, joins Paul Comfort to discuss how COVID-19 has helped to bring his agency closer to the local community. Brian also chats about Chapel Hill Transit’s investments in clean energy and their unique fare-free model. If you want to know more about CHT, check out their website ....
Mar 31, 2021•41 min•Season 4Ep. 22
“These people who take care of us every day, we need to take care of them, and make sure that we're ensuring that our services are for everyone.” Joining the Transit Unplugged podcast for this episode is Tilly Chang, Executive Director for the San Francisco County Transportation Authority. Tilly chats with Paul Comfort about autonomous vehicles, the impact of TNC’s such as Uber and Lyft in San Francisco, and her thoughts on how public transit will recover from COVID-19. Tilly also joins Paul’s n...
Mar 24, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 21
“When we're challenged in transit, that's often sometimes where the greatest innovation comes.” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Christian Kent, Transit Management Consultant and former Assistant GM at WMATA, joins Paul Comfort to discuss how he believes paratransit services will change after COVID-19. Christian also chats about his career in the transit industry, and shares industry trends he’s seeing in transit recruitment. If you want to know more ab...
Mar 17, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 20
“We need transit to not only survive the pandemic, but to thrive.” Joining the Transit Unplugged podcast for this episode is David Kim, Secretary of Transportation for the State of California. David chats with Paul Comfort about CalSTA’s new high-speed rail project, the future of zero-emission buses, and his thoughts on autonomous vehicles. David also joins Paul’s new lightning round to share his favorite books, musicians, and predictions for the future of public transportation. If you want to k...
Mar 10, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 19
“We have two projects that were always on our books and our capital improvement program, however with the Amazon decision, it did provide us with the ability to actually put those projects forward even quicker.” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Pierre Holloman, Assistant Transit Bureau Chief at the Arlington Department of Environmental Services Division of Transportation, joins Paul Comfort to discuss what Amazon’s new Arlington office means for their t...
Mar 03, 2021•26 min•Season 4Ep. 18
“In times of crisis, you tend to come up with more creative solutions when you want to deliver them quite quickly.” Joining the Transit Unplugged podcast for this episode is Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority of Ireland. Anne chats with Paul Comfort about three major projects that the NTA is currently working on, including creating the first underground metro in Ireland and electrifying their rail network. Anne also provides an in-depth look into the Irish g...
Feb 24, 2021•30 min•Season 4Ep. 17
“We’re trying to remind Congress that the pandemic’s everywhere. And transit is a national program. It's not a program in 15 largest cities in the country. It's a national program, and if we're going to be able to get votes in Congress to the numbers we need, members need to have a reason to vote for the transit in their communities.” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Scott Bogren, Executive Director at Community Transportation Association of America (CT...
Feb 17, 2021•37 min•Season 4Ep. 16
“It's not transport for the sake of it … it's got a purpose, and it's worth investing in for that purpose. And as habits change, we should adapt what transit is there for to address the issues.” Joining the Transit Unplugged podcast for this episode is Sir Peter Hendy CBE, Chair of Network Rail. Sir Peter shares the story of his long and illustrious career in the transit industry and talks about the long and short-term implications of COVID-19 on the United Kingdom’s transit systems. Sir Peter a...
Feb 10, 2021•32 min•Season 4Ep. 15
“Some of those agencies where we've brought microtransit in, they’ve heard about it, but they weren't really looking into how to implement it. We get it up and running within 30-60 days ... I think private contracting can bring that value and that innovation and flexibility to put new services and products in at a faster pace.” On this episode of Comfort's Corner, part of the Transit Unplugged podcast, Matthew Wood, Chief Operating Officer at National Express Transit, joins Paul Comfort to discu...
Feb 03, 2021•37 min•Season 4Ep. 14
