Talking Michigan Transportation
Technology
About
The Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with transportation experts inside and outside MDOT and will touch on anything and everything related to mobility, including rail, transit and the development of connected and automated vehicles.
Episodes
- Legislation aims to teach new drivers how to navigate work zones
Michigan House Bill 5767 proposes mandating work zone safety education within driver’s training courses, effective January 1, 2027. The episode discusses advocacy efforts by Brian Sarkella of ATSSA and insights from Tom Robins of Work Zone…
- Three years later, is the hands-free law reducing Michigan crashes?
This episode discusses the impact of Michigan's hands-free driving law three years after its enactment, referencing data from Cambridge Mobile Telematics and a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. Ryan McMahon provides in…
- What we learned from a Michigan maritime policy panel
This episode of Talking Michigan Transportation features insights from Elisha Wulff of MDOT and John Peracchio of the Michigan State Transportation Commission on a panel discussing a Michigan maritime strategy. They cover potential benefit…
- How MDOT is protecting people, animals and plants on Earth Day 2026
Amanda Novak returns to Talking Michigan Transportation to discuss a pilot program analyzing wildlife-vehicle collisions and designing safer crossings. The episode also covers MDOT's efforts in expanding native plantings for pollinator hab…
- Historic flooding takes a toll on roads and bridges across Michigan
Michigan is experiencing historic flooding, impacting numerous roads and bridges. State and local agencies are actively monitoring the situation, with Bill Wahl of the Michigan Department of Transportation providing an update on the damage…
- A look at crash fatality numbers and an update on work zone safety cameras
The Talking Michigan Transportation podcast discusses the decline in highway fatalities nationwide and in Michigan for 2025. It covers work zone safety measures and the ongoing implementation of a work zone safety camera program in Michiga…
- Reprise: After a pandemic spike in crashes, 2025 stats show positive trends
This episode revisits a 2021 discussion about trends in fatal traffic crashes, including observations of increased speeding and decreased seat belt use during the early pandemic. National and Michigan statistics for 2025 indicate a continu…
- Why falling ice leads to closing the Mackinac Bridge
The Talking Michigan Transportation podcast discusses the dangers of ice falling from Mackinac Bridge cables, which necessitates bridge closures. Maintenance supervisor Joe Shampine explains the closure decision-making, while former chief…
- What’s next for regional transit in southeast Michigan?
Ben Stupka, Executive Director of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan, discusses the RTA's mission of funding, planning, and coordinating public transit. The episode covers services like D2A2, DAX, MyRide2, and the Qline,…
- Michigan panel boosts funding to rebuild major highways
Michigan’s State Transportation Commission (STC) approved a fifth amending bonding resolution under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan Program , focused on rebuilding state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s eco…
- New mobility comes at a cost
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, conversations about automaker efforts to bring down the cost of electric vehicles (EVs), the impact of the EV pullback on the South and trends in safety. Joann Muller, the transportation corr…
- Reprise: Focusing on the work force as we enter a new road construction season
As road agencies across the state prepare for the 2026 road and bridge construction season, this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast is a reprise of an August 2025 episode that focused on jobs tied to road and bridge building. G…
- Paying by the miles driven - where things stand
On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about Michigan’s study and eventual pilot of a road user charge (RUC) system of funding roads and bridges and what is going on in other states and countri…
- Reprise: The people behind a most iconic international handshake
By now, you may have seen a photo taken high above the Detroit River of two iron workers, one from Canada and one from the United States, shaking hands to mark the completion of the deck on the Gordie Howe International Bridge. On this wee…
- Exiting STC chairman reflects on his tenure
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mike Hayes, a former Midland lawmaker who is stepping down from the State Transportation Commission (STC) after 14 years of service, the past two as chairman. Haye…
- MDOT’s new chief administrative officer takes on a road user charge project
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with the new chief administrative officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) about his role and his first big challenge, overseeing a legislatively man…
- Polar vortex, winter storms test driver responsibility
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about the vital message to drive to the conditions , especially during winter storms. First, Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Michael Shaw offers his insight…
- What to expect as Congress looks to renew transportation funding
Surface transportation reauthorization is the regular federal legislative process to renew and fund U.S. transportation programs for highways, transit, rail and safety, setting policies and priorities for billions in spending, with the cur…
- An update on MDOT’s work with Michigan Central and rail service to Toronto
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Peter Anastor, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Rail, about where things stand for passenger rail service at M…
- MDOT director touts 2025 accomplishments
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about key road, bridge and rail projects completed across the state. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Bradley C. Wieferich joined the conversation…
- Veteran MDOT leader reflects on a rich career in state government
Laura Mester, who has served as the chief administrative officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) since 2011, is retiring from state government in January. She joined the podcast to reflect on her career in state governm…
- Study: Flashing LED lights can reduce crashes on curves
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about a new study that confirms that flashing LED lights, used strategically, can improve safety on curves. The study is part of a larger project looking…
- Projects improve travel near Grand Rapids, Traverse City
In the second installment of podcasts focusing on significant road and bridge project completions by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), conversations about a new roundabout on busy routes near Traverse City and a new bridge…
- MDOT, communities celebrate conclusion of big projects
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about celebrations of major road and bridge projects completed by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in communities across the state. This week, a focus on…
- Michigan budget provides a boost to public transportation
Public transportation advocates in Michigan are especially excited about components in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget that provide additional funding to transit agencies across the state. State Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, a co-chairman of…
- Why MDOT is solidifying policies for use of facilities
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has proposed administrative rules to provide guidance on the use of properties it maintains throughout the state. The proposed rules would improve safety and maintenance, and apply to all of…
- New transportation hub a big step for travelers in Detroit
Michigan Central, opened in Detroit in 1913 and designed by the same architects as New York's Grand Central Terminal, was a towering landmark and the tallest train station in the world at the time. It was a symbol of the city’s industrial…
- Michigan budget has good news for studying road usage charges
With Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget agreement now signed into law, this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast focuses on a long-discussed pilot project for a road usage charge (RUC) system, which received fundin…
- Reprise: What 2024 polling said about removing sales tax from fuel
As lawmakers complete a Fiscal Year 2026 budget agreement, one component involves removing the sales tax on fuel and adding a commensurate amount to the fuel tax and putting it toward transportation. This week’s Talking Michigan Transporta…
- Federal help for studying and reducing wildlife crashes
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, news that a federal grant will allow for the study of wildlife crossings to protect motorists and animals alike. Amanda Novak, a resource specialist at the Michigan Department of Tran…
- Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the Michigan State Police (MSP) deploying added enforcement in freeway work zones. MC Lt. Jason Zylstra of MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) ex…
- One more time: Texts about unpaid tolls are scams!
As unscrupulous actors continue to impersonate government agencies and target unknowing people with texts about unpaid tolls, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this week reissued a consumer alert . With that in mind, this week’s editio…
- Panel of experts sheds light on transportation funding battle
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation recapping a Sept. 4 panel discussion in Lansing featuring a thoughtful discussion among experts from various fields on the need for sustainable transportation infrastru…
- As road funding talks continue, a look at pavement forecasts
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with a trunkline pavement strategy specialist about how the work in his area helps inform investment decisions. Tim Lemon, who works in the Michigan Depa…
- Building roads and bridges generates jobs
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a focus on jobs tied to road and bridge building. Gov. Whitmer sent a letter Aug. 7 to the directors of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michiga…
- The week for electric vehicle news
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, analysis and takeaways on two major announcements related to the future of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. Joann Muller, who writes the Axios Future of Mobility n…
- Are we talking enough about crumbling bridges?
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with the state’s chief bridge engineer about the dire forecast for bridges without additional funding. Beckie Curtis, director of the Bureau of Bridges a…
- Michigan DNR works to provide access for all to popular state park beach
On this week’s edition of the Michigan Department of Transportation podcast, Scott Bowen , director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), addresses concerns about access to the beach for campers at the highly popular Trav…
- How safety cameras slow down drivers in school zones
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Garrett Dawe, engineer of traffic and safety for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), talks about a pilot project to study the use of safety cameras for automated enforce…
- Drive on the roads, pay for the roads
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Baruch Feigenbaum of the Reason Foundation returns to talk about developments in Michigan for a road user charge (RUC) model for funding roads. The concept is also referred to as mile…
- After a series of work-zone crashes, what can be done?
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Gregg Brunner, chief operations officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), about recent deadly crashes in or near work zones. On J…
- Reprise: A veteran Michigan pollster talks about perceptions of road conditions and repairs
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Podcast features a reprise of a 2022 conversation with a veteran Michigan pollster about the public’s view of road conditions, repairs and funding. At the time, the pollster, Richard Czuba, talke…
- Take 2: Regulating traffic flow with stop lights at entrance ramps
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, some context from elsewhere on freeway ramp metering, where it works well and why. First, Angie Drumm , deputy director of traffic and safety for the Colorado Department of Transporta…
- Why do we need a green light to enter a freeway?
After a long hiatus, Michigan is again implementing ramp metering , which helps regulate the flow of traffic from ramps onto busy freeways. It will be used on the I-96 Flex Route portion in western Oakland County. On this week’s Talking Mi…
- EVs, magnets and drones. Oh, my!
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a check-in with Joann Muller, the Detroit-based transportation correspondent for Axios. Muller explains the thinking behind General Motors officials’ announcement to in…
- Dr. Fraud: Do NOT respond to texts about unpaid tolls
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with J. Michael Skiba , also known as “Dr. Fraud,” a national expert on scams, like those proliferating in Michigan and other states, where text messages…
- Reprise: Managing traffic during road construction; and what about the zipper merge?
As road work continues across Michigan, police are on high alert for speeding and distracted drivers causing crashes during backups. On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about efforts engineers take to bal…
- Predicting how long a road will last
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with a trunkline pavement strategy specialist about how the work in his area helps inform investment decisions. Tim Lemon, who works in the Michigan Depa…
- Will congress move quickly on a highway bill?
Congressional leaders of various infrastructure committees have shown some interest in adopting a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill , offering departments of transportation and contractors some certainty, well ahead of…
- The future of road funding
On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about states studying or piloting road usage charges (RUC). John Peracchio, a strategic adviser on intelligent transportation systems and mobility , and…