METROspectives

The LA ART aerial gondola project aims to ease congestionand cut pollution in the Los Angeles region by connecting Union Station to Dodger Stadium. When completed, the gondola will serve underserved communities, including El Pueblo, Chinatown, Mission Junction, and Solano Canyon, and offer ADA-accessible cabins with space for strollers and bikes. METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to David Grannis, Executive Director of Zero Emiss...

Beginning as a small, minority-owned startup in SanFrancisco in 1975, MV Transportation is celebrating its 50thAnniversary in 2025. METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman had a chance to talk to MV’s Chief Customer Success Officer Gary Coles about the company’s milestone and much more.

Topics include:

·      The company’s humble beginnings and its growthinto a national company.

·      How MV is helping transit agencies adapt newservice ...

One of the top five largest contractors in the nation, WeDriveU recently rebranded from its previous name National Express. In our latest edition of METROspectives, WeDriveU’s President/CEO Erick Van Wagenen joinsMETRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss the reasons for the rebrand, the company’s recently launched engagement initiative and much more.

Topics include:

·        What’s next after the rebrand.

·        Mobility trends...

On Your Mark Transportation’s President/CEO Mark Szyperski consults for the public transit, motorcoach, and luxury transportation, so he has definitely seen a bus operation or two. In our latest edition of METROspectives, Mark joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss the need for bus operations to be prepared for emergencies, including fires, tornados, and earthquakes.

Topics include:

·      The percentage of bus operati...

Still in the first year on the job, Fred Ferguson, President/CEO of the American Bus Association, just recently helmed his firstMarketplace, which was coincidentally held the day the new Administration announced its plans to implement tariffs on countries including Canada and Mexico. In our latest edition of METROspectives, Ferguson joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss the impact those tariffs would have on the indu...

In business since 1933, Springfield, Mass.’ Peter Pan BusLines was recently named METRO’s Motorcoach Operator of the Year at this year’s UMA Expo. In our latest edition of METROspectives, Peter Pan’s Chairman and CEO Peter Picknelly joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss what keeps his operation on top.

Topics include:

·      How the operation stays ahead of the curve.

·      The recent takeover of Megabus routes.

·      ...

San Antonio, Texas’ OK TOURS was the winner of METRO’sInnovative Motorcoach Operator of the Year Award, which was presented at this year’s American Bus Association Marketplace. In our latest edition of METROspectives, OK TOURS COO Marcos Sarmiento joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss what helped his company earn the award and much more.

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In six years, Nashville’s WeGo Transit was able to lick their wounds after a soundly beaten ballot measure to pass a substantial referendum last November. In our latest edition of METROspectives, WeGo Transit CEO Stephen Bland joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss what changed over six years and much more.

Topics include:

·       Earning the community’s trust.

·       Advice for agencies trying to pass ballot measure...

Virginia, Minn.’s Arrowhead Transit is the second largest rural public transit system in the U.S. In our latest edition of METROspectives, Arrowhead Tranit’s Dominick Olivanti and Colette Hanson join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss public transit from a rural provider perspective.

Topics include:

·       Arrowhead Transit’s driver shortage.

·       Bringing Innovation to a rural transportation system.

·       Prepari...

In our latest edition of METROspectives, Rashidi Barnes, CEO of California’s Tri-Delta Transit and Maggie Pears, managing consultant at the Center for Transportation the Environment, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman to discuss their roles in the California Transit Training Consortium (CTC) and more.

Topics include:

·       The Consortium’s recent rebrand.

·       The need for new and ongoing vehicle technician training.

·  ...

In a special audio-exclusive edition of METROspectives, Transdev US CEO Laura Hendricks and COO’s Susan Sweat and Lauren Skiver join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

·       How their unique backgrounds play a role in building a culture at Transdev.

·       The impact public transportation has in providing communities with access to services and opportunities.

·       Building diversity, equity, and inclusion pr...

MJ Maynard, CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

·    The RTC’s tech adoption approach.

·       How AI can make an impact on the public transit industry.

·       Working with the power of data.

·       How to forge partnerships with vendors.

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Today, Jannet Walker-Ford,Lead, Advisory and Planning business, at WSP and David Scorey, CEO of Keolis North America, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

·       Walker-Ford’s new position as Chair of Keolis North America.

·       The new face of mobility in North America in a post-COVID world.

·       Worldwide approaches to contracting.

·       Carbon reduction and zero-emission buses.

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Today, Paul Comfort, Transit Evangelist and SVP/Chief Customer Officer at Modaxo, and Davey Kim SVP/Principal, National Transportation Policy and Multimodal Strategy, at WSP USA, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

·         Paul’s “The New Future of Public Transportation” book.

·         The Federal Government’s Role in Funding Public Transit.

·         Political Will to Replace Both the Federal and State...

Today, Mark Aesch, CEO/Founder of TransPro Consulting, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

·       How to think differently about public transportation.

·       Moving away from the ridership question.

·       Finding the right story for your agency to tell.

·       The Rays The Mark Foundation.

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Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Anthony Incorvati, Business Development Manager, Americas, for Axis Communications, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman from the APTA EXPO show floor.

Topics include:

• Axis Communications’ product portfolio
• How AI can be a good fit for transit
• Finding what works best for a transit agency
• Tech and public transit’s future

Sponsored by Axis Communications.

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Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Peter Aczel, CEO for Vontas; Jonny Simkin, CEO of Swiftly; and David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit, join METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

• A first of its kind partnership between Vontas, Swiftly, and Transit

• How open APIs will make larger-scale integrations a reality

• How supplier partnerships can improve the overall pa...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Scott Bogren, Executive Director for the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

• What issues CTAA members are currently facing, including procurement and vehicle availability.
• New (and old) mobility approaches to better serve communities.
• The ongoing funding issues for smaller transit agencies even after...

Welcome back to METROspectives. Today, Peter Aczel, CEO for Vontas, joins METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman.

Topics include:

• The company’s product portfolio
• Its Innovative Solutions Award victory with Fresno, Calif.’s FAX
• How Vontas completed the FAX project in 10 months
• A sneak peak on what’s in store at APTA’s TRANSform & EXPO in Orlando, Fla.

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