• Guest: Kim Williams, Chief Innovation Officer for Houston Metro
• Host: Jared Schnader, Bus Initiative Lead for CALSTART
• Topics:
  • Houston Metro's commitment to zero emission buses planning for both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell
  • Kim Williams' role is Chief Innovation Officer
  • How Houston Metro evaluates emerging technologies 
  • The importance of knowledge sharing among transit agencies

Show Notes:

• Houston Metro is committed to achieving zero emissions by 2050.
• Kim Williams is the Chief Innovation Officer for Houston Metro. In this role, she is responsible for exploring new technologies and strategies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Houston Metro.
• Williams believes in being "leading edge, not bleeding edge." She and her team evaluate emerging technologies by starting with the problem and then looking for solutions that have been tested and proven in other industries.
• Williams is a strong advocate for knowledge sharing. She regularly travels to conferences and events to share Houston Metro's experiences with other transit agencies.
• Houston Metro is a leader in the adoption of new technologies. For example, the agency has deployed a fleet of electric buses and is installing solar panels at its facilities.
• Williams is confident that Houston Metro can achieve its zero emissions goal. She is committed to making public transportation a more sustainable option for Houstonians.
• Houston Metro is evaluating battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies by deploying both at the same time, which has created a number of challenges.
• Houston created a climate action plan called "EVolve". By tying this policy to Houston Metro's Climate Action Plan, it created a greater opportunity to getting a Low-No grant from the FTA.
• Williams also spoke about the equity concerns that can be addressed by zero-emission transit. While EVs are still relatively expensive, a person's first EV may be a Bus on their way to purchasing their own EV.
• There was also a discussion around planning for resiliency scenarios from the grid and also how buses can be utilized as power export.

Quotes from the episode:

• "We want to be a leader in sustainability." - Kim Williams
• "We're always looking for new ways to use technology to improve the customer experience." - Kim Williams
• "Knowledge sharing is essential for transit agencies." - Kim Williams
• "We're confident that we can achieve our zero emissions goal." - Kim Williams

Takeaways:

• Houston Metro is a leader in the adoption of new technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public transportation.
• The Chief Innovation Officer plays a critical role in evaluating emerging technologies and finding solutions that meet the needs of the agency and its riders.
• Knowledge sharing is essential for transit agencies to learn from each other and improve their operations.
• Public transportation can play a key role in reducing emissions and improving air quality.