Transportation Radio

Bernie Wagenblast
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Interviews with transportation newsmakers by transportation journalist Bernie Wagenblast.

  1. Jul 20

    State DOTs Partner with The Nature Conservancy on Wildlife Connectivity

    Episode Summary In this episode, Alissa Fadden – wildlife connectivity project manager for The Nature Conservancy in New York – and Chris Slesar, environmental resources coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, join The Stream by AASHTO podcast to discuss “Highways and Habitats,” a video training series that helps bridge the gap between road ecology and habitat connectivity. The pair discussed the importance of bringing transportation ecology to the forefront of state department of transportation projects and how this new training program helps teach state DOT professionals the ins-and-outs of connecting both people and wildlife safely across the northeast. Episode Notes Chris Slesar and Alissa Fadden,  join The Stream by AASHTO podcast to discuss “Highways and Habitats,” a video training series created by a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and eight state departments of transportation. In the Northeast, where the training is particularly focused, state DOTs have noticed a recent uptick in changing species patterns as a result of various habitat changes, including increased flooding and road construction. For those state DOTs, it became evident that a more “connected landscape” is necessary to make roads safer while simultaneously improving protections for local ecologies. In this episode, Fadden and Slesar discuss a variety of topics – including how to build cross-border state DOT relationships, the impact of Vermont’s original award-winning “Highways and Habitats” training program, regional habitat connectivity successes, and what this new training initiative could mean for state DOTs in other parts of the United States. More information about the program can be found in The Leaflet by AASHTO’s June 2026 article about the training. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state DOTs and the infrastructure programs they oversee.

  2. Jul 9

    How Global Collaboration Is Shaping ITE and Transportation’s Future with ITE Global District Director Farukh Ijaz, PE

    In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation, ITE Global District Director Farukh Ijaz, PE, shares his inspiring journey from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to becoming a transportation leader and entrepreneur in the United States. Farukh reflects on how relationships, mentorship, and a passion for transportation shaped both his career and the growth of Consulting Services USA. He also discusses his vision for strengthening ITE’s global network by fostering meaningful professional connections and creating pathways for knowledge exchange across borders. Tune in to hear how international collaboration can help transportation professionals tackle shared challenges and build a stronger, more connected future for the industry.

  3. Jul 4

    Advancing Accessibility in Transportation

    Episode Summary In this episode, Alan Hejl talks about how his work at General Motors addressing the vehicle needs of the disabled, along with the travel difficulties experienced by his wheelchair-bound wife, inspired him to form his company, Spark Access. Hejl dives into how those personal experiences pushed him to advocate for the mobility needs of the disabled – especially in terms of how greater mobility for the disabled fosters more inclusion for them in society. Hejl also explains how his advocacy efforts include creating more autonomous vehicle accessibility for the disabled. Episode Notes The latest episode of “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Alan Hejl, founder and lead consultant of Spark Access; a company that helps people with disabilities gain more mobility options to help foster a greater sense of belonging and inclusion for them more broadly in society. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management Technical Service Program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee. The mission of Spark Access is foster more awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for the disabled within the mobility industry. The firm’s advocacy efforts focus on helping people with both visible and hidden disabilities gain more transportation options to fit their travel needs. In this episode, Hejl talks about how his work at General Motors helped open his eyes to the wide array of mobility issues people with disabilities face – a passion that deepened and became more personal in light of the mobility struggles faced by his wheelchair-bound wife. Hejl discusses how different kinds of disabilities – both visible and hidden – can impact transportation options; how transportation systems are often built with the needs of the disabled as an afterthought; and how autonomous vehicles can offer the disabled greater travel opportunities if they meet their accessibility needs.

  4. Jun 5

    Celebrating 10 Years of ITE Talks Transportation with Steve Kuciemba, ITE Executive Director and CEO and Host Bernie Wagenblast

    In this special anniversary episode, host Bernie Wagenblast and ITE Executive Director and CEO Steve Kuciemba celebrate 10 years of ITE Talks Transportation. Together, they reflect on a decade of conversations with industry leaders whose insights have helped shape discussions on transportation safety, transportation systems operations and management, emerging technologies, and other critical issues impacting mobility. Join us for a look back at the voices, ideas, and innovations that have influenced the transportation profession over the past 10 years.

  5. May 1

    A conversation with AASHTO's 2025-2026 President Russell McMurry

    Episode Summary The latest episode of the “The Stream by AASHTO” podcast features Russell McMurry – commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation – discussing his emphasis areas as 2025-2026 president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; emphasis areas focused on safety, National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA compliance, ways to improve project delivery, and federal surface transportation funding reauthorization. Episode Notes This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by AASHTO. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee. In this episode, McMurry – who graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering – traces his career path at Georgia DOT; starting as an intern in 1990 and then progressing all the way up to his appointment as commissioner in 2015. McMurry also shares what he’s learned over the more than three decades he’s spent at Georgia DOT in a wide variety of roles, such as construction project manager, district engineer, director of engineering, chief engineer, and planning director. McMurry also discusses his emphasis areas as AASHTO president, especially in terms of how he selected them. His focus areas include surface transportation reauthorization, improvement of project delivery, and safety. “Until there are zero deaths on our nation’s highways and roadsides, we all have work to do,” he said. Finally, McMurry details what federal surface transportation funding reauthorization legislation could look like if passed by Congress this year; a bill he hopes will contain strong formula funding programs to support state transportation needs and how he wants it to be easier for states to take on NEPA assignment duties from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

  6. Apr 29

    Driving the Future of Transportation Operations: Insights on TSMO, Technology, and Teamwork – Laurie Matkowski, PMP, GFT

    Laurie Matkowski, PMP, Planning Practice Lead at GFT, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to explore the evolving world of transportation operations and TSMO. From managing everyday mobility to preparing for global mega-events like the FIFA World Cup, Laurie shares insights on the critical role of alignment, technology, and human decision-making in keeping systems running smoothly. The conversation also dives into the growing impact of AI, digital infrastructure, and data analytics, all while emphasizing the continued importance of collaboration and people in the process.

  7. Mar 24

    Building the Future Transportation Workforce

    In this episode of ITE Talks Transportation, Eric Rensel, Founder and CEO of Rensel Consulting, shares insights on how the industry can attract, develop, and retain the next generation of transportation professionals. From the power of mentorship and storytelling to the importance of early STEM exposure and alternative career pathways, Rensel draws on nationwide workforce development efforts and ITE’s involvement in the Engineering Workforce Consortium. The conversation highlights how flexibility, inclusion, and strong professional relationships are key to shaping a resilient and innovative workforce.

  8. Mar 6

    How Texans are Protecting Monarch Butterfly Migration Paths

    In this episode, Darlene Goehl – research engineer and research group lead at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute – explains how new infrastructure being developed in Texas can help prevent thousands of monarch butterfly deaths as they migrate across busy roads in North America. Episode Notes In this podcast episode, Darlene Goehl joins ‘The Stream by AASHTO’ to discuss the joint work of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) with the Texas Department of Transportation in building monarch flight diverters or MFDs – a series of tall, mesh barriers placed along busy roads that motivate the butterflies to fly above the roadway, well above vehicles traveling on the highway below. Researchers have noted sharp declines in monarch populations, specifically during their migration periods in the fall. In some years, researchers found that nearly 3 percent of the monarch’s fall migratory population were lost after being struck by vehicles traveling on roads; this number represents about half of the population decline in a given year. Goehl discusses the importance of monarch butterflies to the ecology and cultural symbology of the southern U.S. and northern Mexico, the role of transportation, and how TTI identifies “hot spots” for monarch roadkill. From there, Goehl explains the implementation and feasibility of MFDs in Texas and how the project will fare into the future. This podcast series is part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. It explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Interviews with transportation newsmakers by transportation journalist Bernie Wagenblast.

Information

  • Creator
    Bernie Wagenblast
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    231
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Transportation Radio
  • Show Website
    Transportation Radio

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