Shows / Talking Michigan Transportation
Talking Michigan Transportation
The Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with transportation experts inside and outside MDOT and will touch on anything and everything related to mobility, including rail, transit and the development of connected and automated vehicles.
Episodes
Talking Michigan TransportationDrive on the roads, pay for the roads
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Baruch Feigenbaum of the Reason Foundation returns to talk about developments in Michigan for a road…
Talking Michigan TransportationAfter a series of work-zone crashes, what can be done?
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Gregg Brunner, chief operations officer at the Michigan Department…
Talking Michigan TransportationReprise: A veteran Michigan pollster talks about perceptions of road conditions and repairs
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Podcast features a reprise of a 2022 conversation with a veteran Michigan pollster about the public’s view of road…
Talking Michigan TransportationTake 2: Regulating traffic flow with stop lights at entrance ramps
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, some context from elsewhere on freeway ramp metering, where it works well and why. First, Angie Drumm…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhy do we need a green light to enter a freeway?
After a long hiatus, Michigan is again implementing ramp metering, which helps regulate the flow of traffic from ramps onto busy freeways. It will be used on…
Talking Michigan TransportationEVs, magnets and drones. Oh, my!
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a check-in with Joann Muller, the Detroit-based transportation correspondent for Axios…
Talking Michigan TransportationDr. Fraud: Do NOT respond to texts about unpaid tolls
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with J. Michael Skiba, also known as “Dr. Fraud,” a national expert on…
Talking Michigan TransportationReprise: Managing traffic during road construction; and what about the zipper merge?
As road work continues across Michigan, police are on high alert for speeding and distracted drivers causing crashes during backups. On this week’s Talking…
Talking Michigan TransportationPredicting how long a road will last
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with a trunkline pavement strategy specialist about how the work in his…
Talking Michigan TransportationWill congress move quickly on a highway bill?
Congressional leaders of various infrastructure committees have shown some interest in adopting a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe future of road funding
On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about states studying or piloting road usage charges (RUC). John…
Talking Michigan TransportationSome good news for understanding wildlife-vehicle collisions
Earth Week 2025 came with a positive development for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on…
Talking Michigan TransportationTransportation funding in Michigan, some history
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, another conversation with Bill Hamilton, a senior analyst at the Michigan House Fiscal Agency (HFA). The HFA is…
Talking Michigan TransportationWork progresses on the final phase of rebuilding I-696
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Brian Travis, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project manager…
Talking Michigan TransportationMDOT crews, other agencies respond to historic ice storm
A few days after a massive ice storm rocked northern lower Michigan, many thousands remain without power while crews from power companies, the Michigan…
Talking Michigan TransportationTariffs, automated vehicles and zero-emission planes
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a repeat appearance by Joann Muller, the Detroit-based transportation correspondent for…
Talking Michigan TransportationRoad building 101
Jason Gutting joins the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast this week to talk about his role as director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services. As talks heat…
Talking Michigan TransportationBill to protect Mackinac Bridge moves forward
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with state Sen. John Damoose and Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Chairman Patrick…
Talking Michigan TransportationEvidence mounts that distracted driving laws make a difference
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, an update from Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based firm…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe vital role of transportation in Detroit’s resurgence
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Sam Krassenstein, chief of infrastructure and Department of Public…
Talking Michigan TransportationHighlights of Gov. Whitmer’s road-funding plan
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Zach Kolodin, the state’s chief infrastructure officer, breaks down the highlights of a…
Talking Michigan TransportationBreaking down the federal funding challenges for transportation
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Zach Rable, a federal policy specialist at the Michigan Department…
Talking Michigan TransportationFederal grants will benefit some vital Grand Rapids corridors
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Art Green, manager of the Grand Rapids Transportation Service…
Talking Michigan TransportationRebuilding the third segment of I-696 begins soon
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Brian Travis, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project manager…
Talking Michigan TransportationMeet MDOT’s director of economic development
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mike Kapp, who directs the Michigan Department of Transportation’s…
Talking Michigan TransportationReflections from a retiring DOT environmental policy leader
On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Margaret Barondess, a manager in the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT)…
Talking Michigan TransportationAs the snow flies, why is driving to the conditions so difficult?
On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Brad Wieferich, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, talks about his…
Talking Michigan TransportationReprise: Why is MDOT naming snowplows? Thank the Scots
As lower Michigan braces for the first significant snowfall of the seasons, we’re reprising a Talking Michigan Transportation episode from when the department…
Talking Michigan TransportationReport: Seat belt use slides slightly in Michigan but fewer drivers using hand-held devices
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Timothy Gates, associate chair for undergraduate studies of Civil and Environmental Engineering at…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhy the road building industry is focusing on mental health
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about mental health challenges for people who build and maintain roads…
Talking Michigan TransportationMackinac Bridge Authority Vice Chairman Bill Milliken Jr. shares memories
On this week’s 200th edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Bill Milliken Jr., vice chairman of the Mackinac Bridge…
Talking Michigan TransportationThree-year I-96 Flex Route project draws to a close
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a return visit by Brian Travis, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project manager on the…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow MDOT’s major projects office gets things done
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Ryan Mitchell, marking the one-year anniversary of the Michigan Department of…
Talking Michigan TransportationHerculean effort results in a new bridge after historic mid-Michigan flooding
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the extraordinary efforts that culminated with the opening of a new…
Talking Michigan TransportationAs car-deer crashes persist, MDNR urges hunters to take action
This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast picks up on themes in a Detroit Free Press story detailing creative efforts by the Michigan Department of…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow a federal grant could lead to safer wildlife crossings in Michigan
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a follow-up to the previous episode highlighting efforts to protect people and animals…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhat we can learn from western efforts to create safe highway crossings for wildlife
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, the first installment of two focusing on ways to enhance the safety of animals, and…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe dilemmas of transitioning to EVs with Chad Livengood
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Detroit News editor and columnist Chad Livengood about his reporting…
Talking Michigan Transportation2020 podcast redux: Gov. Whitmer on her Rebuilding Michigan plan
This week’s edition of Talking Michigan Transportation is a reprise of a 2020 conversation with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about her Rebuilding Michigan plan. Now…
Talking Michigan TransportationA veteran automotive reporter talks EV sales, charging networks and more
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Joann Muller, a Detroit-based reporter for Axios covering all things mobility, talks…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow Michigan State Police deploy ghosts to curb distracted driving
Despite Michigan’s hands-free driving law being in place for more than a year now, police are still seeing drivers holding their phones or other devices in…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe life and times of a DOT legislative liaison
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Troy Hagon. For 16 years, Troy has worked in the Michigan Department…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhy are drunk driving arrests down while alcohol-related crashes are on the rise?
Bridge Michigan reported this week on some troubling statistics in Michigan that show that police are not making as many arrests for drunk driving and crashes…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe people behind a most iconic international handshake
By now, you may have seen a photo taken high above the Detroit River of two iron workers, one from Canada and one from the United States, shaking hands to mark…
Talking Michigan TransportationManaging traffic during road construction; and what about the zipper merge?
As road work continues across Michigan, police are on high alert for speeding and distracted drivers causing crashes during backups. On this week’s Talking…
Talking Michigan TransportationA veteran project manager highlights the value of engaging communities
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mohammed Alghurabi, a long-time MDOT senior project manager being honored this week…
Talking Michigan TransportationNew data finds Michigan drivers putting down their phones
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow public transportation fuels economic development
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about legislation that would appropriate economic development funds for…
Talking Michigan TransportationAnother successful launch of MDOT’s diversity recruitment program
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about the past, present and future of MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program…
Talking Michigan TransportationCould Michigan shift from fuel taxes to road user charges to fund roads?
As lawmakers in the Legislature continue negotiations for the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, one addition specific to transportation involves a $5 million…
Talking Michigan TransportationReprise: Is it really cheaper to charge a battery than to fill up a gas tank?
Note: This episode originally posted on Aug. 14, 2023. On this week’s podcast, Michael J. Coren, the Washington Post’s climate advice columnist, talks about…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow trails enhance our quality of life and boost the economy
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Julie Clark, chief executive officer at the Traverse Area Recreation and…
Talking Michigan TransportationSlow but steady progress on legislation to protect road workers
Late last month, a Michigan Senate committee advanced legislation to enable the use of automated technology to enforce speeding laws on segments of roads under…
Talking Michigan TransportationAs construction season kicks off, a focus on protecting workers
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast focuses on National Work Zone Awareness Week. An event in Midland on Monday, April 15, will…
Talking Michigan TransportationDetermining which roads to fix
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features explanations about how Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow Complete Streets support mobility for all
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about revisiting the state’s Complete Streets policy, adopted by the…
Talking Michigan TransportationHere’s how MDOT supports electric vehicle charging
You may have heard about the federal government’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, funded in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at…
Talking Michigan TransportationPoll: Michiganders want taxes paid at the fuel pump to go to roads, but it’s not that simple
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a veteran Michigan pollster discusses a recent survey of active and likely November general election…
Talking Michigan TransportationGov. Whitmer’s proposed budget includes more to enhance opportunity for all
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget include additional funds for MI Contracting Opportunity, a program that supports contractors…
Talking Michigan TransportationGordie Howe International Bridge team continues to invest in communities
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with two people who participated in a Feb. 6 announcement by the…