Paul Schwartz, Deputy Commissioner of Bridges at the NYC Department of Transportation, joins the podcast to discuss the history behind New York City’s iconic Brooklyn Bridge, and what it takes to oversee and maintain it along with over 800 other bridges across the five boroughs. 

Emily Weidenhof is joined by co-host David Breen, director of strategic initiatives at NYC DOT, for a conversation with Andy Wiley-Schwartz about his work leading the pedestrianization of Times Square, shaping the landscape of Manhattan, and how NYC DOT is continuing to reimagine the Broadway corridor. Andy is a manager consultant for Bloomberg Associates and former assistant commissioner for public space at NYC DOT.

Emily Weidenhof and co-host Rochelle Brahalla, director of transit strategy at NYC DOT, welcome Nashville Department of Transportation Director Diana Alarcon to the podcast. The conversation focuses on the Choose How You Move referendum, which raised sales tax 0.5% to fund enhanced public transportation, sidewalk expansions, upgraded traffic signals, and safety projects in Nashville, Tennessee.

Eric Sanderson, vice president for urban conservation strategy at the New York Botanical Garden and the author of the best-selling book, Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City, joins Emily Weidenhof and Kyle Gorman, assistant director of programs and partnerships in NYC DOT’s Public Realm team. They discuss how the city looked before European settlement, the influence of indigenous trails on the city’s first streets, the shift from agriculture to housing as transportation methods expanded, and the effect of climate change on the future of NYC’s streets and public space.

Global Designing Cities Initiative Executive Director Skye Duncan joins Emily Weidenhof and Jason Banrey to discuss her work in cities around the world and the importance of designing streets with children in mind. Duncan is an urban designer with 20 years of experience in architecture, urban design, and planning, who previously served as a senior urban designer at the New York City Department of City Planning.

Eric Beaton and Emily Weidenhof discuss the surprising findings from NYC DOT’s daylighting study, how we determine the placement for speed and red-light cameras, why bike lanes benefit everyone, and the future of Vision Zero.  

Eric Beaton, NYC DOT deputy commissioner for transportation planning and management joins Emily Weidenhof to discuss how NYC DOT collects data, why road users’ feelings don’t always match traffic data, how we’re using data to inform transportation planning, and more. This is part one of a two-part episode. 

Emily Weidenhof is joined by Diniece Mendes, Assistant Commissioner for Transit Development at NYC DOT, for a conversation with Dr. Anne Goodchild centered on freight systems, the rise of ecommerce, and the role of government in freight policy. Goodchild is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington, and founding director of the Urban Freight Lab. She leads the university’s academic research efforts focusing on supply chain, logistics, and freight transportation.

Emily Weidenhof is joined by Nick Carey, traffic engineer and director of school safety at NYC DOT, for a conversation with Wes Marshall, author of Killed by a Traffic Engineer and professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver. The conversation focuses on the critical role of engineering in traffic safety, how planners and engineers react to traffic deaths, and the value of empirical science and research in designing streets.

Emily Weidenhof and Diniece Mendes are joined by Veronica Davis, author of Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities, to discuss the importance of collaboration among planners and engineers, the need to have empathy and curiosity in transportation projects, tips for practical community outreach, and equity in urban planning across neighborhoods.