Transit Unplugged
Transit Unplugged

Transit Unplugged

Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo

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Episodes

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We share the stories, challenges, and successes of the top transit professionals from around the world. Learn how top transit leaders got to where they are with stories and insights from their careers. Get the inside story about public transit and transit trends from the people who run it. Transit Unplugged is hosted and produced by Paul Comfort and brought to you by Modaxo

Recent Episodes

Can KCATA Make Transit Oriented Development a Reality in Kansas City?
MAR 27, 2024
Can KCATA Make Transit Oriented Development a Reality in Kansas City?

Frank White III is a strong advocate of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and has a track record of making it happen. He oversaw TOD for Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) before becoming CEO nearly two years ago, now faced with a fiscal cliff, Frank is pushing KCATA into the future of transit and TOD.

KCATA was one of the first systems to go fare free during the pandemic, but that decision to keep people riding has a clear cost--KCATA doesn't have farebox revenue to close funding gaps, but TOD could change that. Developing land managed by the agency could bring in not only more revenue for the agency, but also an economic boost for the region. Already the KCATA MAX BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line is connecting parts of the city cut off from one another, and combined with KC Streetcar (a separate but cooperative agency), brings real economic development to both sides of the Kansas-Missouri border.

To make this all happen Frank has to undo decades of KCATA neglecting its role to manage and oversee transportation and development for the entire two-state, seven-county region. Listen to this conversation with Paul Comfort including a conversation on TOD while riding the MAX BRT line through the city.

Next week we stay in KC and learn about the streetcar system and how it's creating connections and economic opportunity in the city--including the Streetcar Cafe born on the streetcar line thanks to bringing people to the area.

If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected].

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

  • Paul Comfort, host and producer
  • Julie Gates, executive producer
  • Tris Hussey, editor and writer
  • Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn - Twitter - Threads- Instagram - Facebook

Sign up for the Transit Unplugged Newsletter

00:00 Frank White, III and KCATA

00:57 Inside the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority

01:44 Frank White III: From Marketing Director to CEO

02:56 Revolutionizing Public Transit in Kansas City

05:14 Navigating Financial Challenges and Fare-Free Transit

08:47 Empowering the Team and Defending Transit's Value

12:48 Exploring Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Kansas City

15:34 The Future of Transit: BRT Lines and Beyond

20:56 Wrap up with Paul Comfort

21:45 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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23 MIN
Special Episode: Are we thinking about cars the wrong way? from The Future of Mobility Podcast
MAR 20, 2024
Special Episode: Are we thinking about cars the wrong way? from The Future of Mobility Podcast

Welcome to another special edition of Transit Unplugged featuring an episode from another transit podcast. This time we welcome past guest Brandon Bartneck with an episode from The Future of Mobility featuring autonomous vehicle visionary Larry Burns. The episode was released in August 2023. The original show notes are below:

Aug 2023 https://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/larryburns2/

Larry Burns is a pioneer in the electrified and automated vehicle space, highly successful industry veteran, and author of Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car – And How It Will Reshape Our World. Larry joins the Future of Mobility podcast for a second time, previously appearing on Episode 93: https://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/larryburns/

Key topics in this conversation include:

  • The true objective for transportation, and why we buy cars
  • Why accessibility trumps speed
  • The need to get the crash out of the system and get the mass out of the system
  • What automakers have missed over the past few decades
  • How we can create a safer transportation ecosystem
  • Why Larry is so optimistic about the future

Listen here:

Apple Podcasts: link

Google Podcasts: link

Spotify: link

Links:


Larry’s Bio:

Larry Burns advises organizations on the future of mobility, logistics, manufacturing, energy and innovation. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Niron Magnetics. His current clients include Kitson & Partners, Nanoramic Laboratories, Neural Propulsion Systems and Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE).

Larry served as General Motors Corporate Vice President of Research & Development and Planning from 1998-2009. After leaving GM, Larry has been a Professor of Engineering Practice at the University of Michigan, the Director of the Program for Sustainable Mobility at Columbia University, a consultant to Google Self-Driving Cars/Waymo and an advisor to several major companies.

Larry is the author of Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car—And How It Will Reshape Our World (with Christopher Shulgan and published by Ecco / HarperCollins on August 28, 2018).

Future of Mobility:

The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields.

linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/

brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

Rethinking Mobility: Prioritizing Accessibility Over Speed

00:03 Introduction from Paul Comfort

00:47 Future of Mobility with Brandon Bartneck and guest Larry Burns

02:24 Discussion on the Importance of Accessibility in Transportation

07:44 Exploring the Future of Mobility and Transportation

30:18 The Importance of Accessibility and Efficiency in Transportation

31:01 The Role of Autonomy in Enhancing Transportation

32:23 The Impact of Vehicle Mass and Speed on Safety and Sustainability

43:04 Exploring Business Opportunities in the Future of Mobility

46:43 The Role of Technology and Innovation in Shaping the Future of Transportation

01:03:37 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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64 MIN
Can Hydrogen Hubs Push Hydrogen to the Forefront of Transportation Fuels?
MAR 13, 2024
Can Hydrogen Hubs Push Hydrogen to the Forefront of Transportation Fuels?

Hydrogen is one of the hottest topics in transit right now, but hydrogen is facing a huge challenge to reduce its cost and increase its availability across North America (and the world). Paul sits down with Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) CEO Kirt Conrad--who manages the largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses outside California--and Ballard Power Systems Dir of Market Development and Public Affairs, Tim Sasseen to talk about hydrogen as a fuel, how hydrogen fuel cells work, and how the hydrogen hub project will break down barriers to adopting hydrogen as the zero-emissions fuel of choice.

If you're interested in learning more about hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells, here is a playlist of Transit Unplugged episodes on the topic: https://transit-unplugged.captivate.fm/hydrogen-fuel-in-transit

We also have a blog post on the Transit Unplugged blog explaining how hydrogen fuel cells work: https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-transit-science-understanding-hydrogen-fuel-cells/

Some of the organizations mentioned in the show:


Coming up next week we have another feed swap! This time we have past guest Brandon Bartneck with Larry Burns, former VP at GM and leader in the autonomous vehicle space, talking about the future of autonomous vehicles from The Future of Mobility. In the meantime, check out Brandon's podcast page for more great episodes. https://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected].

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

  • Paul Comfort, host and producer
  • Julie Gates, executive producer
  • Tris Hussey, editor and writer
  • Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn - Twitter - Threads- Instagram - Facebook

Sign up for the Transit Unplugged Newsletter

00:00 Introduction to Hydrogen Fuel in Public Transportation

00:35 Insights from Experts: Kirt Conrad and Tim Sasseen

02:25 Understanding Different Types of Fuel

03:49 The Role of Hydrogen in Decarbonization

15:04 The Practicalities of Hydrogen Buses

21:57 Final Thoughts and Future Prospects

24:54 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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26 MIN
Placemaking in Tulsa: Secret Tunnels, Art Deco Buildings, and a Downtown Reborn Powered by Transit with Chase Phillips
MAR 6, 2024
Placemaking in Tulsa: Secret Tunnels, Art Deco Buildings, and a Downtown Reborn Powered by Transit with Chase Phillips

In part two of our series featuring Tulsa, OK, host Paul Comfort gets a special tour of Downtown Tulsa with Chase Phillips, the Director of Planning for MetroLink Tulsa. Chase talks about the city's rich history, architectural wonders, and the role of transit in its development. Chase sheds light on Tulsa's transformation from a 1920s hub of oil wealth, with the largest airport in the world at the time, to a vibrant city maintaining its historic charm with a modern makeover. They tour the city, exploring some iconic Art Deco buildings, hidden tunnels, and experiencing the quiet streets of downtown Tulsa. Chase credits public transit for playing a key role in Tulsa's resurgence and shares his vision for the future of transit in the city, including expanding Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and microtransit.

If you missed last week's episode, catch up with Paul's interview with Scott Marr, CEO of MetroLink Tulsa: https://transitunplugged.com/transit-unplugged-podcast/scott-marr-and-metrolink-tulsa-get-their-kicks-on-route-66-with-brt-and-microtransit/

Coming up next week we have a special panel talking about hydrogen fuel and the hydrogen hubs initiative in the U.S. to lower the cost of hydrogen for transportation and industry. The panel features regular guest SARTA CEO, Kirt Conrad and Tim Sesseen Dir of Market Development and Public Affairs at Ballard Power with insights into the growth of hydrogen as the fuel of the future for transportation.

If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected].

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

  • Paul Comfort, host and producer
  • Julie Gates, executive producer
  • Tris Hussey, editor and writer
  • Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn - Twitter - Instagram - Facebook

Sign up for the Transit Unplugged Newsletter

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:26 Exploring Tulsa's History and Architecture

05:25 Downtown Tulsa: A Blend of Old and New

07:07 Transit in Tulsa: Past, Present, and Future

09:23 Unveiling the Hidden Tunnels of Tulsa

13:01 Reflections on Transit and City Planning

18:00 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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19 MIN
Scott Marr and MetroLink Tulsa get their kicks on Route 66 with BRT and microtransit
FEB 28, 2024
Scott Marr and MetroLink Tulsa get their kicks on Route 66 with BRT and microtransit

In the first of two podcast episodes--and an upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episode--from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Paul chats with MetroLink Tulsa (https://www.tulsatransit.org/) CEO Scott Marr about:

  • His city
  • His career in transit
  • The overwhelming success of microtransit and merging it with paratransit operations
  • His plans for expanding Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Route 66 for the 100th anniversary
  • And the path to lower emissions with CNG and battery-electric buses

After a long career as a transit fixer across the U.S., Scott returned to Tulsa as the CEO taking the reins of a system revitalized with BRT and microtransit. But it's not all smooth sailing for Scott and his team. Plans to expand BRT to historic Route 66 for its 100th anniversary in a couple years have hit a bump in the road with a $15M shortfall caused by inflation and price increases beyond his control. Undaunted, Scott is rallying his team and seeking support from the FTA and other sources to make this happen in time.

Tulsa is also our next feature city on Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@transitunplugged) . You don't want to miss seeing all the Americana that is Route 66, plus Paul's standup comedy routine at an open mic night. Check out the episode Thursday, March 14.

Coming up next week, we stay in Tulsa with MetroLink Tulsa Director of Planning Chase Phillips talking about the unique places that make Tulsa one of the most iconic cities in the U.S.

If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected].

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

  • Paul Comfort, host and producer
  • Julie Gates, executive producer
  • Tris Hussey, editor and writer
  • Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn - Twitter - Instagram - Facebook

Sign up for the Transit Unplugged Newsletter

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:21 Rebranding and the New Name

01:22 Exploring the Transit System

02:38 The Future of Transit in Tulsa

12:29 Reflections and Conclusions

17:56 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

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20 MIN