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Transit Unplugged

Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo
Public Transportation
Public Transit
Paratransit
Bus Rapid Transit
Sustainability
Public Transport
Electric Buses
Amtrak
Community Engagement
Ridership
Chicago Transit Authority
Community Development
Workforce Shortages
High-Speed Rail
Transit Industry
Accessibility
Federal Transit Administration
Covid-19 Impact
Chicago
Leadership

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 t... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes301Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes

Access to healthcare doesn't start at the doctor's office—it starts with transportation.

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Steven Feist, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Coordinated Transportation Solutio... more

Former Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marc Molinaro joins Paul Comfort for an in-depth conversation about federal transit policy, funding, and the future of public transportation.

Drawing on his experience as both a member of Congress ... more

What does public transit look like when you're serving 20 counties across Central and East Texas?

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort continues his series featuring new transit CEOs with a conversation with Wendy Weedon, CEO of the Br... more

What does success look like for transit agencies in a post-pandemic world? According to Christie Wegener, it may be time to stop measuring against 2019 altogether.

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort speaks with Christie Wegener,... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Wendy Weedon
CEO of Brazos Transit District
Brazos Transit District
Episode: What People Get Wrong About Rural Transit
Christie Wegener
Executive Director
Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA)
Episode: Reliability over Ridership: Stop Measuring Your System Against 2019
Steve Fuentes
Newly appointed President and CEO of Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS)
Milwaukee County Transit System
Episode: What Happens When You Inherit a Transit Crisis?
Dan Zukowski
Writer for Smart Cities Dive
Smart Cities Dive
Episode: World Cup Transit: How Cities Are Preparing for 2026
Katie Choe
CEO of Virginia Railway Express
Virginia Railway Express (VRE)
Episode: Reinventing Commuter Rail for a Post-9-to-5 World
Tiffany Gunter
CEO of SMART in Detroit
SMART
Episode: How Tiffany Gunter Drove a 40% Ridership Increase on SMART’s Busiest Routes
Rich Davey
CEO of Massport; former Secretary of Transportation in Massachusetts; former MBTA and NYC Transit executive
Massport
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit
Harry Wilson
Chair and CEO of MV Transportation
MV Transportation
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit
Jay Fox
Executive Director of the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit

Host

Paul Comfort
Host and producer focused on transit leadership stories and industry perspectives.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 70 ratings
  • Interesting subject, poor host.

    This podcast covers interesting topics, however it is a shame the host is so poor. Talking too fast, talking over the guests, constant interjecting. Calm it down, let the experts talk, allow your audience time to listen and absorb.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MagneVortex
    Australia7 years ago
  • Informative and interesting!

    Great Interviews and filling a void in podcasts. Thank you Paul Comfort!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Transit Mom
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience appreciates the depth of industry insight and practical leadership lessons.
Content is informative and fills a void in transit-focused podcasting, with strong guest lineups and relevant topics.
Some listeners wish the host would let guests breathe and speak more without interruptions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reliability over Ridership: Stop Measuring Your System Against 2019
Q: Do you all have like an association of those 27 transit agencies where you all meet together and talk about that kind of stuff?
There are regular GM-level meetings and ad-hoc communications; the coordination happens more through structured groups and direct lines to BART staff rather than a single umbrella association, which reflects the Bay Area's fragmented governance.
What People Get Wrong About Rural Transit
Q: What are the biggest challenges you're dealing with now?
Recruiting and retaining a quality workforce, especially CDL drivers in urbanized areas, and balancing growth with a sustainable funding mix of federal, state, local, and farebox revenues to meet community needs.
What People Get Wrong About Rural Transit
Q: Tell us about Brazos Transit District and the service area.
We serve 20 counties in central and eastern Texas, including Bryan-College Station; the system is diverse with urban and rural needs, requiring flexible service such as fixed route, demand response, paratransit, microtransit, and non-emergency Medicaid transport.
What Happens When You Inherit a Transit Crisis?
Q: What strategic moves helped stabilize MCTS?
Securing a new labor contract with ATU and Local 9, implementing a three-year contract window, expanding the Public Safety Officer program, and planning a transit network redesign with Jarrett Walker & Associates.
What Happens When You Inherit a Transit Crisis?
Q: What were the main challenges Steve faced when he joined MCTS in 2025?
He arrived into a period of budget strain, service cuts, a looming labor strike, and a transition in leadership and finance, then led the agency through a labor contract, safety program expansion, and an ERP-driven governance overhaul.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Transit Unplugged

What is Transit Unplugged about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on senior transit leaders and practitioners, exploring leadership journeys, operations, and strategic transformations across global public transportation systems. Episodes frequently cover topics like safety, ridership growth, technology adoption, funding, governance, and workforce development, often with hands-on takeaways for agencies pursuing modernization, regional integration, or service expansion. A notable angle is the mix of public and private sector perspectives, with guests ranging from agency CEOs to security officials and industry researchers. The show tends to spotlight real-world challenges, collaborative problem-solving, and the human stories behind large-scale transit improvements, making it valuable for... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Transit Unplugged?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Transit Unplugged:

1. The War on Cars
2. The Strong Towns Podcast
3. The Playbook Podcast
4. Marketplace
5. Planet Money

How many episodes of Transit Unplugged are there?

Transit Unplugged launched 9 years ago and published 301 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Transit Unplugged?

Recent guests on Transit Unplugged include:

1. Wendy Weedon
2. Christie Wegener
3. Steve Fuentes
4. Dan Zukowski
5. Katie Choe
6. Tiffany Gunter
7. Rich Davey
8. Harry Wilson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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