Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy, U.S. Administration for Community Living

Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy with the Administration for Community Living joins the CT Podcast to discuss the Strengthening Inclusive Coordinated Transportation Partnerships to Promote Community Living project — with a focus on its objectives and outcomes. "Mobility is critical, we are such a transportation dependent society," says Lewis. "Inclusivity is at the heart of the ACL — full membership in society requires full participation.

Listen Here: 19:01

John Walsh, VP Sales and Marketing, Mobility Ventures, LLC

John Walsh of Mobility Ventures LLC joins the CT Podcast to discuss the latest developments with the MV-1 vehicle. After having ceased production in April, AM General through a subsidiary, Mobility Ventures, now owns the vehicle and intends to begin production again in February or March of 2014. In addition to saving the brand, AM General (which builds the U.S. Military Hummer) hopes to introduce a 2015 version of the MV-1 that significantly increases standard gas mileage. Learn what happened last spring, and what the future holds for the MV-1 in this edition of the CT Podcast. Walsh reiterates the company's new focus, "We're a mobility company."

Listen Here: 25:44

Wisconsin: A Tale of Two Transit Partners

In this special two-part CT Podcast, we speak with two important community and public transportation partners in Wisconsin: Steve Hiniker with 1000 Friends of Wisconsin and Bruce Speight of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG). Both agencies have compelling connections to good, smart transportation planning, policy and implementation. The focus here is on how community and public transit helps build the types of livable, sustainable communities for which both organizations strive, and how they broaden and amplify the pro-transit message at the state level.

Listen Here: 38:23

Debunking the Empty Bus Myth

Bob Lasher -- Director of External Affairs for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, serving the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area of Florida -- joins the CT Podcast to discuss his agency's efforts to break through one of the most pernicious myths in community and public transit: the Empty Bus myth. To help local planners and community advisory groups better understand the issue, PSTA developed an excellent video dealing with the empty bus myth. It's a clear, simple and effective way to reframe the discussion, without stooping to industry jargon. We hope this great video inspires transit leaders, managers and advocates around the country to debunk the empty bus myth in the places they serve.

Listen Here: 15:46

Northwest Dakota Public Transit, Williston, North Dakota

We are joined by both Diane Lopez (Executive Director) and John Pearcy (Transit Coordinator) of Northwest Dakota Public Transit in Williston, North Dakota. Williston's population has gone from 12,000 to 38,000 in three years as the energy boom Pearcy calls "black gold" continues unabated in certain parts of North Dakota. This CT Podcast discusses the impact of this population boom both on Williston itself and the local community transportation operator. Service requests on the all demand-response Northwest Dakota Public Transit have nearly tripled and for the first time, the agency faces a future where fixed routes might be deployed.

Listen Here: 14:02

Deb Dauenhauer, Executive Director, Silver Rider, Laughlin, Nevada

Deb Dauenhauer, Executive Director of the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition's Silver Rider, talks about her agency's challenges and innovation and its' recent recognition as the 2013 Rural Community Transportation System of the Year. In its first decade of service, Silver Rider has gone from serving three communities in Southern Nevada, to 11. The system provides access to jobs, to health care and much more with its more than 300,000 annual trips. What has been the key to its success? According to Dauenhauer, Silver Rider has built a brand that is always looking for new ways to meet unmet mobility demands, whether it be traditional fixed-route operations, demand response services or special trips for local veterans or the homeless populations.  

Listen Here (14:18)

CTAA Executive Director Dale J. Marsico, CCTM

CTAA Executive Director Dale J. Marsico, CCTM, joins the pod to assess the current environment for community and public transportation -- from economics to politics to demographics -- and to discuss the best ways forward. Dale talks about a more encompassing definition of private-sector involvement in the transit industry and the Association's soon-to-be-announced financial tools to help agencies around the nation meet growing local demand. From sustainability and affordability to low-cost financing and innovative services, this is one podcast you won't want to miss.

Listen Here: (24:17)

Tom Cahir, Cape Cod RTA Administrator

In this edition of the CT Podcast we talk trains with Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) Administrator Tom Cahir. Earlier this summer, CCRTA launched the CapeFlyer, a summer weekend train between Boston and Buzzard's Bay and Hyannis. The CapeFlyer is the first train between these two points in 50 years and, not surprisingly, it's a huge hit. In the podcast, Cahir covers the importance of local bus connections on the Cape and the enthusiasm locally with which the service has been received. Last week alone, 996 people left their cars behind and went to the Cape on the CapeFlyer.

Listen here: (13:45)

Ron Baumgart, Executive Director, River Cities Public Transit, Pierre, South Dakota

Ron Baumgart, executive director of River Cities Public Transit in Pierre, S.D., was named the 2013 Community Transportation Manager of the Year at the CTAA EXPO last month in Albuquerque. Ron shares his perspective on effective transit management in this multi-faceted podcast discussion. From looking at his agency's service through the eyes of a customer to surrounding himself with the best staff possible, Ron offers his transit management insights here.

Listen Here: (14:48)

Ted Ward, 2013 National Community Transportation Driver of the Year

Last month in Albuquerque, NM, Ted Ward — an operator under contract with MV Transportation at Austin's Capital Metro — won the body-on-chassis bus division at the 2013 National Community Transportation Roadeo and was named the Otis Reed Jr. Driver of the Year. Ward has been driving in Austin for more than two decades, focusing on serving people with disabilities. "My job is a joy," he says. He joins the CT Podcast to discuss his work, the roadeo and more.

Listen Here (15:38) 

                                                                   

Sandra Webb, Transportation Manager, Heart of Texas Council of Governments

On the evening of April 17, a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas exploded. The blast was so severe that it measured 2.1 on the richter scale. Many homes, businesses and local facilities were destroyed or damaged. Tragically, 15 people lost their lives and more than 160 people were injured in the explosion.

Sandra Webb is the transportation manager for the Heart of Texas Council of Governments in Waco, some 30 miles south of West. She was watching the unfolding news of the explosion on television when her phone rang. They needed buses up in West to help evacuate people and to offer shelter to first responders. She had four vehicle there as fast as possible. This edition of the CT Podcast highlights the vital role that community and public transportation plays in emergency preparedness and response, even in rural communities. Webb and her staff exhibited the very best of community transit on that tragic evening in West, Texas.

Listen Here (17:29)

CTAA's Roadeo Team: Kelly Shawn and Rich Sampson

CTAA's Kelly Shawn and Rich Sampson join the CT Podcast, providing an insider's look at the National Community Transportation Roadeo. First and foremost, the Roadeo is a safety event that also tests and honors transit drivers. The discussion covers the four essential parts of the competition -- written test, pre-trip inspection, wheelchair securement and obstacle course. Listeners will learn some of the history of the Community Transportation Roadeo as well as some inside tips. The Roadeo team has also recorded a set of videos you might want to check out: 1. Welcome Video ; 2. Roadeo Registration 3. The Roadeo Driving Course ; and 4. The Pre-Trip Inspection .

Listen Here (20:06)

Joyce Rose, President and CEO, Operation Lifesaver

Today in the U.S., about every three hours, a person or a vehicle will be struck by a train.

Operation Lifesaver's Joyce Rose joins the CT Podcast to discuss passenger rail safety and her organization's efforts for more than four decades in rail safety education. This conversation comes on the heels of CT Podcast host Scott Bogren's experience earlier this month where two different trains on which he was a passenger struck people on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. As Joyce confirms, grade-crossing incidents have been significantly reduced thanks to the education efforts of Operation Lifesaver and others. Trespass incidents and suicides, however, are another story.

Listen Here (20:47)

Lt. General Russel L. Honore

Lt. General Russel Honore -- Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, regular CNN contributor and author -- joins the CT Podcast to preview his upcoming session at EXPO 2013 in Albuquerque, N.M. Here, he discusses how his motto of "see first, understand first, act first" applies not only to emergency response and preparedness, but also to community and public transportation leadership. From looking at the logistics of safety, emergency preparedness and response to his views on the ultimate responsibility of leaders, General Honore is a world-recognized expert.

Listen here (13:44)

Butch McDuffie, Transit Manager, Athens (Ga.) Transit

Butch McDuffie — Transit Manager for Athens Transit — joins the CT Podcast to discuss his agency and its operations. Having spent 11 years in Athens, McDuffie describes the system's growth and the impact of serving so many younger passengers (Athens is home to the University of Georgia). He also covers the unique challenges of today's small-urban transit operator in terms of both capital and operating issues. Says McDuffie: "The work we do at Athens Transit makes a difference in people's lives."

Listen here (22:11)

Barb Cline, CTAA Board President, Executive Director Prairie Hills Transit

Newly elected CTAA Board President Barb Cline — executive director of Prairie Hills Transit in Spearfish, South Dakota — joins the CTPodcast to discuss community and public transit at the local, state and national levels. With a service area of more than 12,000 square miles, Cline's experience in providing rural transit meeting health care, employment and general public transit needs, has helped guide her efforts with the Dakota Transit Association and with CTAA. From safety certification to bus capital needs to non-emergency medical transportation, this lively conversation covers a wide variety of vital transit topics.

Listen here (17:03)

Dennis Johnson, Executive Vice President, Children's Health Fund

Dennis Johnson, Executive Vice President with the Children's Health Fund, talks with the CTPodcast about the organization's work on healthcare and advocacy for America's most vulnerable children. Mobility and transportation, according to Johnson, are key components in ensuring successful long-term health care outcomes for children in both urban and rural settings. Johnson cites some of his agency's research that found that more than 3 million children, in a single year, missed vital health care appointments due to a lack of transportation. "The connection between health and mobility is especially important in the context of health care reform," says Johnson.

Listen Here: (19:18) 

Josh Baker, Transit Coordinator, New River Valley Community Services

New River Valley Community Services provides, among other services, community and public transit options in a four-country region in southwestern Virginia. Josh Baker – the organization’s transit coordinator – joined DigitalCT Editor Rich Sampson for an extensive podcast discussion on how the organization meets the region’s varying needs with a range or mobility options.

Listen Here (24:52)

Evan Goyke, Wisconsin State Assemblyman

Recently sworn in Wisconsin Assemblyman Evan Goyke discusses his views on community and public transit in this special edition of the CT Podcast. Representing the 18th District in one of the state's most diverse regions along Milwaukee's north side, Goyke is proud to say, "I'm a bus rider."  Assemblyman Goyke advises transit professionals and advocates on how to work with elected officials — stressing the importance of having them ride the system. He also covers his transportation goals for the term and challenges he expects in Madison.

Listen Here (18:47)

Ian Shackleton, Proterra VP Sales & Marketing

Proterra Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ian Shackleton joins the CTPodcast to discuss his company's innovative electric battery buses. With its fast-charge and even en-route charging, Proterra has taken a radically new approach to transit bus technology that it believes will help redefine public transportation. In this lively talk, Shackleton discusses Proterra's many innovations and how its buses not only passed Altoona testing -- the first all-electric vehicle to do so -- but their impact on operating expenses, maintenance costs and customer/community reaction. "We'd rather carry passengers than batteries," says Shackleton.

Listen Here: (17:26)

Amber Blake, City of Durango, Colo.

Amber Blake, Multimodal Administrator for the city of Durango, Colorado, joins the CT Podcast to discuss the importance of the city's recently completed multimodal transportation master plan and its impact on the community. From auditing the local bike and walk network, to holding 75 meetings, Blake looks at the process of developing multimodal plans designed to shift local travel patterns away from single-occupant vehicles and onto transit, shared rides, bikes and walking.

Listen Here: (10:42)