Between Two Shovels with Derek Minnema

Derek Minnema

Between Two Shovels is an executive-level transportation podcast on turning policy and funding into reality hosted by the Capital SouthEast Connector JPA in California. Senior guests include DOTs, counties, cities, contractors, engineering firms, trucking, and supply chains—including Illinois RTBA, Texas DOT, and Caltrans. California contractors, union laborers, supply chain advisors, and the California Trucking Association share candid lessons. Expect practical, accountable insight on cost, schedule, risk, and delivery that safeguards public dollars and improves mobility.

  1. 1D AGO

    Between Two Shovels Ep 22: Chris Cox - Wetlands, Mitigation Costs & Development Challenges

    Chris Cox is a land planner, landscape architect, and development consultant who helps property owners, builders, and developers unlock the potential of their land through feasibility, permitting, and compliance. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, we dig into what it actually takes to develop property along the Capital SouthEast Connector corridor, from wetland constraints and California tiger salamander mitigation to access control, utility planning, and the rising cost of environmental compliance in Sacramento County. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Chris Cox Background 00:53 68 Miles of Frontage and What Landowners Are Asking 02:30 Wetlands Everywhere: The First Thing to Check on Grant Line 03:45 California Tiger Salamander and the Major Core Recovery Area 04:04 No Driveways on an Expressway: Access Control Explained 05:45 Finding Mitigation Land Is Getting Harder 06:10 Mitigation Costs: From $300K to $1 Million Per Acre 07:30 Multiple Species, Multiple Mitigation Locations 08:00 South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan and the JPA's Role 09:30 Housing Demand, Interest Rates and the 2025 Market 10:45 Utilities Along the Corridor: SMUD, Water and Sewer 14:00 Cost Sharing Agreements and Economies of Scale 16:00 How JPA Environmental Coverage Relates to Adjacent Properties 18:30 General Plan Adoption and Development Consistency 20:00 Sphere of Influence, Annexations and Comment Letters 22:00 Folsom Master Plan and Seamless Corridor Integration 24:59 River Rock Casino, the Grant Line Interchange and Elk Grove Growth 27:30 Kammerer Road Extension: Federal Funds, Wetlands and the Road to I-5 31:05 68 Miles of Frontage and How the JPA Can Help Landowners Navigate the Process Subscribe to Between Two Shovels for conversations with the people building, funding, and planning infrastructure across California and beyond. Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Guest: Chris Cox, Principal Land Development Consultant, specializing in finding ROI for property owners and developers.

    34 min

  2. APR 20

    Between Two Shovels Ep 21: John Merchant - Roads, Evacuation, & Growth in SE Sacramento County

    John Merchant has lived in Rancho Murieta for 40 years. In this episode of Between Two Shovels, he sits down with Derek Minnema to talk through what four decades of growth in southeast Sacramento County actually looks like from the ground, and why the roads connecting his community to the rest of the region have not kept pace. The conversation covers the deteriorating state of Scott Road and Grant Line Boulevard, the fire and flood risks facing Rancho Murieta, why a community of 6,000 people already cannot evacuate safely, and what it means to keep approving development without a serious conversation about emergency access. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:58 40 Years in Rancho Murieta and the Stoplight Count 04:27 Scott Road, Grant Line, and a Million Trips a Year 05:34 Island of Urbanization Explained 05:57 Urban Services Boundary and Fire Risk 09:21 Development Pressure and Insurance Pullout 13:36 If We Can't Get 6,000 People Out, How Do We Get 8,000 Out? 15:02 Paradise, Maui, and Los Angeles: The Names That Changed the Conversation 16:39 Two Kinds of Disaster: Flood and Fire 19:36 What the County Study Needs to Solve 21:22 Why a Two Lane Road Is Not Enough 22:57 We Need a Real Grown-Up Route 23:59 The Landfill Road and the Case for Four Lanes 26:24 How the $25 Million Federal Grant Will Be Used 31:03 Three Floods Since 1986 and the Call to Action 33:53 Closing and What Comes Next Subscribe to Between Two Shovels for conversations with the people building, funding, and planning infrastructure across California and beyond. Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Guest: John Merchant Title: Between Two Shovels EP 21: John Merchant - Roads, Evacuation, and Growth in Southeast Sacramento County

    37 min

  3. APR 7

    Between Two Shovels Ep 20: Steve Borroum - Former Caltrans Chief Engineer on VMT & Air Quality Truth

    From forming one of the nation's first MPOs in Las Vegas to serving as Caltrans' Chief Environmental Engineer, Steve Borroum has spent decades at the intersection of transportation, air quality, and land use policy. In this episode, he breaks down what the data actually says about Vehicle Miles Traveled, why induced demand isn't the full story, and what really drives traffic growth. Steve's career spans creating the first regional development fee program in the country, shaping national air quality conformity regulations, and helping lift a court-ordered development moratorium in El Dorado County. He was also instrumental in the early vision for the Capital Southeast Connector. Chapters:00:00 Intro and Background02:21 Starting the Las Vegas MPO05:05 The First Regional Development Fee Program07:03 Working for Caltrans as Chief Environmental Engineer07:54 Shaping National Air Quality Conformity Rules11:03 El Dorado County and the Development Stop Order14:05 The Origins of the Capital Southeast Connector17:05 The Real Story Behind VMT23:00 Induced Demand — What the Data Actually Shows31:39 Why VMT Per Capita Has Been Flat Since 199034:10 What Actually Changes VMT36:04 Clean the Tailpipe: The Path Forward38:12 Closing Thoughts on Job-Housing Balance Subscribe to Between Two Shovels for conversations with the people building, moving, and funding infrastructure across California and beyond. Guest: Steve Borroum, Former Chief Environmental Engineer, Caltrans Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders.

    42 min

  4. MAR 23

    Between Two Shovels Ep19: Travis Dodge -Freight Broker Explains Markup, Congestion & Electric Trucks

    Most people have never heard of a freight broker. Travis Dodge has spent 11 years as one, and in this episode he pulls back the curtain on how freight actually moves across the country, how brokers make their money, and what is really happening in the trucking industry right now. Travis is the founder of Wheelhouse, a freight brokerage based in Oakland. He launched the company in September 2024 after a decade of building his book of business as an independent agent. Chapters:00:00 Intro and High School Reunion 03:21 What Does a Freight Broker Actually Do? 06:03 Travis's Journey From Software Sales to Freight 08:52 How Public Infrastructure Projects Get Built 21:25 Where Does Public Transportation Fit In? 23:22 The Single User Problem With Mass Transit 28:19 How Wheelhouse Makes Money and Who They Work With 29:18 Does Congestion Affect Freight Costs? 33:59 AB5, Independent Contractors, and Rate Spikes 37:23 Electric Trucks and the Reality of Freight 42:49 Why Travis Started Using LinkedIn 47:03 Why California Still Does Not Have High Speed Rail 52:58 Closing ThoughtsSubscribe to Between Two Shovels for conversations with the people building, moving, and funding infrastructure across California and beyond.Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Guest: Travis Dodge, Founder at Wheelhouse Freight Title: Between Two Shovels EP 19: Travis Dodge - Freight Broker Explains Markup, Congestion & Electric Trucks

    55 min

  5. MAR 23

    Between Two Shovels Ep 18: Eric Sauer & Chris Shimoda - California Trucking Association Services

    Eric Sauer, CEO of the California Trucking Association, and Chris Shimoda, principal lobbyist for CTA, join Derek Minnema for a full conversation on what is happening in the California trucking industry right now. From the regulatory environment and electrification challenges to supply chain fragility, freight bottlenecks, and the fight for transportation funding. Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Guest Backgrounds01:52 What the California Trucking Association Does05:18 What It Is Like to Operate in California Right Now07:46 How COVID Reshaped Freight Demand and the Supply Chain Crisis09:18 Multi-Generation Carriers Going Out of Business10:32 Freight Bottlenecks and Highway Infrastructure Needs12:44 The Dwindling Gas Tax and Road User Charge Explained17:52 The Reality of Electric Trucks in California21:13 Three Chargers Equaling a Thousand Homes Worth of Power23:09 What Happens When Trucks Stop Moving24:00 Where Electric Truck Regulations Stand Today27:15 CTA Member Benefits, Compliance Help and Driver Recognition29:29 The Truck Driver Championship and Family Events30:41 Why the Industry Must Get Politically Active Now33:23 Taking Elected Officials Into the Field34:10 California Freight Bottlenecks That Need Fixing35:37 How to Expand the Transportation Funding Pie Subscribe for more conversations on transportation policy, infrastructure and what keeps supply chains moving. Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Title: Between Two Shovels EP 18: Eric Sauer & Chris Shimoda - California Trucking Association Services

    38 min

  6. FEB 25

    Between Two Shovels EP 17: John Hovde & Josh Nichols (GoodFellow Brothers) - How We Saved Millions

    GoodFellow Brothers built the Capital SouthEast Connector's White Rock Road expressway, the first modern four-lane expressway in the Sacramento region. In this episode, Vice President John Hovde and Project Manager Josh Nichols break down exactly how they did it, from winning the bid during COVID lockdowns to finishing with a bike path that was never in the original contract. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and GoodFellow Brothers Overview 02:16 How Contractors Win Public Infrastructure Work 05:19 Bidding and Building During COVID 09:18 Coordinating Construction Alongside a Growing Community 12:02 Eliminating 200,000 Yards of Import: The Cost Reduction Incentive 15:02 How Cost Savings Built the Bike Path 17:04 Blasting Rock Next to Occupied Homes 22:18 Paving an Expressway: 55,000 Tons and 28 Trucks a Day 28:38 Why Traffic Poles Take 6 Months to Deliver 31:24 Long Lead Items Every Contractor Should Plan For 32:12 Lessons Learned for the Next Phase of the Connector 35:30 Final Thoughts from the Field Subscribe for more conversations about infrastructure, construction and what it actually takes to build the roads communities depend on. Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Guest: John Hovde and Josh Nichols, GoodFellow Brothers Title: Between Two Shovels EP 17: John Hovde & Josh Nichols (GoodFellow Brothers) - How We Saved Millions

    40 min

  7. FEB 9

    Between Two Shovels Ep.16: Steve Miklos - Promises Made, Promises Kept & the 75% Voter Mandate

    Steve Miklos served as Folsom's mayor and was chairman of the Connector JPA when Derek Minnema was hired as executive director. This conversation covers the origin story of the Capital SouthEast Connector, from forming the JPA in the early 2000s to securing 75% voter approval in 2004. Steve shares what it was like navigating ideological opposition at SACOG, building regional consensus across five jurisdictions, and why institutional knowledge matters when council leadership changes every few years. He also reveals his leadership philosophy on staff reports, team building, and making promises to communities that you keep for decades. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Steve's Background with Connector JPA 03:41 - Fire, Police & Transportation: Top 3 Resident Priorities 06:18 - Traffic Fatalities on White Rock Road Drove Regional Vision 11:15 - Forming a JPA: Leaving Egos at the Door 17:41 - Leadership Style: Keep Staff Reports Simple 23:26 - SACOG Formation: Overcoming Ideology & Sprawl Opposition 27:12 - 75% Voter Approval: How They Built Community Support 32:39 - Lost Institutional Knowledge: Why Regular Council Briefings Matter 35:16 - The Aquatic Center Story: Raising $525K to Flip a Vote Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Learn more about the Capital SouthEast Connector: Website: connectorjpa.com #Transportation #Infrastructure #Leadership #RegionalPlanning #California #PublicPolicy Title: Between Two Shovels Ep.16: Steve Miklos - Promises Made, Promises Kept & the 75% Voter Mandate

    43 min

  8. JAN 27

    Between Two Shovels Ep.15: Will Kempton - 52 Years in Transportation, First Local Tax, to Caltrans

    Will Kempton shares five decades of transportation infrastructure experience, from creating California's first local sales tax measure to leading Caltrans through historic emergency responses. This conversation covers the origins of self-help counties, lessons from the MacArthur Maze collapse, and what it takes to build unanimity for major infrastructure projects. KEY MOMENTS: 0:00 Introduction and 52 years in transportation 2:56 From Caltrans to Santa Clara County's first sales tax measure 9:38 Origins of self-help counties in California 12:57 Running Caltrans under Governor Schwarzenegger 15:58 The MacArthur Maze collapse emergency response 19:53 How Caltrans rebuilt a highway in 26 days 21:57 The Bay Bridge closure that beat the deadline 27:11 Corvettes and transportation connections 30:34 Why Sacramento County transportation measures keep failing 35:30 Advice for building the Capital SouthEast Connector 39:42 Building public trust through visible accountability 42:44 What Sacramento really needs for transportation 44:11 The unanimity strategy that delivered projects fast Will Kempton's career spans the development of California's transportation funding mechanisms and major infrastructure delivery. His insights on community engagement, emergency response, and building regional consensus offer valuable lessons for transportation agencies navigating today's funding challenges. Between Two Shovels is produced by the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority and explores transportation policy, engineering, and project delivery through conversations with industry leaders. Title: Between Two Shovels Ep.15: Will Kempton - 52 Years in Transportation, First Local Tax, to Caltrans

    48 min
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About

Between Two Shovels is an executive-level transportation podcast on turning policy and funding into reality hosted by the Capital SouthEast Connector JPA in California. Senior guests include DOTs, counties, cities, contractors, engineering firms, trucking, and supply chains—including Illinois RTBA, Texas DOT, and Caltrans. California contractors, union laborers, supply chain advisors, and the California Trucking Association share candid lessons. Expect practical, accountable insight on cost, schedule, risk, and delivery that safeguards public dollars and improves mobility.

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