The DOT POD

This episode was recorded in the Science and Industry Building at the Great New York State Fair where the New York State Department of Transportation was giving visitors a chance to experience something they may or may not think about every day: what it's like to navigate an intersection from someone else's perspective.

One of DOT's displays is all about empathy at intersections and it invites people to step outside their own experi...

Every summer, hundreds of thousands of people make their way to the Great New York State Fair. They come for the food, music, and rides, and if you've ever walked through the Science and Industry building, you've probably noticed one of the Fair's most interactive exhibits: the New York State Department of Transportation display.

But what visitors don't see is the incredible amount of planning that goes into creating an experience ...

New York's transportation network is one of the largest and most complex in the nation, connecting communities, supporting businesses, and helping millions of New Yorkers get where they need to go.

And the investments we make today determine how that system will look tomorrow. From historic infrastructure funding, to workforce investments that keep our roads, and the people who build and maintain them, safe, Governor Kathy Hochul's...

Every day at DOT, thousands of employees are solving problems. Maintaining our roads and bridges, responding to emergencies, designing projects, and keeping New Yorkers moving.

But as a new generation of employees steps forward, and many longtime employees prepare for retirement, how do we make sure all their knowledge doesn't leave with them? The answer is mentorship.

Today we're talking about DOT's Mentorship Program, an effort th...

The world's biggest sporting event is going on right now - the World Cup. Behind the scenes, months and years of planning have gone into making sure fans can get to where they need to go safely and efficiently...and DOT has played a major role in making that happen.

In this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya are joined by Ken Bibbins, DOT's Assistant Commissioner for Operations, and Matt Vasilow, Director of the department's Eme...

For a lot of people, DOT is not just a job - it's part of their family story. From watching their parents suit up to respond to storms, or hearing about projects at the dinner table, these are people who learned at a very young age that public service isn't glamorous, but it truly matters, and that's why they are proud to carry forward that tradition of service.

In this episode, Josh and Anya spoke with one of these families as they...

Engineering shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, including the roads and bridges we travel every day. At the New York State Department of Transportation, women engineers are leading major transportation projects, mentoring future professionals, and helping shape the future of transportation across our state.

Every year on June 23rd, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineer...

Josh and Anya are in the City of Buffalo talking about Queen City Forward, an effort that's all about rethinking the future of transportation in Western New York, starting with the Kensington Expressway, also known as The 33.

Joining the show are Queen City Forward Project Assistant Taje Jenkins-Jones, and Ryan Whalen, DOT's Public Information Officer for the Buffalo Region. Both are from Buffalo and are leading this outreach and e...

This episode is all about those iconic structures that connect our communities - supporting our local economies and carrying motorists safely to their destinations every day. We're talking about bridges.

Josh and Anya are in Buffalo to talk with two NYSDOT engineers who are each in charge of a significant bridge project in the region.

Joining the show are Daryl Nolan, the Engineer in Charge for the replacement of the Route 20 Bridg...

What if the biggest threat to your workday wasn't an accident or traffic jam, but the equipment humming away on your desk? Today, we are pulling back the curtain on seemingly harmless workplace items and emails that are, in reality, attempts to steal not just your identity, but any kind of information that might prove valuable to bad actors.

On this episode of the DOT POD, we are introducing you to DOT's Cyber Security Team. They c...

This episode is launching during National Work Zone Awareness Week. A time to highlight the importance of work zone safety and to remember the men and women who have lost their lives while working to keep our roads maintained and safe.

On March 17, 2006, Patrick Mapleson was filling potholes along Sunrise Highway on Long Island when a driver lost control of his cement truck and crashed into Pat's work zone, taking his life.

This ep...

On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya take a deep dive into one of the most ambitious and transformative transportation efforts currently underway in New York's Capital Region -Reimagining I-787.

Greg Wichser and Kelley Kircher join the program to talk about the effort that not only addresses aging infrastructure along a major corridor from the City of Albany to the Community of Green Island, it also will provide safer vehic...

For newer snowplow operators, this winter season wasn't just busy - it was an opportunity and a masterclass in maneuvering plows in whiteouts and adapting to rapidly changing conditions.

Josh and Anya traveled to Binghamton to sit down with one of DOT's newer snowplow operators, and one of their experienced instructors.

Equipment Operator Instructor Ryan Ashman and Highway Maintenance Worker Cody Randel joined the show to talk abou...

We're celebrating Women's History Month and we're doing it the best way we know how - by highlighting a leader who is not only shaping transportation in New York State, but also the world of women in transportation.

Josh and Anya are joined by Linda Lubey, the new Director of the Office of Traffic, Safety, and Mobility. Linda started her career when the transportation field was still mostly dominated by men. But she didn't just ent...

When you think of the New York State Department of Transportation, you probably imagine projects, planning, or filling potholes and snowplowing. And while that's definitely part of the job, DOT employees don't just live and breathe transportation. They've got plenty of hobbies and passions outside of work.

In this episode, Josh and Anya welcome in a few of these employees to find out what skills and hobbies these public servants ha...

If you've been on social media during a snowstorm or just before our morning commute, chances are DOT popped up in your feed. Sometimes those posts don't just pop...they explode.

Case in point, last month's major statewide snowstorm. Millions of people viewed an eight-foot tall snowbank, with one of our DOT employees standing next to it for scale...and boom, that picture went viral.

Jeremy Johnson is the DOT employee standing in tha...

On this episode of the DOT POD, we are talking about something that New Yorkers see on many of our roadways - HELP Trucks. Those white trucks that seem to show up at exactly the right moment - when flat tires, spinouts, or dead batteries happen.

Recording from the Hudson Valley, Josh and Anya welcome in HELP Truck Operator Jerry Gamone, Manager for DOT's Traffic Management Center in Hawthorne, NY Lance Gorney, and New York State Po...

The Livingston Avenue Bridge has been carrying trains across the Hudson River since the Civil War era. Now, more than 150 years later, it's being replaced to meet the needs of modern rail travel while also expanding pedestrian access with a design that respects its historic roots.

On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in Jeff Moryl, Director of DOT's Project Management Office, and Sue Torelli, Director of DOT's Rail...

The New York State Department of Transportation is all about serving our communities and over the years we've expanded our focus to encompass a wide range of initiatives that listeners may not at first associate with transportation.

One area where our department has taken the lead on a nation level is in the fight against human trafficking.

In honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Josh and Anya welcomed in Jonathan Nicastro,...