Transportation Radio – Details, episodes & analysis

Aimee Flannery, Ph.D., P.E., Global Principal – Transportation Risk & Resiliency at Jacobs, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about making the transportation system more resilient and steps the industry can take to set standardized methods to measure resilience. She discusses several strategies to improve transportation resilience, including hardening assets, nature-based solutions, and improving system redundancy. She also addresses educational and training needs around resilience and how to better support practitioners in their professional development on the topic.

Cadaver dogs play a crucial role in identifying buried remains and culturally sensitive artifacts during transportation projects. Their exceptional sense of smell helps locate historic and prehistoric resources, ensuring that significant cultural sites are preserved. Today, Jen Anderson from the Texas Department of Transportation will discuss the impact of these trained canines on managing archaeological resources in transportation initiatives.

This episode marks the conclusion of a two-part series delving into effective management strategies during a solar eclipse. Specifically, we focus on emergency transportation management during and following the event. With contributions from Brandon Keller, Emergency Coordinator at Illinois DOT, we glean valuable insights into navigating the seamless transition from preparation to action. This discussion underscores the pivotal role of emergency transportation management in ensuring a smooth and effective response during and after a solar eclipse.

Being in the middle can sometimes be a tough place. Stewart Mader's job finds him talking to NJ Transit customers about how the agency operates and explaining what goes on behind the scenes. It also has him taking customers' ideas and concerns to top management. Mader serves as the Chief Customer Experience Officer and Customer Advocate for the statewide organization. He talked with Bernie Wagenblast about what his job involves and what he's learned since joining NJ Transit in April 2019.

New Jersey Transit has been the subject of much attention the past few years for service issues, primarily with its commuter rail service. In February 2018 Kevin Corbett was appointed as the agency's president and CEO. Corbett talks with Transportation Radio about what's he's learned since taking the reins and how he intends to deal with the challenges that still confront the organization.

Curbspace is in higher demand than ever before, with ridesharing companies, freight delivery vehicles, vendors, and more attempting to share the scene. Meghan Mitman and Steve Davis with Fehr & Peers discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by this space, and share examples of dynamic way agencies and municipalities are managing the curb. They also talk about their work on the ITE Curbside Management Practitioners Guide.

Valerie Lefler, Executive Director at Feonix – Mobility Rising, joins us on the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to explore issues around Mobility as a Service/Mobility on Demand (MaaS/MOD). She highlights ways to ensure that underserved communities are not overlooked as the MaaS/MOD market continues to grow, the challenges and opportunities presented by new mobility options, and how to navigate regulations, policies, and data in the process.

On this edition of the ITE Talks Transportation podcast, ITE Honorary Member Marsha Anderson Bomar discusses the various benefits that professional development can have on building one’s career. She touches on mentoring, soft skills, developing leadership capacities, and building connections to make the most out of your career path.

Sam Schwartz, longtime New York City traffic engineer and CEO of Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants, joins the ITE Talks Transportation Podcast to discuss how congestion pricing is being implemented in NYC. He explains how the pricing may help drive congestion relief in New York City, steps the city is taking to set rules and regulations around the new surcharge, and where the funds generated by congestion pricing might be directed.

Roger Millar, Secretary of Transportation at Washington State DOT in Olympia, Washington, highlights how the state is innovating when it comes to mobility as a service/mobility on demand and collaborating with partners across various municipalities and regions. He also addresses accessibility and equity issues, and provides an update on the SR 99 Viaduct Replacement, one of this year’s largest transportation engineering projects in the United States.