The Modern Mobility Podcast

Modern Mobility Partners

This podcast is for transportation planners and enthusiasts who want to learn PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS to modern day transportation challenges. Learn step-by-step how to plan for new and emerging technologies, increasing e-commerce, resiliency, micromobility, and equity, just to name a few. Co-hosts, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, are certified transportation planners, national experts, and thought leaders at Modern Mobility Partners, a female and minority-owned transportation planning and engineering consulting firm in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep. 39: 7 High-Impact Steps to Plan for "15-Minute Communities" in an Established Transportation Network

    Episode Summary: Listen to Modern Mobility Partners' co-hosts Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote as they explore practical strategies for implementing 15-minute community concepts within existing transportation networks and built environments. This episode addresses challenges, opportunities, and step-by-step approaches for different community contexts. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 39: What a 15-minute community is and how it differs from complete neighborhoods How to conduct a comprehensive audit of existing conditions Transportation network modifications that support walkability and connectivity Land use and zoning strategies that complement transportation planning How to adapt 15-minute principles to urban cores, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas Implementation strategies, phasing approaches, and funding sources Methods for measuring success and addressing unintended consequences Co-Hosts: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 28 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Kirsten Mote, AICP, has 18 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program. Kirsten is a Vice President and Chief Sales Officer with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm located in Atlanta, GA. Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    55 min
  2. 12/19/2025

    Ep. 38: Behind the Scenes: Creating the MPO Institute’s MTP Deep Dive Course

    Episode Summary: Listen to Modern Mobility Partners’ national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp, Julia Billings, Matt Reeves, and Alicia Chen, as well as special guest Caitlin Cook of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, talk about Metropolitan Transportation Plans and highlights from the MPO Institute’s MTP Deep Dive Course. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 38: What is an MTP? Where can I find the federal requirements for MTPs? What are the steps involved in developing an MTP? What data and tools are needed for developing an MTP? What are some specific examples of different ways MPOs create MTPs? Links: The MPO Institute: https://mpoinstitute.talentlms.com/plus/ Host: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP, has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan, AICP, PTP. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Guest Speakers: Caitlin Cook is Senior Director of Planning and Research at the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. She has MPO planning experience and earned a Master's of Urban Planning from the University of Kansas. Julia Billings, AICP is Director of Transportation Planning with Modern Mobility Partners, where she works on a variety of MPO, state, local, and national planning projects. She holds a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan. Matt Reeves, AICP is a Senior Planner with Modern Mobility Partners. He has experience in consulting and local government and earned a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Texas. Alicia Chen is a Planner with Modern Mobility Partners. She earned a Master's in City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm. Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    1h 5m
  3. 12/17/2025

    Ep. 37: A Deep Dive Understanding of Traffic and Revenue (T&R) Studies

    Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners with Modern Mobility Partners discuss Traffic and Revenue (T&R) studies. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 37: Why T&R studies are essential for addressing growing congestion with limited transportation funding What T&R studies are and how they analyze toll facility performance, financial feasibility, and risk assessment Key components of T&R studies including traffic data collection, demographic analysis, behavior modeling, and traffic modeling Real-world case studies from Atlanta, Florida, and the Midwest Future trends in T&R studies including big data, machine learning, and connected vehicles applications Co-Hosts: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Kirsten Mote, AICP, has 15 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program. Kirsten is a Vice President and Chief Sales Officer with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Guest Speaker: Jennifer Zhan, AICP, PTP, has over 21 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Keli Kemp. Jen holds a M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson and in Human Geography/GIS from Nanjing University, China. Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm with offices in Atlanta and Orlando. Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.  To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    57 min
  4. 12/16/2025

    Ep. 36: 5 Game-Changing Trends in Travel Demand Modeling That Are Reshaping Transportation Planning

    Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote discuss emerging trends in travel demand modeling with senior travel demand modelers Victoria Guan Hendrix (Vicky) and Abigail Donkor from Modern Mobility Partners. Listeners will learn about: The evolving landscape of travel demand modeling and its increasingly important role in transportation planning Five key trends revolutionizing how transportation planners understand and predict travel behavior Integration of Big Data and Machine Learning Activity-Based Modeling Dynamic Assignment and Real-Time Updates Multimodal Integration and Micromobility Scenario Planning for Uncertainty Real-world applications and challenges of implementing advanced modeling techniques Co-Hosts: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Kirsten Mote, AICP has 15 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program. Kirsten is a Vice President and Chief Sales Officer with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Guest Speaker: Victoria Guan Hendrix (Vicki): Senior Travel Demand Modeler with experience since 2013, with a background in computer science Abigail Donkor: Senior Travel Demand Modeler with 12 years of experience in travel demand forecasting and modeling Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm with offices in Atlanta and Orlando. Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.  To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    48 min
  5. 12/01/2025

    Ep. 35: 8 Ways to Apply AI in Transportation Planning to Prevent Bias

    Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about how artificial intelligence can be used in transportation planning to prevent bias. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 35: Eight practical ways to apply AI in transportation planning to prevent bias How AI can improve data collection, analysis, and monitoring for mitigating transportation bias Considerations for data inclusivity when implementing AI solutions Techniques to use AI in community engagement Real-world examples of AI applications in public transit and mobility services Considerations to make for transparent and responsible AI decision-making Links: USDOT guidance - Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs USDOT guidance - Implementation of Executive Orders Addressing Energy, Climate Change, Diversity, and Gender https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/signed-secretarial-memo-re-implementation-executive-orders-addressing-energy-climate TRB Webinar: Equity in Artificial Intelligence Applications https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/05-22-2023/trb-webinar-equity-in-artificial-intelligence-applications Geospatial data and data collection required by transportation AI analysis https://www.ecopiatech.com/resources/blog/transforming-transportation-equity-with-ai-powered-mapping-data AI predictive applications – Transit Desert Interactive Dashboard https://sites.utexas.edu/uil/2024/07/27/developing-a-transit-desert-interactive-dashboard-supervised-modeling-for-forecasting-transit-deserts/ Federal Transit Administration Accelerating Innovative Mobility https://www.transit.dot.gov/AIM AI applications in public transit services - Transit Service with Smart Dispatch Using Artificial Intelligence https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2024-09/FTA-Report-No-0269.pdf Article about AI transportation decision-making https://www.kittelson.com/ideas/how-ai-thinks-about-transportation-planning/ Co-Hosts: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP, has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan, AICP, PTP. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Kirsten Mote, AICP, has over 15 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program. Kirsten is an Associate Vice President and Director of Smart Mobility Planning with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a M.S. degree in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Guest Speaker: Sean Zhang, PhD, has one year of experience in transportation planning consulting. Sean is a Transportation Planner with Modern Mobility Partners. Sean holds a Ph.D. degree in Geography and a Master of GIS degree from the University of Minnesota. Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm. Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    1h 2m
  6. 08/27/2024

    Ep. 34: 6 Steps to Developing Better Planning-Level Transportation Project Cost Estimates

    Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp, Kirsten Mote, and Matt Reeves with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to develop better planning-level transportation cost estimates. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 34: How better planning level cost estimates help in the transportation planning process, including: Reduce time needed to develop cost estimates through a reliable and standardized methodology Instill confidence in long-term programming of transportation plans General overview of steps to developing a planning-level cost estimate process, including: Review national best practices and current internal procedures Analyze historical costs and beta test the process Apply cost estimates and incorporate USDOT Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance Links: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers a wealth of knowledge on best practices for processes, guidance, and additional resources for cost estimation of major projects. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/majorprojects/cost_estimating/ National Highway Construction Cost Index (NHCCI) includes an interactive dashboard and pricing index that can be used to analyze historical cost trends associated with highway construction projects. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/otps/nhcci/ United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs provides an overview of how to calculate benefit-cost ratios of major transportation projects, particularly when applying for federal grant opportunities. https://www.transportation.gov/mission/office-secretary/office-policy/transportation-policy/benefit-cost-analysis-guidance Federal Transit Administration (FTA) also offers guidance for establishing reliable baseline cost estimates for major capital transit project delivery. https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/cost-estimation-fta-funded-transit-projects United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides general guidance on key considerations for developing cost estimation processes and a 12-step methodology for implementation. https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/706933.pdf Co-Hosts: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Kirsten Mote, AICP has 15 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program. Kirsten is an Associate Vice President and Director of Smart Mobility Planning with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Guest Speaker: Hunter Abel, AICP has seven years of experience in transportation planning with previous experience in developing cost estimation tools for state DOTs and transit service planning. Hunter is a Transportation Planner with Modern Mobility Partners and holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.  To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    29 min
  7. 08/20/2024

    Ep. 33: USDOT Discretionary Grant Applications…This…Not That (10 Strategies for a Successful Grant Application)

    Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about the best practices planners need to know about USDOT grant applications. Listeners will learn 10 strategies to apply to the following components of grant writing in Episode 033: How to identify a grant program for which a project is best suited. How to ensure that a project has enough preliminary documentation to be ready to apply for federal funding. How to write strong project narratives. How to maximize information within a grant application’s page limit. Links: USDOT’s Discretionary Grants Dashboard. https://www.transportation.gov/grants/dashboard Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool for Justice40 data. https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ MMP’s IIJA Funding Cheat Sheets. https://www.modernmobilitypartners.com/iija-funding-cheat-sheets Co-Hosts: Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. Kirsten Mote, AICP has over 14 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program. Kirsten is an Associate Vice President and Director of Smart Mobility Planning with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a M.S. degree in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. Guest Speaker: Amber Berg, AICP, RSP1 has five years of experience as a transportation planner, specializing in active transportation, visual communication, and roadway safety. She has a master’s degree in Regional and Community Planning from Kansas State University. Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.  To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    31 min
  8. 08/13/2024

    Ep. 32: Has the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Moved the Needle on Equity?

    Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to approach transportation decision-making with an equity mindset. Listeners will learn the answers to the following questions in Episode 32:  How does the Biden Administration define equity?  What is Justice40, and why should transportation planners care about it?  How are these equity initiatives included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?  Has the BIL moved the needle on equity?  What else can be done to advance equity in transportation?  Links:  The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (colloquially the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) allocated $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending, with $550 billion for new investments and programs. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/   The Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative is a commitment that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/   The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) is a useful tool for decision makers to use to identify projects in disadvantaged communities. https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en   USDOT’s Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer tool allows decisionmakers to identify projects in disadvantaged communities, with an emphasis on transportation burdened communities. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0920984aa80a4362b8778d779b090723/page/ETC-Explorer---Homepage/   Check out USDOT’s Equity webpage to see how the Federal government is prioritizing equity across policies and programs, with the aim of reducing transportation-related inequities nationwide. https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity   Co-Hosts:  Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan.  Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.  Kirsten Mote, AICP has over 14 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program.  Kirsten is an Associate Vice President and Director of Smart Mobility Planning with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a M.S. degree in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology.  Guest Speaker:  Yasamin Khorashahi has over two years of experience in planning and local government decision making, and over five years of experience researching equity issues in STEM. She has a B.S. in Public Policy and a Master of City and Regional Planning, both from Georgia Tech. Yasamin joined Modern Mobility Partners as a Transportation Planner in January of 2024.  Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.  If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.    To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

    26 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

This podcast is for transportation planners and enthusiasts who want to learn PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS to modern day transportation challenges. Learn step-by-step how to plan for new and emerging technologies, increasing e-commerce, resiliency, micromobility, and equity, just to name a few. Co-hosts, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, are certified transportation planners, national experts, and thought leaders at Modern Mobility Partners, a female and minority-owned transportation planning and engineering consulting firm in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.

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