ModeShift (Via)

The modern American economy was built for cars. Outside of major cities, most of us depend heavily on cars to get everywhere. Not having access to one can put a person at a serious disadvantage.

So what will it take to change the way we move around? Can we develop a new transportation framework that cuts dependence on personal cars and creates more options for everyone?

Join hosts Andrei Greenawalt and Tiffany Chu as they dig into the forces that are holding our transit system back — and the forces that could unleash it.

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America’s transit system is struggling. How do we fix it?

A D minus. That’s what the American Society of Civil Engineers gives US transit infrastructure for a grade. There’s a $176 billion repair backlog across the country; nearly half of the population doesn't have access to any transit; and only 5% of US workers use a train or bus to get to work.

Ridership on transit was already declining even before Covid hit. Today, it's still not anywhere close to where it was before the pandemic. Meanwhile, Americans spend more and more on transportation.

In our first episode of ModeShift, co-hosts Andrei Greenawalt and Tiffany Chu talk with experts about the state of transit – exploring the history of transit’s decline, and the economic and environmental impact of car dependency.

Guests:

• Transit expert Jerome Horne
• Peter Norton, associate professor of history at the University of Virginia.
• Beth Osborne, director of Transportation for America

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The average LA commuter spends five days a year stuck in traffic; pedestrian deaths are the highest they’ve been in 40 years in the U.S.; and the transportation sector is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in America. They’re all products of a system that has prioritized automobiles over people for decades. 

But ‘car free’ or ‘car light’ approaches to urban planning are taking hold in cities and neighborhoods around the world. From Amsterdam to Barcelona to Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates, officials are getting serious about redesigning their communities for car-free living. 

The concept sounds a bit radical. But it doesn’t mean getting rid of cars altogether. It’s about reimagining communities to shift the balance in favor of new transit options. 

In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany explore what transportation in the U.S. would look like if most of us didn't have to reach for our car keys every day.

Guests:

• Ellen Dunham-Jones, director of the urban design program at Georgia Tech
• Cornelia Dinca, founder of Sustainable Amsterdam
• Peter Norton, associate professor of history at the University of Virginia
• Shyam Kannan, Mid-Atlantic transit lead at HDR
• Transit expert Jerome Horne

Breaking our car dependence and reinvigorating our public transit system is not straightforward. It is a complicated and politically controversial process.

But a new generation of political leaders is working to reform how we invest in mobility options at the federal, state, and local levels. 

In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany explore the longstanding obstacles to improving the quality of our transit systems — and how bold leaders are pushing the envelope to improve mobility for Americans.

Guests:

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
• Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss
• Yonah Freemark, research director at the Urban Institute’s Land Use Lab
• Beth Osborne, director of Transportation for America

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We’ve been sold on the idea that a car is the ultimate freedom. But that’s only true for people who can afford it. A system that relies on owning a personal car is not a system that provides freedom to everyone – it’s a system that disproportionately penalizes people of color, people with limited income, or people with disabilities.

So how do we build an affordable, reliable transit system that works for everyone?

In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany dig into the many ways we can incorporate equity into our transportation planning. They’ll cover a wide range of angles: land use, housing, transit choice, and anti-displacement. 

Guests:

• Charles Brown, founder and CEO of Equitable Cities
• Shyam Kannan, Mid-Atlantic transit lead at HDR
• Chad Ballentine, VP of demand response and innovative mobility at Capital Metro
• Transit expert Jerome Horne

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Rapid deployment of new technologies have given consumers more mobility options – but have also caused conflicts with regulators and local planners. 

But that paradigm is shifting. Conflict is turning into collaboration. TransitTech companies are now working more closely with cities and transit agencies in order to make better use of new mobility models.

Collaboration is at the core of TransitTech. The TransitTech sector alone could represent $450 billion in investment opportunities to improve or overhaul public transportation systems. Under this emerging framework, what are the technology areas that offer the most promise?

In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany unpack how TransitTech is reshaping the way transportation agencies plan and adapt – and what it means for riders and the future of mobility in America.

Guests:

• Angela Wynes, transit manager for High Point, North Carolina 
• Shyam Kannan, Mid-Atlantic transit lead at HDR
• Gabe Klein, partner at Cityfi.
• Aaron Bielenberg, partner at McKinsey & Company

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Rural transit needs help. According to analysis from the National Transit Database, 87 percent of the least-productive bus networks are located in rural counties with populations lower than 50,000 residents. 

These “transit deserts” in rural areas have major social, economic, and health consequences. How can technology and better planning solve the problem?

In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany explore the rural transit divide. Across the country, small towns and cities are coming up with new solutions to old mobility problems – making rural transit smarter, more accessible, and more affordable.

Guests: 

• Valdosta, Georgia Mayor Scott Matheson
• Scott Bogren, executive director at Community Transportation for America
• Caroline Rodriguez, executive director of High Valley Transit

Listen to ModeShift on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.