Ite Talks Transportation

Tamika L. Butler, Esq., director of Equity and Inclusion at Toole Design, joins the ITE Talks Transportation Podcast to discuss the critical issue of equity in transportation. She delves deep into the challenges confronting transportation professionals when it comes to designing systems and communities that are safer, more accessible, and more equitable for all, and discusses key disparities and concerns currently at play in the industry.

Leslie Richards, general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast for a conversation on leadership, the inextricable link between community and transportation, and managing a multimodal transportation system. Richards, who recently wrapped up her tenure as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is the first transportation planner to lead SEPTA. She discusses the opportunities and challenges faced by the agency, which provides 300 million trips per year.

Curbspace is in higher demand than ever before, with ride-sharing 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 under-served 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.

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, P.E. (F), longtime New York City, NY, USA 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, WA, USA 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 SR99 Viaduct Replacement, one of this year’s largest transportation engineering projects in the United States.

Sam Zimbabwe (M), Director of the Seattle, WA, USA Department of Transportation, discusses how the city and surrounding region have incorporated Mobility as a Service, as well as how they are addressing equity and accessibility gaps in the transportation system.

Charles Brown, MPA, senior researcher and adjunct professor at Rutgers University, addresses the challenges to creating healthy and sustainable communities through transportation and highlights innovative solutions, including complete streets policies. He also addresses equity issues and what communities can do to improve access to the transportation system for low-income and minority populations.

Leah Shahum, founder and executive director of the Vision Zero Network, and Robert Spillar, director of transportation, Austin, TX, USA, discuss how communities can safely manage speeds with roadway design and speed limit setting, and create a speed management program to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on roads.

Susan Zielinski, independent consultant and former managing director of the SMART program at the University of Michigan, discusses Mobility as a Service (Maas), including what initiatives are currently underway in the space, how the public and private sectors are contributing to the MaaS ecosystem, and the opportunities and practical challenges of implementing a true MaaS environment in a community.

There has been a tremendous shift in the parking industry over the last few decades, both in terms of how parking is generated and regulated, as well as how practitioners approach their job. Mike Klein, CAPP, founder and CEO of Klein & Associates, joins the ITE Talks Transportation Podcast to discuss these issues and more.

Neil Pedersen, executive director of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) joins the ITE Talks Transportation Podcast to discuss the Critical Issues in Transportation report recently released by TRB. The discussion notes some of the significant changes since the last update in 2013, with a focus on topics including technology, safety, and public health. Pedersen also shares ways in which transportation engineers can utilize the report, which can be found at www.TRB.org/criticalissues.

Frederick G. “Bud” Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of 2018. He joins ITE Talks Transportation to discuss the changes and challenges in today’s environment for transportation officials and professionals.

This episode features Kirk Steudle, Michigan Department of Transportation Director, who is retiring after 31 years with the department on October 31. He reflects on the changes, challenges, and successes across his three decades in transportation.

This new podcast episode captures highlights from the well-attended Equity 101 technical session at the Joint ITE International and Midwestern/Great Lakes Districts Annual Meeting and Exhibit. Veronica O. Davis, a speaker during the session, provides an overview and insight into equity and transportation.

Robert Wunderlich, Director of the Center for Transportation Safety at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, discusses his perspectives on pedestrian safety strategies, speed management, and proven safety countermeasures as the transportation industry seeks to achieve Vision Zero.

Andrew P. Tarko, Professor of Civil Engineering, Director of Center for Road Safety, Purdue University and Franz Loewenherz from the City of Bellevue, WA, USA, discuss surrogate measures of safety and how they help Vision Zero strategies.

Andrew P. Tarko, Professor of Civil Engineering, Director of Center for Road Safety, Purdue University and Franz Loewenherz from the City of Bellevue, WA, USA, discuss surrogate measures of safety and how they tie into Vision Zero strategies.

This month's episode explores road safety strategies with Dr. David Harkey, President of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Harkey previously directed the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, and the majority of his work has focused on improving roadway design and operations for all users, including motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. He discusses the new IIHS study that highlights rising pedestrian deaths and points toward solutions.