Going Places
Welcome to Going Places, where we bring a new perspective to transit. Whether you’re a commuter, employer, invested in making transit more accessible for all, or simply want to know how we operate, this podcast will cover topics and trends with Hampton Roads Transit experts, industry thought leaders, community trailblazers, and everyday transit users.
Episodes
Everyone talks about 'the next generation', but what does that mean? For Ariel Gardner & Gus Maxwell of Hampton Roads Transit, it's two things:
👉 Free rides to high schoolers in six cities of Hampton Roads
👉 Getting high schoolers to provide meaningful, impactful feedback to transit providers
In this episode, we find out about how local transit agencies are navigating a changing ridership, plus reflect on the past and look forwa...
William Harrell has held a variety of titles in his 40 years of public service. Alexis sits down with him in his last days of 14 years as President & CEO of Hampton Roads Transit to talk about his career, what it takes to lead, and more.
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All over the US, cities are seeing a revival of interest in urban planning and development that puts transit at the core. On this episode of Going Places, we sit down with Sam Sink of Kimley-Horn to talk all things Transit-Oriented Development here in Hampton Roads - and beyond!
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Hampton Roads businesses can connect with commuters, both from an employer and consumer perspective. In this episode of Going Places, Amy sits down with long-time colleague and ✨ professional bestie ✨ Steve Harrison of the Hampton Roads Alliance to talk all things economic development + Hampton Roads (two of her top five favorite things, tbh).
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What does it take to make our streets pedestrian-friendly, bikeable, safe, inviting, and... dare we say... complete?
Joni us as we chat with content creator Jon Jon Weslowski, also known as @thehappyurbanist, about all things street design, planning, bike-friendly infrastructure, and more.
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In early 2026, Mariia Zimmerman was appointed the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transit (DRPT). Alexis sat down with Mariia to talk all things transit in the commonwealth, plus talk about a few things specific to Hampton Roads.
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Learn about DRPT's services - including the Virginia Breeze bus service - on their website.
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Did transitioning from mass transit to highway installation impact specific communities right here in Hampton Roads? Here's what the experts have to say.For Part 2 of Transit Tea You Didn't Know You Needed, we sat down with Dr. Johnny Finn and Audrey Hale, both with Christopher Newport University. They've been studying the impacts of highway noise pollution in communities across Hampton Roads.
Dr. Finn is an Associate Professor &am...
Ever looked at a road map of Hampton Roads and wondered "Why are you the way that you are?" Yeah, us too. On this episode of Going Places, we sat down with acclaimed local historian and Norfolk State University professor, Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, to talk all things transportation history in Hampton Roads.
And what about the lasting effects of these transportation decisions? Did they have any impact? Stay tuned for Part 2 with...
Did you know that prior to the mid-1900s, most of the transit system in Hampton Roads was via electric streetcar? 🚃
Greg Siegel and a dedicated group of volunteers are working hard to restore Streetcar 390, a piece of history they hope will soon be on display in Downtown Hampton.
In this episode, Amy sits down with Greg to talk about the project and the history of streetcars in Hampton.
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Passenger rail is ✨ that ✨ girl - and Virginia is at the forefront! We sat down with Karina Romero from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to talk record-breaking ridership numbers and the growing demand for more rail options in the Commonwealth.
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Do transit agencies across the nation experience similar successes and struggles? What is coming down the federal pipeline for public transit, and how does public transit impact the economy on a national level?
In this episode, we chat with American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President & CEO Paul Skoutelas, who keynoted the bi-annual State of Transit Summit in October 2025.
Liked this episode? There's more where tha...
For many survivors of domestic violence, getting to safety starts with something as simple as a bus ride. Public transit connects to shelters, counseling, jobs, and the everyday independence needed to rebuild.
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Cheryl Chavers of the Newport News Police Department on how access to transit supports survivors and strengthens communities.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here's how you can ...
Access to reliable transit isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It reduces barriers and strengthens communities. In this episode, we sit down with Cierra Lewis, Gender & Equity Practitioner at YWCA South Hampton Roads to explore how public transit reduces community disparities. From connecting survivors of domestic violence with safe housing and support, to ensuring families can reach jobs, education, and hea...
Public transit content does well on social media? There's no way...
Yes, way! For this month's episode, we sat down with Hayden Clarkin - who you probably know as @thetransitguy - to talk all things transit social media and how he built his platform. Where does the transit content inspo come from? How did he get inspired to transform his Adele fan account into a transit-walkability-planning-engineering-masterpiece? Get these answers...
Driving alone seems convenient, but it is a huge personal expense. Lots of people prefer driving alone, but you don't have to. goCommute is the Hampton Roads region's Transportation Demand Management Program (TDM, for short).
We sat down with Monique Lynch, the Program Specialist for goCommute, to talk about all the ways people can ditch driving alone and explore the benefits of commuting smarter.
Get Connected with goCommute
Did you know that Hampton Roads is actually served by three separate transit agencies? That's right - HRT covers Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach; Suffolk Transit serves the City of Suffolk; and the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) covers James City County, York County/Yorktown, and Williamsburg.
Join us for this conversation featuring Ben Goodill, the Director of Planning & A...
The evolution of transit continues! In this episode, we chat with Severine Koen, the Northeast Team Lead of Via, the mobility partner of Hampton Roads Transit providing OnDemand Rideshare services.
OnDemand is currently a pilot program in Hampton Roads, available in select zones of Newport News and Virginia Beach.
Listen to Severine talk about what OnDemand Rideshare - aka Microtransit - is, how it works, and who's currently using ...
Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are turning away from the driver's seat. In this episode of Going Places, we sit down with Scott Campbell, millennial and President of VIA Design, an architecture firm located steps away from Norfolk's MacArthur Square Tide light rail station, to talk about how young professionals feel about public transit.
Each year, public transit agencies, staff and supporters visit Richmond, VA to speak with legislators about the importance of transit in our communities. Hosted annuallyby the Virginia Transit Association, this event is the perfect opportunity to talk all things transit on a legislative level.
Join host Amy Jordan for an on-site experience during Transit Advocacy Day! Hear from elected officials and transit organization representati...
Developing transit takes time, patience and a lot of public input. Hear from HRT's Director of Transit Development (*not* transportation!) in this episode of Going Places.
Looking for information on all of HRT's current Transit Planning Studies and Projects? Check out the list and read up on all the current docs.
Interested in learning more about Connecting Chesapeake? Visit the study website to sign up for updates!
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