Transit Unplugged

“We are social creatures. We are going to go back to the offices. So, the next twelve months for me will be spent planning for that increase in patronage. [I will be looking for] ways to run the timetable better, provide a better customer experience, and ensure the public that our transit is safe to travel on.”On this episode of Transit Unplugged Magda Robertson, General Manager at Torrens Connect, joins Paul Comfort from Australia to discuss careers, goals, technology, and predictions for the post-COVID world. Plus, find out how transit agencies can adapt to changing ridership trends by appealing to a specific demographic – families!Kicking the discussion off, Magda explains how 9-11 served as her impetus to transition out of law enforcement and into public transit. Since that time, Magda has been a devoted leader in both the public and private sectors of public transportation, with her most recently overseeing the service delivery of tram and bus operations in Adelaide Metro’s dynamic operating environment. This experience informs the rest of the discussion which touches on the agency’s goals for the future, the role of technology in transit, and increasing ridership at this stage in the pandemic and moving forward.To learn more about the important work Torrens Connect is doing in Australia, check out their website.

“We are going to phase 13 routes in over many years, but once those are in place, we will serve a population of 487,000. That is a 169% increase. On the job side, right now our market share is about 137,500 jobs, and that will see a 127% increase to make it roughly 312,500 jobs. This is a revolutionary change in how we do business.”William Harrell, President and CEO at Hampton Roads Transit, joins Transit Unplugged to discuss what has been made possible for his community in Virginia as a result of $20 million in secured state funding.Historically Hampton Roads Transit operations were funded by four major sources: federal funding, state funding, the farebox, and member cities. This proved challenging for the agency and most importantly, its ridership, whose transit trips could take up to three hours compared to 20 minutes by car. Thanks to the hard work and dedication shown by William Harrell, his team at Hampton Roads Transit, and government officials, a strong regional backbone will be built for the Hampton Roads area, including 15-minute service during peak hours, electric buses, and light rail, all as a result of the funding.After 24 minutes, listeners should walk away with Hampton Roads Transit’s success story feeling inspired and encouraged to better serve their communities and elevate their riders’ experience.If you want to know more about Hampton Roads Transit, check out their website.

“I think it is incredibly important that staff at all levels get regular exposure to their [transit] system. Doing so, gives you a greater perspective and will help you be more effective in your job.”This week on Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort hosts three of Mass Transit magazine’s 40 Under 40 honorees who have been recognized as outstanding young individuals actively making a difference in the public transit industry. Guests include Alice Grossman, an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Jerome Horne, a Ridership Experience Specialist at IndyGo; and Tyler Means, the Manager of Solutions Engineering at TransLoc. Together with Paul Comfort, each guest shares their journey in the public transit industry thus far, projects they are working on or are most proud of, and their vision for the future.If you want to know more about the remaining 38 honorees on this year’s 40 Under 40 list, check out the Mass Transit website here.

“I think great data and analytics, joining up the various data pools in the organization, will challenge our thinking and will open up new opportunities we have not thought of and help our customers in ways we did not think we could.”Joining this episode of “Transit Unplugged” from Australia is Rodd Staples, Secretary of Transport for New South Wales. In this role, Rodd leads 25,000 employees and oversees an expansive public transport ecosystem that serves a state population of over 8 million people. This unique experience leads to an engaging discussion between Rodd Staples and host, Paul Comfort, during which they discuss careers, COVID-19 impacts, a new Australian TV show, and a vision for the future of public transportation that is data-driven.If you want to know more about Transport for New South Wales, check out their website.