<description>&lt;p&gt;When Steve Fuentes arrived as the new President &amp;amp; CEO of Milwaukee County Transit System, he stepped directly into a perfect storm: major service cuts, labor tensions, budget deficits, and the looming transit fiscal cliff.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Steve joins Paul Comfort to discuss how his 30-year journey at the Chicago Transit Authority — from part-time bus operator to senior leadership — prepared him for one of the toughest leadership transitions in public transportation today.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Steve shares how Milwaukee is confronting post-pandemic ridership realities, redesigning service for modern travel patterns, and preparing for a full transit network redesign with Jarrett Walker &amp;amp; Associates. He also discusses labor negotiations, safety strategies, public safety officers, open-loop payments, and why transit leaders need to prepare now for the next generation of executive opportunities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Plus: Bears vs. Packers, leadership books, music tastes, and lessons learned from the jump to the CEO seat.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;00:00 Milwaukee Setup&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;01:33 Meet Steve Fuentes&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;01:38 Boston Summit Highlights&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;01:52 Nora and Leadership Lesson&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;03:09 CTA Career Journey&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;04:36 Why Take the CEO Leap&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;05:49 Chicago Sports Rivalry&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;06:49 Starting at MCTS&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;07:37 Walking Into Crisis&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;09:00 Union Deal and Reset&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;09:38 Budget Cliff and Cuts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;11:40 Network Redesign Plan&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;17:35 Lightning Round Upgrades&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;20:57 Personal Favorites and Farewell&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Credits&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Host and Producer: Paul Comfort &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Executive Producer: Julie Gates &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Producer: Chris O’Keeffe &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Editor: Patrick Emile &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world’s people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more information, visit: www.Transit Unplugged.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Transit Unplugged

Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo

What Happens When You Inherit a Transit Crisis?

MAY 20, 202624 MIN
Transit Unplugged

What Happens When You Inherit a Transit Crisis?

MAY 20, 202624 MIN

Description

When Steve Fuentes arrived as the new President & CEO of Milwaukee County Transit System, he stepped directly into a perfect storm: major service cuts, labor tensions, budget deficits, and the looming transit fiscal cliff.In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Steve joins Paul Comfort to discuss how his 30-year journey at the Chicago Transit Authority — from part-time bus operator to senior leadership — prepared him for one of the toughest leadership transitions in public transportation today.Steve shares how Milwaukee is confronting post-pandemic ridership realities, redesigning service for modern travel patterns, and preparing for a full transit network redesign with Jarrett Walker & Associates. He also discusses labor negotiations, safety strategies, public safety officers, open-loop payments, and why transit leaders need to prepare now for the next generation of executive opportunities.Plus: Bears vs. Packers, leadership books, music tastes, and lessons learned from the jump to the CEO seat.00:00 Milwaukee Setup01:33 Meet Steve Fuentes01:38 Boston Summit Highlights01:52 Nora and Leadership Lesson03:09 CTA Career Journey04:36 Why Take the CEO Leap05:49 Chicago Sports Rivalry06:49 Starting at MCTS07:37 Walking Into Crisis09:00 Union Deal and Reset09:38 Budget Cliff and Cuts11:40 Network Redesign Plan17:35 Lightning Round Upgrades20:57 Personal Favorites and FarewellCreditsHost and Producer: Paul Comfort Executive Producer: Julie Gates Producer: Chris O’Keeffe Editor: Patrick Emile Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world’s people.For more information, visit: www.Transit Unplugged.comDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.