Infrastructure Technology Podcast

Episode 58 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast explores how transportation agencies are working to improve safety at railroad crossings and reduce collisions between vehicles and wildlife. The hosts discuss Operation Lifesaver’s "See Tracks? Think Train" campaign, highlighting how transit agencies are using digital messaging and station safety initiatives to remind drivers and pedestrians about the dangers of railroad crossings. The conversation also examines grade crossing elimination, potential technology solutions for identifying hazards ahead of trains and the continued need for public awareness 

The episode then turns to wildlife crossings, including overpasses, underpasses and fencing designed to help animals safely navigate highways and reconnect fragmented habitats. Gavin, Jessica and Brandon examine projects in Colorado, Wyoming and California, the role of federal funding in expanding these structures and how thoughtful design can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. The discussion also considers the importance of migration patterns, collaboration with wildlife conservationists and the need to balance wildlife infrastructure investments with other transportation priorities. 

Episode Length: 35:39

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In Episode 57 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Brandon Lewis speaks with Tim Menard, founder and CEO of LYT, about the evolution of transit signal priority and how new performance dashboards are helping agencies better understand what happens on the road.

Menard explains how LYT’s cloud-based platform connects transit vehicle data with traffic management systems to help buses move more efficiently through intersections. The conversation explores new color-coded dashboards that allow agencies to track signal priority requests, examine trip-level performance and identify factors affecting on-time service. They also discuss the technology’s potential applications for paratransit and shared mobility, the importance of accessible reporting tools and the growing need for agencies to demonstrate measurable results to funders and the public. 

Tim Menard - LYT

Tim Menard is the founder and CEO of LYT. 

Episode Length: 37:57

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In Episode 56 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Brandon Lewis of Mass Transit magazine and Jessica Parks of Roads & Bridges speak with Sam Richardson, co-founder and CEO of Volley Automation, about how automated parking technology could maximize space, reduce construction constraints and change the way communities plan for the future. 

Richardson explains how Volley combines robotics and software to park vehicles more efficiently, potentially increasing parking capacity by 40% to 50% compared with conventional self-parking. The conversation explores the technology’s potential to support transit-oriented development by freeing up land for housing and green space, as well as its possible role in accommodating autonomous vehicle fleets. The episode also examines how digital simulations and artificial intelligence can help model system performance, improve the parking experience and support safer, more efficient facilities.  

Sam Richardson - Volley Automation

Sam Richardson is co-founder and CEO of Volley Automation, an automated parking technology company that combines artificial intelligence-powered software with robotics to help developers fit more vehicles into less space. Under his leadership, Volley is advancing projects in major U.S. markets while developing the software and infrastructure needed to support the next generation of connected and autonomous mobility. 

Episode Length: 47:08

Timestamps:

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Episode 55 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast explores how emerging technologies are helping transportation agencies improve project oversight, safety and operational efficiency. The episode examines the North Carolina Turnpike Authority’s use of drone-based LiDAR on the Complete 540 Phase 2 project, where detailed aerial data is helping teams track construction progress, compare field conditions against project schedules and reduce the need for surveyors to enter active construction zones.  

The episode also looks at the future of artificial intelligence in public transportation, including MIT Transit Lab’s $2.1 million Google.org grant to support development of the Public Transit Intelligence Hub (PTIQ). The AI-powered platform aims to integrate real-time monitoring, operations control and passenger communications, helping transit agencies respond to service disruptions and make more informed decisions.  

Travis Howell- WSP in the U.S. 

Travis Howell serves as the geospatial manager at WSP in the U.S. 

Cameron Richards- North Carolina Turnpike Authority

Cameron Richards is the eastern deputy chief engineer at the North Carolina Turnpike Authority. 

Episode Length: 36:23 

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In Episode 54 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Gavin, Brandon and Jessica discuss the ethics of putting temporary cameras in work and construction zones. Then, Brandon interviews VIA Metropolitan Transit Deputy CEO Tremell Brown, who explains how new cameras on the agency’s buses is helping to improve safety and security across the system. 

Tremell Brown - VIA Metropolitan Transit

Tremell Brown oversees all VIA Metropolitan Transit staff functions and operations of the agency. Brown directly manages key operating divisions, including Fleet & Facilities, Safety, Transit Police and Training and System Security. He also serves as the agency’s chief safety officer and incident commander for Emergency Management/Response. He began his career at the agency as a bus operator in 1990 and during the ensuing three decades with the agency has advanced to serve in various leadership positions, including vice president of transportation and vice president of safety, training and system security. 

Episode Length: 37:22

Timestamps: 

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Episode 53 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast explores the future of road pricing, autonomous vehicles and connected transportation systems with Mark Deflin of Emovis. Roads and Bridges Staff Writer Jessica Parks speaks with Deflin about Virginia’s Mileage Choice program, which has grown to nearly 25,000 participants, and the lessons it offers for states considering mileage-based user fees. The discussion examines how financial safeguards, payment flexibility, privacy protections and giving drivers a choice in how their mileage is measured can help build public trust. 

Marc Deflin - Chief Sales Officer of North America, Emovis

Mark Deflin is the chief sales officer of North America at Emovis, a global expert in toll-based mobility solutions with more than 40 years of experience in the tolling industry. Deflin brings a deep expertise in engineering, project management, business development, roadside and back office tolling systems and customer service operations. He leads the company's business development efforts across the U.S. and Canada, helping transportation agencies and infrastructure partners implement innovative tolling, road user charging and mobility solutions that improve the driving experience while supporting sustainable transportation funding. 

Episode Length: 38:22

Timestamps:

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Episode 52 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast takes a deep dive into the growing debate surrounding flock cameras and automated license plate readers, asking whether they are a valuable public safety tool or an expansion of surveillance infrastructure.

Gavin Jenkins, Brandon Lewis, Jessica Parks and Noah Kolenda discuss how the technology can help law enforcement investigate hit-and-runs, locate stolen vehicles and support safety around transportation facilities, while also examining concerns surrounding privacy, continuous data collection, data ownership, retention and access. 

The conversation also explores the role of private technology companies in managing public infrastructure and the potential consequences of inaccurate license-plate information or false identification.  

Episode Length: 39:48 

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Episode 51 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast explores how technology is giving transportation and construction professionals new ways to improve safety and operations.

Roads and Bridges Staff Writer Jessica Parks speaks with Mike Doner and Luke Lazar of Flagger Force about the company’s use of virtual safety observations, which use vehicle-mounted cameras to review work-zone activity and identify behaviors that could lead to incidents. 

The episode also features a discussion of New Jersey Transit’s newly launched website and AI-powered Navvie chatbot, which are designed to make trip planning, service information and travel details easier for riders to access.  

Mike Doner - President and CEO, Flagger Force

Mike Doner is the president and CEO of Flagger Force. He co-founded the company in 2002 and has led its growth from a local startup into a nationally recognized industry leader known for safety, innovation and workforce development.  

Luke Lazar - Vice President of Risk and Safety, Flagger Force

Luke Lazar is the vice president of risk and safety at Flagger Force. He has 30 years of experience in safety consulting across diverse industries. 

Episode Length: 43:40

Timestamps:

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Email [email protected] with your thoughts on technology improving safety operations  — we might read them on air.

In Episode 50, the ITP team explores how the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is using technology to improve streetcar safety. Mass Transit magazine Associate Editor Brandon Lewis speaks with Stuart Green, TTC spokesperson, about a nine-month pilot placing cameras on four streetcars to capture license plates of vehicles that illegally pass open streetcar doors while passengers are boarding or exiting. The technology, adapted from systems used to enforce school-bus stop laws, is designed to collect data that could support future enforcement while ultimately serving as a deterrent to dangerous driving.

The episode closes with Brandon and Roads and Bridges Staff Writer Jessica reflecting on the ITP’s milestone 50th episode and thanking the guests, production team, colleagues and listeners who have helped the podcast reach this point. 

Stuart Green - Toronto Transit Commission

Stuart Green is the senior communications specialist of media relations and issues management for the Toronto Transit Commission.

Episode Length: 38:38

Timestamps

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Episode 49 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast explores how contextual engineering can help transportation professionals design safer, more effective projects by putting the communities they serve at the center of the process. Brandon, Jessica and Gavin are joined by Ryan Lake, roadway transportation engineer at AECOM and the first winner of the Roads and Bridges Lightning Round, to discuss his approach to understanding a community beyond reports and technical data. Lake explains the different levels of community engagement, and why engineers should spend more time in the field learning how people actually live, travel and interact with their surroundings.

Ryan Lake — Roadway Transportation Engineer, AECOM

Episode Length: 39:22

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Email [email protected] with your thoughts on accessibility and public transit — we might read them on air.