Transit Unplugged
We share the stories, challenges, and successes of the top transit professionals from around the world. Learn how top transit leaders got to where they are with stories and insights from their careers. Get the inside story about public transit and transit trends from the people who run it. Transit Unplugged is hosted and produced by Paul Comfort and brought to you by Modaxo Learn more at https://transitunplugged.com/
Episodes
Recorded Live at the APTA TRANSform Conference in Boston
In this special live edition of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort moderates an inspiring CEO Roundtable with five industry leaders shaping the future of mobility. Recorded on-site at APTA TRANSform 2025 in Boston, the conversation dives into the real-world challenges and opportunities facing transit systems today—and the leadership vision driving change.
Joining Paul are...
This week on Transit Unplugged:
We head to Singapore, where public transit covers every inch of the island—and carries an astonishing 7.5 million riders daily.
Host Paul Comfort sits down with Winston Toh, Managing Director of Tower Transit Singapore, one of four operators under the Land Transport Authority (LTA). With 800 buses across 60 routes, Tower Transit is at the center of a system designed with precision—and powered by centra...
San Antonio is growing—and fast. In this Super September episode, host Paul Comfort sits down with Jon Gary Herrera, the newly appointed President and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, to talk about how one of America’s fastest-growing cities is reimagining transit.
From expanding regional collaboration to centering equity in system planning, Jon Gary brings a thoughtful and bold vision to VIA’s next chapter. He shares what he’s lear...
LIVE from the American Public Transportation Association's TRANSform conference, host Paul Comfort moderates a live panel on one of the most mission-critical—but often overlooked—parts of the transit ecosystem: paratransit.
Presented in partnership with UZURV – The Adaptive Transportation Network Company (TNC), this candid and high-energy conversation features leaders from across the country who are redefining what’s possible w...
In this Super September episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort heads to Chicago to sit down with Nora Leerhsen, Acting President of the Chicago Transit Authority—America’s second-largest public transit system.
With more than 11,000 employees, a million daily riders, and an expanding footprint, the CTA plays a massive role in the life of the Windy City—and Nora is at the helm during a pivotal time. A lawyer and former educat...
We’re kicking off Super September with a heavy-hitter: Demetrius Crichlow, President of New York City Transit.
In this powerful episode, Crichlow sits down with Paul Comfort to reflect on his 20+ year rise through the MTA—from climbing signal poles at Long Island Rail Road to overseeing the nation’s largest transit system.
Crichlow doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges. He opens up about leading through a crisis of public trust, tackling ...
We’re getting the band back together.
In this special episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul catches up with longtime contributors Mike Bismeyer (a.k.a. the King of Kindness) and Elea Carey, marketing strategist and founder of Transit Happy. These two familiar voices helped shape the podcast during the pandemic—and now they’re shaping the industry.
Mike shares how kindness has become a key leadership trait, and how mentorship continues t...
This Week on Transit Unplugged
On the Road in New Orleans: SWTA Summer Conference Spotlight
In this special conference edition of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort is on location at the SWTA Summer University Conference in New Orleans, where he dives deep into the challenges and opportunities facing small and mid-sized transit systems across the Southwest.
On the heels of his February appointment, Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek sits down with Paul Comfort to break down a banner year for the MTA’s northern commuter powerhouse. From 98 percent on-time performance to new “Super-Express” trains that shave up to 50 minutes a day off the New Haven run, Justin walks through the big wins, bigger capital program, and the three metrics he believes define rail’s future in North ...
MV Transportation just hit a milestone few transit firms reach—its 50th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, host Paul Comfort interviews Harry Wilson, the firm’s Executive Chairman, about:
- A 50‑Year Origin Story —How Alex and Feysan Lodde's single van in San Francisco grew into the largest American‑owned transit contractor in North America.
- “The New MV” Culture —Why Wilson and COO Kevin Klika rebuilt training from scratch (six‑week...
Last week, Mark Aesch and Alvin McBorrough unpacked a striking statistic: only 4 % of Americans ride transit, yet 84 % of people say they value it. This week we keep that conversation going with Rikesh Shah, former Chief Innovation Officer at Transport for London. Together with host Paul Comfort, Rikesh explores how customer‑focused metrics, open data, and smarter procurement can turn that 84 % of “transit supporters” into satisfie...
Only 4% of Americans ride transit—but 84% of people in communities with transit say they value it.
In this episode, Paul Comfort digs into the details with Mark Aesch (CEO, TransPro Consulting) and Alvin McBorrough (CEO, OGx Consulting). Together they unpack two big levers for agency performance: measuring what actually matters and using AI to deliver it more efficiently.
Featuring:
Mark Aesch – CEO, TransPro Consulting
Why ride...
In this special roving-reporter edition of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort takes you inside the 2025 CTAA Expo in San Diego, where he caught up with some of the brightest minds in community and rural transit. From paratransit operations to industry journalism to frontline safety, these conversations reflect the energy, challenges, and innovation happening beyond the big-city systems.
Featuring:
Megan Perrero – Editor in Chief, M...
What’s really going on behind the scenes of U.S. public transportation policy? In this special edition of Transit Unplugged Insider, Executive Producer Julie Gates turns the mic on our usual host, Paul Comfort, for a revealing look at the shifting political and funding landscape in Washington—and what every transit executive needs to know right now.
From what’s actually happening with FTA leadership to surprising details about the T...
How do you rebuild a public transportation system from the ground up? In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Mallory Avis, Director of Public Transit for the City of Battle Creek, Michigan, to talk about one of the most ambitious overhauls of a small-city transit system in the U.S. today.
Recorded live at the CTAA Expo in San Diego, this conversation captures the energy and complexity behind Battle Creek’...
In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul talks with Samuel Ribeiro, Managing Director of Tower Transit in the UK, part of global transport powerhouse Kelsian Group. With operations spanning Liverpool and the Channel Islands, Samuel shares how lessons from bus systems across four continents—from Australia to Singapore, Brazil to London—are helping Tower Transit improve public transport service in the UK.
They dive into:
- The nuan...
What does it take to build a transit system that powers a city—and wins global recognition for livability?
In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Ryan Daniel, CEO of St. Cloud Metro Bus, and Dave Kleis, Board Chair and former mayor of St. Cloud, Minnesota, share how their long-running partnership has driven bold innovation and national recognition. From launching a system-wide redesign to pioneering green hydrogen fuel, their w...
When most people think of Detroit, they think cars. But behind the Motor City moniker is a layered, multi-agency public transit system—and Robert Cramer is helping connect the dots.
As Executive Director of Transit for the City of Detroit, Cramer leads both DDOT and Detroit Transportation Corporation, operator of the iconic elevated People Mover. In this episode, Paul Comfort joins Robert for a ride downtown and a deep dive in...
Markus Moore, Director of Transportation for the City of Annapolis, joins Paul Comfort from the rooftop of the Hillman Garage during Naval Academy Commissioning Week for a wide-ranging conversation about his remarkable journey through transit. From helping launch high-speed rail in North America as part of the Acela project at Amtrak, to managing local bus and on-demand service in Maryland’s historic capital city, Markus brings dec...
How does a career in law enforcement, animal services, and civic leadership prepare you to run a transit agency?
In this week’s Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort sits down with Ozzy Gibson, Executive Director of Louisville’s Transit Authority of River City (TARC), for a candid and compelling conversation about public service, accountability, and what it takes to lead through uncertainty.
Ozzy shares lessons from his ti...
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