Transportation Radio
News & Politics
About
Interviews with transportation newsmakers by transportation journalist Bernie Wagenblast.
Episodes
- A conversation with AASHTO's 2025-2026 President Russell McMurry
Russell McMurry, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation and incoming 2025-2026 President of AASHTO, outlines his key priorities. These include enhancing safety, improving National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) complianc…
- Driving the Future of Transportation Operations: Insights on TSMO, Technology, and Teamwork – Laurie Matkowski, PMP, GFT
Laurie Matkowski from GFT discussed transportation operations and TSMO on the ITE Talks Transportation podcast. The conversation covered managing mobility, preparing for large events, the role of alignment, technology, human decision-makin…
- Building the Future Transportation Workforce
Eric Rensel discusses strategies for the transportation industry to attract, develop, and retain professionals, including mentorship, STEM initiatives, and fostering an inclusive environment.
- How Texans are Protecting Monarch Butterfly Migration Paths
Darlene Goehl discusses how the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and the Texas Department of Transportation are implementing monarch flight diverters, tall mesh barriers along roads, to reduce the number of monarch butterflies killed by…
- Breaking Silos for Safer Streets – Bryan Jones, PE, AICP, City of Menifee, California
Bryan Jones of the City of Menifee discusses the Safe System Approach to traffic safety, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration and challenging assumptions about roadway design. The episode covers aligning fire codes, safety, and comm…
- Leading with Trust and Purpose: Michael Sanderson, PE, PTOE
Michael Sanderson —CEO of Sanbell and 2018 ITE International President—shares how his “people first” philosophy has shaped his career and his approach to building strong teams on this episode of ITE Talks Transportation . He explains that…
- Electrified Roadway Testing in Indiana
Episode Summary In this episode of The Stream by AASHTO , George McCue , Emerging Mobility Assistant Director at the Indiana Department of Transportation , and Dr. Steven Pekarek , Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue…
- Mountain Lion Conservation in California
Episode Summary In this episode, Dan Medeiros – senior field representative for The Conservation Fund – discusses mountain lion conservation efforts in California as it relates to transportation infrastructure construction, motorist and wi…
- Roadway Safety as a Public Health Crisis with Lorraine Martin, CEO – National Safety Council
In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , host Bernie Wagenblast speaks with Lorraine Martin , President and CEO of the National Safety Council , about the need to view roadway deaths as a public health crisis. Martin outlines proven s…
- Data, AI, and the Future of Transportation with Jean-Paul Brissett, CEO, Quality Counts
In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Jean-Paul Brissett , CEO of Quality Counts , discusses how data and artificial intelligence are reshaping transportation decision-making. Brissett examines how new technologies are enhancing ac…
- Evolving Travel Patterns: Insights from the New ITE Trip Generation Manual with Eric Tripi, GHD and Chris Brehmer, Kittleson & Associates
This episode of ITE Talks Transportation dives into the newly released 12th edition of the ITE Trip Generation Manual . Guests Chris Brehmer of Kittleson & Associates and Eric Tripi of GHD highlight how the manual reflects multimodal trave…
- How Scenic America Works to Preserve Landscapes Nationwide
Episode Summary In this episode, Tziporah Feldman discusses the specific policy issues Scenic America addresses, such as the impact of undergrounding utility construction on parks and open spaces; billboards and sign control; and intersect…
- Stormwater Engineering and Erosion Control
Episode Summary In this podcast episode, Michael Perez – Brasfield & Gorrie associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Auburn University – shares his journey with breaking into stormwater engineering and erosion control,…
- Tackling Rural Transportation Challenges – Steve Latoski, Director of Public Works, Mohave County, Arizona
On this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Steve Latoski, Director of Public Works for Mohave County , Arizona, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in managing rural roadways. He highlights the importance of low-cost Intel…
- Seville, Spain’s Bold Bike Lane Strategy – Manuel Calvo, Sustainability Consultant
In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , sustainability mobility consultant Manuel Calvo discusses how Seville rapidly transformed into a bike-friendly city by building an 80-kilometer protected bike lane network in just a few years.…
- Talking Safety and Reauthorization with Garrett Eucalitto
Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Garrett Eucalitto , commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the 2024-2025 president of the American Association of State Highway and…
- Designing for Everyone – Joey Paskey, Director of Public Works, City of Las Vegas
In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation , Joey Paskey, Director of Public Works for the City of Las Vegas , discusses the unique transportation challenges in a fast-growing city like Las Vegas, where she oversees a diverse infrastructu…
- Gauging the Impact of Extreme Precipitation on Infrastructure
Episode Summary In this episode, Ken Kunkel – principal research scholar at the North Carolina Institute of Climate Studies at North Carolina State University – explains how transportation agencies can use the Atlas 15 weather tool develop…
- NEPA : What Lies Ahead?
Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Ted Boling , a partner with Perkins Coie , with over 30 years of public service – who discusses recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act , or…
- Engineering Better Bike Infrastructure: AASHTO Bike Guide with Bill Schultheiss and Katy Sawyer, Toole Design
Bill Schultheiss , P.E., Vice President and Director of Design and Engineering at Toole Design , and Katy Sawyer , P.E., Principal Engineer at Toole Design, join the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the new AASHTO Bike Guide . T…
- Natalie Draisin, Director, North American Office, FIA Foundation – Perspectives on Global Road Safety
Natalie Draisin, Director of the North American Office and the United Nations Representative for the FIA Foundation , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about the current state of road safety on the global level. She talks…
- David Kriger, P.Eng., RPP, MCIP — Emerging Trends in Urban Goods Movement
David Kriger, principal of David Kriger Consultants, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss emerging trends in urban goods movement and how they're impacting the space. He also talks about drivers of change in urban freight…
- Who You Gonna Call?
This episode of The Stream by AASHTO features Shawn Wilson – vice president-national highway business line leader for transportation and infrastructure at WSP – discussing how state departments of transportation across the country are work…
- Karen Aspelin, P.E., PTOE, ITE International President — Perspectives on Leadership
Karen Aspelin, P.E., PTOE (F), joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss her involvement with ITE and how it's culminated in her current position as International President. She addresses her views on leadership, what it means…
- Working Together: Rethinking Arterials in the St. Louis Region
In this episode of The Stream by AASHTO , we explore the novel Blueprint for Arterials that is a partnership between Missouri DOT and East-West Gateway Council of Governments and is a collaborative vision on how to design ideal roadways -…
- Crash Responder Safety Week with Dale Picha, Texas DOT
Dale Picha, P.E., PTOE, Director of Transportation Operations for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) San Antonio District , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW). Dale highl…
- Transportation Resilience with Aimee Flannery, Global Principal – Transportation Risk & Resiliency, Jacobs
Aimee Flannery, Ph.D., P.E., Global Principal – Transportation Risk & Resiliency at Jacobs , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about making the transportation system more resilient and steps the industry can take to set st…
- Unleashing the Past: The Role of Cadaver Dogs in Archaeology and Transportation Projects
Cadaver dogs play a crucial role in identifying buried remains and culturally sensitive artifacts during transportation projects. Their exceptional sense of smell helps locate historic and prehistoric resources, ensuring that significant c…
- Brian Cronin, Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office – National V2X Deployment Plan
Brian Cronin, Director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office of the U.S. Department of Transportation , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the recently released National V2X Deployment Plan…
- Quiet Roads Ahead: Understanding and Managing Transportation Noise
This is the first episode of a two-part series that focuses on the impacts of transportation noise on the road. This episode features Ross Hudnall, Noise Abatement Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Transportation . Ross discusses…
- Equity in the Transportation Profession and Beyond
Cipriana Patterson , P.E., PTOE, Director of Operations, Mid-Atlantic Region for Toole Design , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to delve into issues of equity, representation, and collaboration. She shares both her background an…
- Balancing Infrastructure and Environment: Challenges and Solutions
This is the second episode of a two-part series on The Stream by AASHTO podcast covering NEPA in the transportation sector. Joining us to talk about challenges and creative solutions to completing the NEPA process is Douglas Kolwaite, Envi…
- From Student to Younger Member: Sam Harris, ITE Young Member of the Year, Georgia Department of Transportation
ITE 's 2024 Young Member of the Year Sam Harris, P.E., joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to share his journey from beginning at ITE through a Student Chapter to his current leadership roles on the Safety Council and the ITE Georgi…
- Balancing Infrastructure and Environment: NEPA’s Role in Transportation Projects
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) mandates federal agencies evaluate the environmental impacts of their actions, crucially influencing transportation projects like road construction and bridge expansions. Our guest on The Stream…
- What's New in the 11th Edition of the MUTCD with Kathy Falk, Vice President, Kimley-Horn
Kathy Falk, a vice president with Kimley-Horn , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss the newly released edition of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). She discusses the significant changes within the 11t…
- Keeping New Jersey Moving – Chris Feinthel of New Jersey DOT
Often, the highway infrastructure of the state is taken for granted. We hop in our cars and drive from place to place with little thought of what’s necessary to let it happen. When something goes wrong, however, we quickly realize how frag…
- Shadows in Motion: Emergency Management Post a Solar Eclipse with Illinois DOT
This episode marks the conclusion of a two-part series delving into effective management strategies during a solar eclipse. Specifically, we focus on emergency transportation management during and following the event. With contributions fr…
- Rachel Carpenter, Chief Safety Officer, Caltrans – An Innovative Approach to Safety
Rachel Carpenter , Chief Safety Officer at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss why the department adopted the Safe System Approach in an effort to reverse traffic fa…
- Shadows in Motion: Emergency Management During a Solar Eclipse
This is the first episode of a two-part series on The Stream by AASHTO where we explore effective management during a solar eclipse. This episode highlights the significance of preparation, planning, training, and effective communication.…
- The Power of Community Engagement in Transportation
Odessa L. Phillip , P.E., President and CEO of Assedo Consulting, LLC , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to discuss community engagement as part of the decision-making process for transportation planning and project design, addre…
- A Conversation with AASHTO President and Wisconsin DOT Secretary, Craig Thompson
As the newly elected president of AASHTO , Wisconsin DOT Secretary Craig Thompson is committed to fortifying the workforce to construct a modern and efficient transportation system that centers the needs of all citizens. Recognizing the pr…
- Shailen Bhatt, FHWA Administrator – Safety, Leadership, and the Impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how it will impact communities taking advantage of the various funding opportunities it provides. He a…
- Stop, Look, Listen: Engaging Communities to put Equity into Action
This episode concludes AASHTO's four-part series on equity, where we've focused on transportation professionals' work towards building an equitable transportation system. This episode is brought to you from the AASHTO 2023 Annual Meeting w…
- Alex Argudin, CEO, Miami Parking Authority – Parking Trends, Challenges, and Innovations
Alejandra "Alex" Argudin , CEO of the Miami Parking Authority in Florida, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about parking trends and challenges in a densely populated city, how Miami is utilizing parking more efficiently a…
- Bidding Farewell to ITE Executive Director and CEO Jeff Paniati
After eight years of service, ITE Executive Director and CEO Jeff Paniati is retiring at the end of October. He joins the podcast to reflect on his storied career in transportation, including his many years at the Federal Highway Administr…
- Active Transportation Reshaping Communities
This is the second episode of a four-part series on AASHTO's ETAP Podcast that focuses on how transportation professionals may work towards building an equitable transportation system. Our guests highlight the crucial connection between ac…
- Gabe Klein, Executive Director, US Joint Office of Energy and Transportation: Moving Transportation Electrification Forward in the US
Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the US Joint Office of Energy and Transportation , joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to talk about transportation electrification in the United States. He discusses how his newly created office is…
- Reconnecting Communities with ReConnect Rondo
This is the first episode of a four-part series from AASHTO's ETAP Podcast that will focuses on building an equitable transportation system. We are joined by Keith Baker, the executive director of ReConnect Rondo , and we discuss a variety…
- People-Oriented Design: An International Perspective – Bas Govers, Senior Urban Mobility Consultant, Goudappel
Bas Govers , senior urban mobility consultant, Goudappel , The Netherlands, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to share insights on creating sustainably safe and comfortable people-oriented spaces that promote mobility. He talks ab…
- The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Strategic Plans and Cooperative Growth
The Lehigh Planning Commission is a metropolitan planning organization that was created to provide planning services to Lehigh and Northampton counties while working alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation . LVPC coordinate…