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)