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 TransportationWhy the state is asking citizens how to fund transportation
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the road usage charge (RUC) survey conducted to gauge citizen’s thoughts on…
Talking Michigan TransportationMeet Garrett Dawe, MDOT’s new engineer of traffic and safety
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Garrett Dawe, who was recently named engineer of traffic and safety…
Talking Michigan TransportationGearing up for a bomb cyclone on the Lake Michigan shore
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, MDOT’s coordinator for snow plowing and other maintenance on state routes in four west Michigan…
Talking Michigan TransportationMeet Mike Hayes, chair of the STC
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mike Hayes, who was recently named chair of the Michigan State Transportation…
Talking Michigan TransportationInsights from a top automotive industry reporter
This week on the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Joann Muller, co-author of the Axios What’s Next newsletter, offers her thoughts on trends in the…
Talking Michigan TransportationMichigan’s first-in-the-nation EV charging roadway
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Stefan Tongur, vice president of business development in the United…
Talking Michigan TransportationHas the pandemic forever changed our walking habits?
Experts are trying to parse data that shows a dramatic decline in the number of trips Americans take on foot. Axios summarized findings from Streetlight Data…
Talking Michigan TransportationFive months after enacting Michigan’s hands-free law, new data emerges
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a discussion about why distracted driving initially trended down in Michigan after the…
Talking Michigan TransportationSenate committee takes up safety cameras to protect road workers
This week, the Michigan Senate’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard testimony on legislation that would allow for the use of safety cameras to…
Talking Michigan TransportationSafety experts seek solutions to wrong-way drivers causing crashes
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people seeking to better understand the reasons for an uptick in…
Talking Michigan TransportationA Michigan State House fiscal analyst breaks down transportation funding
Understanding the intricacies of a state's transportation funding can be a daunting task. On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation, Bill…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow transportation improves economy, quality of life
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Shane Peck, communications and public involvement director and vice president at WSP, talks about a…
Talking Michigan TransportationGov. Whitmer signs carpool lane bills for I-75 in Oakland County
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation enabling Michigan’s first high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on a segment of I-75 in…
Talking Michigan TransportationMeet MDOT’s first director of new Office of Major Projects
Ryan Mitchell, recently named director of the newly established Office of Major Projects at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), joins the…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow police are using license plate readers to solve and thwart crimes
Early in 2022, the Detroit News reported that criminals had taken to the city's freeways to settle arguments with guns and avoid the city's network of…
Talking Michigan TransportationVeteran automotive analyst talks EVs, labor negotiations and more
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with John Peracchio, a veteran strategic consultant in the intelligent transportation…
Talking Michigan TransportationManaging floods when there’s nowhere for the water to go
Last week, before tornadoes devastated communities across Michigan, record rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems and tributaries in Wayne County. The highest…
Talking Michigan TransportationExploring Michigan's transportation infrastructure with Jason Gutting, newly named director of MDOT Field Services
Jason Gutting joins the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast this week to talk about his new role as director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services. He talks…
Talking Michigan TransportationIs it really cheaper to charge a battery than to fill up a gas tank?
On this week’s podcast, Michael J. Coren, the Washington Post’s climate advice columnist, talks about his recent reporting (subscription) on the cost of…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhat’s a mobility wallet and how does it fit with equity?
This week on the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people committed to equity in transportation and access for all. First…
Talking Michigan TransportationCelebrating 10 years of success in recruiting diversity at MDOT
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a reflection on 10 years of success in MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP). The…
Talking Michigan TransportationRoad user charges in Washington, e-bike battery fires and slower driving in Chicago
Regular Talking Michigan Transportation podcast contributor Lloyd Brown joins this week’s conversation to talk about a number of topics in the news. Brown is…
Talking Michigan TransportationFatal crash numbers remain high; advocates say "safety cameras" could help
Bridge Michigan reported this week that fatal crash numbers remain high in post-pandemic Michigan, with safety advocates again citing risky driving behavior as…
Talking Michigan TransportationLegislation advances to encourage ride sharing, reduce congestion
This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features a discussion about legislation, House Bill 4353, to allow for a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV)…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhy merging late on the highway makes sense…sometimes
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a topic that provokes strong feelings among everyone who drives: when to merge when a…
Talking Michigan TransportationCycling advocates mark a victory as Gov. Whitmer signs distracted driving bills
Last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that bans the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. The legislation had a number of…
Talking Michigan TransportationCrash numbers, like some drivers, are going the wrong way
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research for AAA, talks about the disturbing rise…
Talking Michigan TransportationChief advocate for driverless vehicles explains their lifesaving potential
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Jeff Farrah, executive director of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association…
Talking Michigan TransportationBans on hand-held phone use by drivers: Do they work?
Michigan is poised to become the 26th state to implement a ban on the use of hand-held phones while driving. The new laws, passed as House bills 4250, 4251 and…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe grades are in and Michigan infrastructure still needs help
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released their infrastructure report card for Michigan at a May 8 news conference and gave the state a…
Talking Michigan TransportationFederal grants boost Michigan transportation investments
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about how grants from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the…
Talking Michigan TransportationFor Earth Day 2023, let’s talk about sunflowers, bees, and roadways
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the success of efforts by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to…
Talking Michigan TransportationBills would allow for work zone speed cameras, HOV lanes, other changes
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a look at transportation-related legislation being debated. Aarne Frobom, senior policy analyst at the…
Talking Michigan TransportationMDOT wins federal grants to enhance rural transit, cross-border freight movement
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, some good news for innovative projects aimed at enhancing mobility. On March 21, the U.S. Department of…
Talking Michigan TransportationRevisiting a conversation about automated speed enforcement in work zones
With the introduction of a new bill in the Michigan Legislature to enable the use of automated technology to enforce speeding laws on segments of road under…
Talking Michigan TransportationRecognizing minority transportation business success during Black History Month
As Black History Month 2023 winds down, this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast highlights the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)…
Talking Michigan TransportationCelebrating Black History Month, Lt. Gov. Gilchrist shares optimism for I-375 conversion
On part II of special Black History Month editions of the Talking Michigan Transportation, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist talks about the importance of the…
Talking Michigan TransportationRevisiting the I-375 transformation during Black History Month
On special Black History Month editions of the Talking Michigan Transportation, conversations about the Michigan Department of Transportation’s project to…
Talking Michigan TransportationMichigan’s chief mobility officer reflects on achievements
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Trevor Pawl, who recently moved on from his pioneering role as the state’s chief mobility officer…
Talking Michigan TransportationLegislature appropriates $25 million for a key West Michigan freeway interchange
On this episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about how supplemental appropriations legislation will boost a long-sought…
Talking Michigan TransportationStudy examines feasibility of tolling some Michigan roads
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Eric Morris, Michigan office lead for HNTB, the transportation consultant selected…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe Gordie Howe International Bridge takes shape
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Heather Grondin, vice president of corporate affairs and external…
Talking Michigan TransportationA recap of 2022 major road and bridge projects
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Brad Wieferich, MDOT chief operations officer and chief engineer, talks about major road…
Talking Michigan TransportationRecapping 2022 transportation-related legislation in Michigan
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a recap of transportation-related state legislation signed into law in 2022. Guests…
Talking Michigan TransportationReport recommends policies to enhance Michigan’s position as a mobility leader
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Trevor Pawl, Michigan’s chief mobility officer, talks about recommendations in a report…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe use of humor on highway signs and the future of DOT Twitter feeds
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation on two timely topics with long-time friend of the podcast, Lloyd Brown, of HDR. First, a…
Talking Michigan TransportationWhat’s in MDOT’s Five Year Transportation Program?
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the 2023-2027 Five-Year Transportation Program, approved by the State…
Talking Michigan TransportationTim Hoeffner, unplugged: What’s the future for passenger rail service in Michigan?
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about passenger rail service in the state. Tim Hoeffner, a former…
Talking Michigan TransportationEquity in infrastructure: Taking the pledge
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast focuses on the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP). On Oct. 11, chief executive officers…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe property acquisition process for transportation projects explained
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation, conversations about the negotiations and efforts to honor the rights of landowners while…
Talking Michigan TransportationPublic perceptions of roads and funding, Part II
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Susan Howard, director of policy and government relations for the American…
Talking Michigan TransportationThe survey says… Michigan roads are improving
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Richard Czuba, a veteran Michigan pollster and founder of the Glengariff Group. A…
Talking Michigan TransportationSec. Buttigieg, Gov. Whitmer announce $105 million for I-375-boulevard conversion
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Detroit Thursday, Sept. 15, bearing gifts. The secretary joined Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov…
Talking Michigan TransportationAs the Mackinac Bridge approaches the age of 65, a preview of this year’s Labor Day Annual Bridge Walk
This November marks the 65th anniversary of the opening of the Mackinac Bridge, the iconic structure linking Michigan’s two peninsulas. Each year, tens of…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow using technology to curb speeding in work zones has worked in other states
In 2006, Illinois became the first state to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement programs to enforce speed limits in highway work zones, with…
Talking Michigan TransportationMichigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist on reimagining Michigan Avenue in Corktown
Late last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow automated speed enforcement could save road worker lives
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with two people working on initiatives to protect those who build our…
Talking Michigan TransportationWith $110 million to access, Michigan submits an EV charging plan
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden in late 2021, among many things, established a National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula…
Talking Michigan TransportationHow legislation would protect Mackinac Bridge, other structures
In the wake of some troubling incidents on the Mackinac Bridge (involving people climbing a tower or otherwise accessing the bridge to take photos and another…
Talking Michigan TransportationA second Flex Route takes shape in Michigan, easing daily commutes for thousands
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Brian Travis, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project manager on the…