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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
Transit Industry
Accessibility
Workforce Shortages
High-Speed Rail
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

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

When Steve Fuentes arrived as the new President & CEO of Milwaukee County Transit System, he stepped directly into a perfect storm: major service cuts, labor tensions, budget deficits, and the looming transit fiscal cliff.

In this episode of Transit... more

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to North America—and for public transportation agencies across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the countdown is already underway.

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort speaks with transportation ... more

Commuter rail is being reinvented—and at Virginia Railway Express (VRE), that shift starts with one big idea: becoming a true regional rail system.

Katie Choe, CEO of VRE, joins Paul Comfort to explain how the agency is moving beyond its traditional... more

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Recent Guests

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
Patrick Preusser
Chief Operating Officer of the Denver Regional Transportation District
Denver RTD
Episode: How to Run a $1.3B Transit System: Denver RTD’s COO Breaks It Down
Shofi Ull Azum
Chief Planning and Development Officer at Cherriots (Salem Area Mass Transit District)
Cherriots
Episode: How to Grow Transit Ridership Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels with Shofi Ull Azum

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.

One review notes pacing and interview style as an area for improvement.
Some feedback mentions occasional rapid delivery and the host interrupting guests.
Listeners appreciate the depth of conversations with industry leaders and practical takeaways.
The host is praised for informative interviews and filling a void in transit podcasting.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
World Cup Transit: How Cities Are Preparing for 2026
Q: What makes the World Cup a transit story, not just a sports story?
The event brings tens of thousands of visitors to multiple cities with complex, competing demands on a transit network, requiring coordinated service planning, maintenance, customer support, and security across many agencies to ensure smooth mobility for fans and residents alike.
Reinventing Commuter Rail for a Post-9-to-5 World
Q: What is the governance and funding structure for VRE?
VRE is governed by an operations board created by NVTC and PRTC, with approvals needed from multiple commissions; funding comes from jurisdictional support, federal and state funds, rider fares, and operating gaps backstopped by the jurisdictions.
Reinventing Commuter Rail for a Post-9-to-5 World
Q: Tell us about VRE itself, its size, and how it operates.
VRE is a relatively small system with two lines and 19 stations; it serves primarily federal workers in the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC area and is operated under a contract with Keolis, with maintenance and operations bundled in a single contract.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Transit Unplugged

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

A globally focused transit leadership show that brings in senior executives, engineers, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the big forces shaping public transportation. Episodes regularly explore funding, workforce development, safety, and technology trends—from AI and automation to electrification and hydrogen propulsion—along with strategic issues like mega-events, standards, and manufacturing. The conversations often feature practical takeaways for agencies, vendors, and operators, plus personal leadership stories that illuminate career paths in the transit world. A notable strength is the mix of high-profile agency leaders and niche experts, offering both big-picture context and hands-on insights for practitioners and sponsor... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Transit Unplugged?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Transit Unplugged:

1. The Strong Towns Podcast
2. The War on Cars
3. Common Sense with Dan Carlin
4. Make Me Smart
5. The Conversation with Dasha Burns

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. Steve Fuentes
2. Dan Zukowski
3. Katie Choe
4. Tiffany Gunter
5. Rich Davey
6. Harry Wilson
7. Jay Fox
8. Patrick Preusser

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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