Ite Talks Transportation

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt joins the ITE Talks Transportation Podcast to talk about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how it will impact communities taking advantage of the various funding opportunities it provides. He also discusses safety and why it's his top priority in his role, and what it will take to see improvement in this area. He also shares his views on leadership and its importance in his career and beyond.

Alex Argudin, CEO of the Miami Parking Authority in Florida, USA, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about parking trends and challenges in a densely populated city, how Miami is utilizing parking more efficiently and effectively, and how these trends are affecting other urban areas. Alex, who is Chair-Elect of the International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI), also discusses some of the changes that have impacted the parking industry since COVID, how curb priorities have changed, and how equity and sustainability factor into parking decisions.

After 8 years of service, ITE Executive Director and CEO Jeff Paniati is retiring at the end of October. He joins the podcast to reflect on his storied career in transportation, including his many years at the Federal Highway Administration and his tenure at ITE. He also shares his hopes and vision for the future of the organization, and a bit about what he plans to do upon retirement.

Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about transportation electrification in the United States. He discusses how his newly created office is working to help deploy its share of the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out infrastructure across the country to support various aspects of electrification, and how local and state entities can take advantage of the funding. He also talks about the technological advances taking place in the space and how data sharing will help expand the advantages of adopting electrification.

Bas Govers, Senior Urban Mobility Consultant, Goudappel, The Netherlands, joins the podcast to share insights on creating sustainably safe and comfortable people-oriented spaces that promote mobility. He talks about the evolution of his country over the past 50 years to become more biking and pedestrian friendly, and how they’ve addressed the challenges and lessons learned that come along with accommodating these users. Govers was a part of the Tuesday Plenary Panel Session in Portland, OR, USA at the ITE Annual Meeting in August titled “Creating People-Oriented Communities.”

ITE younger member Anamaria Torres joins the podcast to talk about the wealth of opportunities within ITE for both student and younger members ITE provides for this population. A Senior Transportation Engineer at Stantec, Anamaria talks about the value of not just building her transportation knowledge within the organziation, but also her networking and leadership skills. As Co-Chair of ITE's premier leadership program LeadershipITE, Anamaria conveys how ITE helps younger members find their path as leaders within the industry, giving them the tools to succeed. She also shares advice for any student or younger member looking to get more involved within ITE or anyone wanting to join.

Richard Montanez, Deputy Commissioner of Transportation for the City of Philadelphia, PA, USA, joins the podcast to talk about the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A) and how the city plans to use the $30 million grant award it recently received from the U.S. Department of Transportation funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He describes the unique safety challenges faced by the city, and discusses the planned multimodal safety improvements for several of the city's streets and traffic infrastructure, as well as the updates for Philadelphia's Vision Zero Capital Plan.

Peter Koonce, Engineering Manager with the Portland Bureau of Transportation in Oregon, USA, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about the opportunities and challenges facing traffic engineers in the profession today. He gives an overview of some of the efforts taking place on the ground in Portland to improve outcomes for all users including equity, safety and Vision Zero initiatives, and more. Peter also shares with listeners a bit of what they can expect when visiting Portland this August for the 2023 Joint ITE International and Western District Annual Meeting and Exhibition.

Stephen Buckley, P.E., AICP, Vice President of Planning and Advisory Services at Kimley-Horn, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discus the collaboration between transportation planning professionals and engineers. Having began his career as an engineer, and now working as a planner, Steve shares some of the key milestones along the path of his career, discusses real-life examples of successful collaboration between the two groups of professionals, and offers up guidance for how planners and engineers can support each other in their projects while bringing their own valid insights and valuable perspectives. Steve recently took part in the keynote conversation at ITE’s Virtual Spring Conference in March.

Greg Johnson, administrator for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the ins and outs of this $6 billion project spanning the Columbia River and connecting the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. The project is replacing a 106 year-old bridge on I-5, the only west coast interstate in the United States that goes from Canada to Mexico. Johnson talks about the complexities of managing a large infrastructure project, what it’s like working with two state DOTs, and the importance of engaging community members and having buy-in for this multimodal project. He also highlights the equity considerations involved in the project and how data is being utilized to ensure equitable and inclusive outcomes for the communities touched by the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the latest trends in roadway safety and how local, state and federal officials can lead with innovative solutions and approaches to reducing the national fatality rate. She also talks about how the Safe System Approach can help get the United States to zero, and shares her passion and personal connection to roadway safety.

Eric Rensel, Vice President at Gannett Fleming and Chair of the ITE Council Leadership Team, discusses the skills that engineers and transportation planning professionals bring to the table and how the two can work together successfully on transportation projects. He also shares more on the initiative to bring more transportation planning professionals into ITE, and the wealth of resources the organization has to offer these professionals.

Nick Nigro, Founder of Atlas Public Policy, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to share the latest trends and challenges in the electrification of transportation and give an update on where the industry currently stands. He addresses deployment readiness and workforce issues facing the market, and highlights the economic benefits that more widespread electrification will bring. Nick was the Closing Plenary speaker at the ITE Annual Meeting in New Orleans this summer.

Bill Lambert, P.E., Administrator/Traffic Engineer with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT), joins the podcast to talk about transportation safety and operations challenges in rural environments and how they’re being addressed in his state. He discusses the recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how the funding could potentially be utilized by state DOTs with more tribal and rural areas, as well as how public agencies are grappling with the current staffing shortages and other challenges brought on by COVID-19.

Louisiana Department of Transportation Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast for a dynamic conversation on the state of the industry and why he feels it's "the most exciting time" ever to work in transportation. He shares his perspectives on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how the funding can help state DOTs address safety, especially for vulnerable users. He also addresses the myriad of challenges brought on by COVID-19 for DOTs, and discusses how agencies can gain a competitive edge among the current workforce. Dr. Wilson was a Plenary speaker at the ITE Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA, USA in August and spoke alongside U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg.

Rob McInerney, CEO of the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP), joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about global roadway safety through the Safe System Approach, Vision Zero, and how those integrate into the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. He also highlights rural roadway safety, where a large portion of global fatalities are concentrated in run-off-the-road crashes, and discusses mobilizing positive change by designing roads for outcomes, versus standards, to bring deaths and serious injuries down to zero.

Jeremy Kashman, chief engineer and director of engineering for the City of Carmel, IN, USA, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about how his city became the "Roundabout Capital of the United States." With more than 140 existing roundabouts and more in the works, Kashman describes the process of installing these roundabouts and the benefits they provide, including decreased congestion, improved safety, and reduced emissions. Kashman also describes the public's reaction to the roundabouts, and provides insights for any jurisdictions considering installing the structures.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the Department of Transportation’s newly announced National Roadway Safety Strategy, which utilizes the Safe System Approach to achieve zero fatalities and serious injuries on roadways. She also shares the administration’s plans and perspective on transportation-related goals for the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, as well as how equitable outcomes are a major priority for implementing this historic legislation.

Gregory D. Winfree, Agency Director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the impact of innovative approaches in transportation and how they can address real-world challenges and improve safety. He highlights emergent trends and technologies having an impact on the industry, and shares more about TTI’s ongoing safety efforts to improve roadways and reduce serious injuries and fatalities.

Laura Chace, president and CEO of ITS America, joins the podcast to discuss the MobilityXX Pledge, an initiative led by ITS America, WTS, and The Ray to advance the role of women as leaders within the transportation industry. She also talks about current priorities at ITS America, including integrating new technologies under the Infrastructure and Investment Act, and the future of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. Laura also touches on how ITE can continue to partner with her organization to empower transportation professionals to improve their communities.