You Can Go Home Again: Newly named Detroit DOT Director Dan Dirks on Turning Around Transit in the Motor City

Dan Dirks, who was appointed Director of the Detroit DOT on January 16 by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, joins the CT Podcast to discuss the commitment of Detroit DOT employees to reviving public transit across the city. From covering the current state of the system to the initial beginnings of what many hope is a remarkable comeback story, Dirks provides an inside look at the challenges ahead, the focus on customers and transit's role in facilitating Detroit's economic recovery. Born and raised in Detroit, Dirks certainly seems like the right person for this job.

Listen Here (25:06) 

Brrrr... Expert cold weather transit tips

With much of the U.S. experiencing extreme cold weather, the first CT Podcast edition of 2014 takes a look cold weather transit. Jim Heilig, Director of Administration and Planning with the Duluth Transit Authority in Duluth, Minnesota and Rochelle Cotey, Executive Director of Alger County Public Transportation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula discuss how their operations deal with extreme winter weather, from low temps to piles of snow. From planning and communications to emergency management and special equipment, these two seasoned transit professionals — each located along the shores of Lake Superior — offer their best advice on handling winter conditions while ably serving their communities.

Duluth's temperature at 8am today: -16 F
Munising's temperature at 8am today: 6

Listen Here: (26:24)

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