METROspectives

Transit electrification continues to evolve as agenciesbalance ambitious sustainability goals with the realities of fleet operations, infrastructure, technology selection, and long-term reliability. As agencies are at different points in that transition, finding solutions that adapt to individual operating needs has become increasingly important.

In this edition of METROspectives, METRO sits downwith John Hroncich, Director of North...

In this episode of Bus Tech Talk, Complete Coach Works’ Business Development Manager Mark Hollenbeck and METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sit down with Obed Mejia, Senior Technical Trainer for Bus Maintenance, at LA Metro to discuss how rapidly evolving bus technology is changing the maintenance shop — and the skills technicians need to keep pace.

Mejia shares how LA Metro approaches technical training, theimpor...

In this episode of METROspectives, METRO’s Executive EditorAlex Roman sits down with Brian Dickson, founder of Bus Business Consultants and Ground Transportation Insights (GTI), to discuss what it takes to build a stronger, more resilient transportation organization.

Drawing on his experience as an operator, executive,consultant, and industry observer, Dickson shares the leadership lessons that continue to shape his work and e...

Paratransit is undergoing rapid change. Rising demand,workforce shortages, tighter budgets, and higher customer expectations are pushing agencies and service providers to rethink how they manage operations. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence and automation are creating new opportunities to improve efficiency without sacrificing service quality.

In this edition of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’sExecutive Edi...

In this episode of METROspectives, Steve Lassey, CEO of strada360, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss how agencies can bridge the gap between long-term transit planning and day-to-day operational realities.

Drawing on the firm's experience across both the public andprivate sectors, Lassey shares insights on adapting service to changing travel patterns, using data to make better decisions, and building strong...

For decades, Luminator Technology Group has been known as a leader in passenger information systems and transit technology. But as public transportation evolves, so does the company.

In this episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sits down with Magnus Friberg, CEO of Luminator Technology Group, to discuss the company's transformation from a hardware-focused manufacturer into a technology partne...

As technology continues to reshape the transportation landscape, companies are finding new ways to connect passengers with mobility services while helping operators streamline traditionally fragmented processes.

One company working at the intersection of transportation and technology is CharterUP, a marketplace platform that connects organizations with charter bus and group transportation providers across North America.

In this editi...

In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank, co-authorof New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Improving Policy Outcomes in the Public Sector, reflects on the evolution of transportation innovation, lessons learned from helping launch LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation (OEI), and how those experiences continue to shape his work today at InfraStrategies and the ACES Mobility Coalition.

Drawing from years of ex...

In this episode of METROspectives, Brian Buchanan, transitprogram management lead at HDR, joins METRO’s Alex Roman to discuss how his role is helping agencies navigate the growing complexity of major capital programs. Drawing on his background, he explains how program management has evolved into a strategic function as projects grow larger, become more interconnected, and are subject to greater scrutiny.

Buchanan highlights th...

In this episode of Bus Tech Talk, Co-Hosts Mark Hollenbeck, business development manager at Complete Coach Works, and Alex Roman, Executive Editor at METRO, are joined by Cecil Blandon, director of maintenance at AC Transit in Oakland, California. Our conversation was so in-depth that we’ve split it into two parts.

In Part 2, Blandon discusses his agency’s training programand the challenges of working with various types ...

In this episode of Bus Tech Talk, Co-Hosts Mark Hollenbeck, business development manager at Complete Coach Works, and Alex Roman, Executive Editor at METRO, are joined by Cecil Blandon, director of maintenance at AC Transit in Oakland, California. Our conversation was so in-depth that we’ve split it into two parts.

In Part 1, Blandon shares his journey from the U.S. Marinesto a leadership role in public transit, along with ins...

On the latest episode of METROspectives, leaders from The Bus Coalition (TBC) sat down with Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss the organization’s evolving role in shaping federal transit policy and advocating for stronger investment in bus systems nationwide. With surface transportationreauthorization approaching, the coalition is focused on ensuring that bus and bus facility programs remain a central priority in Washingt...

In this episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine spoke with Inez Evans-Benson, SVP and deputy transit and rail market leader for WSP in the U.S., about the line between customer experience and customer satisfaction.Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.

Topics include:

·    The differen...

In this episode of METROspectives, METRO Executive EditorAlex Roman sits down with Timothy Menard, Founder and CEO of LYT, to talk about how AI and intelligent technology are reshaping public transit operations.

Menard discusses how data-driven signal prioritization isimproving efficiency, reliability, and ridership, while offering insight into the innovations driving the next generation of smart mobility. Together, they explore ho...

In this episode of METROspectives, METRO’s Executive EditorAlex Roman sits down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group). With deep expertise in standards development and cross-sector policy alignment,Tomlinson shares how CSA is helping shape the future of safety, accessibility, and resilience across North America's transportation systems.

We ...

In this episode of METROspectives, METRO’s Executive EditorAlex Roman sits down with Colin Parent, Executive Director and General Counsel at Circulate San Diego, to discuss his recent report, “The Powerless Brokers,” and what it reveals about how decisions get made — and too often stalled — in public transit in California, as well as the rest of the US.

With a background spanning law, public policy, and...

When Doug Wright stepped in as President of Forest River Bus & Van in March 2025, his goal was clear — take a strong company and make it even stronger. In this conversation, METRO Executive Editor Alex Roman talks with Wright about Forest River’s journey so far, what’s driving its successtoday, and his vision for the future.

Topics include:

·        COVID’s Impact on...

Julie Chalmers was recently named one of METRO’s 2025 Women in Transportation. Recently, Executive Editor Alex Roman had a chance to talk to Chalmers, GM at Hotard Coaches Inc. in New Orleans, about being a leader in a historically male-dominated industry, providing mentorship to other women, career milestones, and much more.  

Topics include:

• Getting her start in the motorcoach industry. 
• Hurdles faced as a w...

With COVID splitting the number of motorcoach operatorsessentially in half, the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) is working on ways to boost new entrants. Scott Michael, President and CEO of the UMA, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss what the association is doing toincrease the number of operators, the state of the UMA in general, and much more.

Topics include:

·       &...