The DOT POD

In this episode of The DOT POD we are heading into the halls of NYSDOT's Main Office where a group of dedicated employees ensure everything runs like clockwork.

We are talking about our facilities team. They are the hardworking caretakers of our mail room, crucial documents, surplus, and inventory. They take care of our lost items and help us organize our events.

In short, they do a TON of work behind the scenes in this...

Work at NYSDOT can sometimes be a messy business. Think about maintaining worm-composting toilets at a state rest are - or transforming roadkill into renewal by cleaning and composting animal carcasses from our state highways.

Those are just a couple of the MANY challenging jobs our dedicated DOT employees tackle daily, and we'll find out more about them on this episode that looks at the dirtier side of DOT.

Josh and An...

This episode explores a critical part of emergency preparedness at the New York State Department of Transportation - our yearly staging area drills.

These drills aren't just routine exercises, they're basically huge rehearsals for real events, ranging from hurricanes and floods, to snowstorms and other emergencies.

Recently, Josh and Anya had the chance to observe a staging drill in Utica and learn first-hand how the...

Safety doesn’t just happen by accident; it takes carefulplanning. To keep New York’s roadway safe DOT has developed a Strategic Highway Safety Plan which is aimed at drastically cutting down on serious crashes and fatalities, with the ultimate goal, of course, being zero deaths.

In this episode, Josh and Anya explore the key factors thatmake us vulnerable to serious crashes, what DOT is doing to protect all roadway users, and t...

In this episode, we are shining a spotlight on rail safety - an essential aspect of our transportation system, that millions of people rely on for their daily commutes as well as in getting the goods we need.

But did you know that the New York State Department of Transportation plays a crucial role in keeping our rail system safe?

Guests Mike Labello and Brian Galvin walk us through the vital work DOT is doing through rail inspection...

We often hear of the inspiring stories of DOT workers who go above and beyond their duties, helping those in need; like aiding stranded drivers during major snowstorms or after accidents.

On this edition of The DOT POD, we're sharing the stories of DOT employees who come to the aid of animals in distress.

Josh and Anya are joined by DOT workers Brett Stoner, Ryan Wilson, and Kim Latour. From rescuing animals in need, to...

DOT's projects and initiatives are deeply rooted in our communities. But to truly meet the needs of the people we serve, we've got to meet them where they are.

This principle is at the core of public engagement and we're continually seeking innovative ways to connect with our communities.

On this episode, Project Director for the I-81 Viaduct Project, Betsy Parmley, and Community Liaison and Public Information Officer TeNesha Murph...

The New York State Department of Transportation prioritizes safety 24-7, 365, to ensure our roadways remain safe for everyone who uses them.

Every time we travel, whether it's our daily commute, or shuttling our kids to school, we share the road with large commercial trucks and motor carriers. But have you every thought about the people responsible for making sure these trucks and their drivers are safe and fit for the road...

Airports are critical to the health and well-being of the communities in upstate New York. They are gateways to local economies and make lasting impressions.

In September, $230 million was awarded to nine upstate airports as part of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition.

On this episode, Josh and Anya sit down with Deputy Chief Engineer Carlos Rivera and Aviation Director Lowell Lingo to di...

The women of DOT represent an extraordinary collective of dedicated professionals who thrive in a field that has long been viewed as predominantly male.

In honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting a newly formed Women's Group in DOT's Long Island office that is dedicated to uplifting and empowering the women who are making significant contributions to DOT and the transportation sector.

In this episode,...

As DOT works to rebuild and enhance our vast transportation network, we're often reminded that our state has a rich history far older than our modern infrastructure.

Sometimes our projects reveal what life was like hundreds, even thousands of years ago and on this episode of The DOT POD we dig into the kind of discoveries that are being made as w shape our transportation system.

Josh and Anya are joined by Sean Higgins a...

In June of 2019, New York signed into the law the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) to help address climate change. This was furthered by Governor Hochul's Executive Order 22: which directs state agencies to adopt a sustainability and decarbonization program.

On this episode of The DOT POD, we welcome in someone who is helping to lead the charge, New York State Department of Transportation's Assis...

While we don't often think of what goes on under our feet, the drillers of DOT's Geotechnical Engineering Bureau are tasked with exactly what makes up the ground beneath us.

On any given project, drillers will take core samples, allowing engineers to create a soil profile and select the most appropriate foundation type for the structure being analyzed.

On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya welcome in two ...

In 1960, Ed Donovan joined what is now the New York State Department of Transportation, and 64 years later, he is still at it, serving as an Engineer in Charge on Long Island.

Josh and Anya traveled to Long Island to meet with Ed and talk about his history, his longevity, and his wealth of knowledge, built over 60 years at the Department.

In this episode, Ed discusses working on extended and constructing the Long Island Express...

In this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya are on location in Hauppauge, NY on Long Island to talk about bascule bridges - what they are, how they work, and how we maintain them.

There are five bascule bridges, essentially drawbridges, on Long Island that are owned and operated by New York State DOT. We sat down with a couple of employees who work with these bridges daily.

Mitch Rippe is a bridge repair supervisor and Paul B...

Though the weather outside is frightful, the hardworking men and women of the New York State Department of Transportation are out there ensuring the roads throughout the state are safe to drive on.

In this edition of The DOT POD, hosts Josh and Anya welcome in two employees who are on the front lines of this seasonal battle; Kevin Kelsey, a Maintenance Supervisor 2 in the Southern Tier, and Mike Kraeger, a Bridge Maintenance Super...

Last month, New York State Department of Transportation's Office of Traffic Safety & Mobility welcomed their counterparts from Maine DOT to learn from each other in through peer exchange experiences.

Josh and Anya welcome back Becky Gibson-Schott, Director of Transportation Systems Management and Operations in the Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility for NYSDOT, and Colby Fortier-Brown, an Assistant State Traffic Engineer fo...

On this episode, hosts Josh Heller and Anya Kardos celebrate the first anniversary of The DOT POD, which launched just over a year ago, on November 16, 2023.

They look back on the year that was, which included 27 different episodes that highlighted the people, projects, and initiatives that pushed the New York State DOT forward.

Join Josh and Anya as they hop in the way-back-machine and revisit some of the many highlights from th...