Infrastructure Technology Podcast

In this special "intervention" episode of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Brandon Lewis, Jessica Parks and Noah Kolenda team up to challenge Gavin Jenkins' long-standing skepticism toward infrastructure in the Southwest. The group highlights the region's investments in public transportation and how Southwestern states are leading the way in climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure and technological innovation. 

Episode Length: 27:07

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Email [email protected] with your opinions on transportation infrastructure in the Southwest — we might read them on air.

In Episode 19 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, the hosts recap the biggest themes and innovations they encountered during the first half of the 2026 conference season, reflecting on how industry events are shaping the future of transportation. Drawing from conferences across the public transit and roads and bridges sectors, the discussion highlights the technologies, policy conversations and operational challenges that generated the most attention. 

Episode Length: 30:13

Timestamps:

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Email [email protected] with your favorite state to drive through and industry events — we might read them on air.

In Episode 18 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Mass Transit magazine Associate Editor Brandon Lewis and Roads and Bridges Staff Writer Jessica Parks play a true or false game based on questions from Mass Transit’s weekly news quiz. Parks then interviews FYLD CEO and Co-founder Shelley Copsey to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping emergency response and infrastructure management across the transportation industry. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, Shelley explains how AI-powered platforms can help agencies process large volumes of information in real time, prioritize incidents and deploy crews more efficiently.  

Shelley Copsey, CEO and Co-Founder of FYLD

Shelley Copsey is the co-founder and CEO of FYLD, the AI-powered operating system for high-risk fieldwork. Under her leadership, FYLD has become a trusted partner to global infrastructure, utility, energy, and construction organizations, helping frontline teams and managers reduce risk, improve productivity, and deliver more predictable outcomes through real-time field intelligence.  Shelley has dedicated her career to solving complex operational challenges across critical infrastructure. 

Episode Length: 35:05

Timestamps: 

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Email [email protected] with your thoughts on emergency management systems—we might read them on air.

In episode 17 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Gavin, Brandon, Jessica and Noah examine the proposed Build America 250 Act, the bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill that would replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act when it expires later this year.

The discussion explores how the legislation seeks to continue federal investment in roads, bridges and public transit while introducing new priorities focused on workforce development, project delivery, safety and digital infrastructure.

The hosts break down the bill's major provisions and explain why its bipartisan support makes it one of the most significant transportation proposals currently under consideration in Congress. 

What You'll Learn: 

Episode Length: 27:31 

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

In Episode 16 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast, Brandon Lewis, Jessica Parks and Noah Kolenda take a deep dive into Mass Transit's newly launched transit ballot measure tracker, which is tracking public transit-related ballot measures across the U.S. during the 2026 election cycle.

The discussion focuses on several of the most significant measures being considered around the country, including major funding proposals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Charleston County, S.C., and Pima County, Ariz. The hosts examine how these measures could affect transit service, infrastructure investments and long-term financial stability for agencies and discuss how transit ballot measures historically enjoy strong success rates at the ballot box. 

Episode Length: 29:09

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

In episode 15, Mass Transit magazine Associate Editor Brandon Lewis interviews Linus Adler and Tate Coleman, two recent graduates from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Both guests share their personal journeys into the transit industry and discuss why public transportation remains an essential part of creating connected, accessible communities. Throughout the episode, the guests discuss the importance of hands-on experiences in transit operations.

Lewis, as well as Roads and Bridges Head of Content Gavin Jenkins and Roads and Bridges Staff Writer Jessica Parks also discuss the news that the U.S. is spending more on data centers currently than transportation infrastructure. 

Linus Adler - UMass Amherst Graduate

Linus Adler graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During his time in school, he was an intern for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Highway Project Development. 

Tate Coleman - Public Transportation Director, Great Barrington, MA; UMass Amherst Graduate

Tate Coleman serves as the director of public transportation at the town of Great Barrington, Mass. Tate recently graduated with Master's Degrees in Regional Planning and Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he served as a U.S. Department of Transportation Dwight D. Eisenhower Graduate Transportation Fellow during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Episode Length: 42:14

Timestamps

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Email [email protected] with your thoughts on data center spending— we might read them on air.

Part II of the World Cup infrastructure series shifts from physical transportation systems to the technology that will help manage them. Gavin Jenkins, Brandon Lewis, Jessica Parks and Noah Kolenda explore how artificial intelligence (AI), smart-city technology and connected infrastructure could shape the fan experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The discussion focuses heavily on the growing use of AI in transportation, including adaptive traffic signals, transit signal priority, real-time route optimization and crowd management systems. The hosts explain how cities are increasingly relying on digital twins — virtual models of transportation networks — to simulate event-day conditions and identify potential bottlenecks before they occur. 

Episode Length: 26:05

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Episode 13 kicks off is the first of two parts examining the infrastructure implications of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Gavin Jenkins, Brandon Lewis and Jessica Parks are joined by Noah Kolenda discuss how host cities across the United States are preparing for one of the largest sporting events in the world.

The conversation centers on stadium access, public transit capacity, crowd movement, security and the challenges of moving large numbers of visitors efficiently through cities that often rely heavily on automobiles. The hosts explore how transit agencies, governments and event organizers must coordinate to ensure smooth operations and positive visitor experiences. 

Episode Length: 28:42

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Episode 12 of the Infrastructure Technology features Roads and Bridges Staff Writer Jessica Parks interviewing Dr. Tyler Ley, a structural engineering professor at Oklahoma State University. A self-described “concrete freak”, Ley discusses why concrete matters so deeply to infrastructure, how better concrete design can create structures that last generations and how innovation is transforming the field. 

After the interview, Mass Transit magazine Associate Editor Brandon Lewis leads a discussion around new artificial intelligence (AI) guidances released by the American Public Transportation Association for transit agencies in the U.S. The hosts discuss AI’s growing role in customer service, operations, policy, staffing and route optimization. They also analyze Moovit’s new AI-powered transit assistant and debate how AI will continue reshaping infrastructure and transportation industries. 

Dr. Tyler Ley - Oklahoma State University

Dr. Tyler Ley is a structural engineering professor at Oklahoma State University. A self-described concrete freak, in between teaching concrete instructional engineering at Oklahoma State University and conducting innovate research, Ley is the creator behind his YouTube channel, where he breaks down the world of concrete in a way that's engaging, relatable and fun for thousands of viewers. 

Episode Length: 35:47

Timestamps: 

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Episode 11 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast focuses on the future of urban transportation, the next generation of transit professionals and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in public transportation systems.

University of Illinois Chicago Professor Kate Lowe joined graduate students Noah Arroyo and Maisie Westerfield to discuss transportation policy, transit equity, mobility justice and emerging technology. The episode explores how younger professionals view AI differently from previous generations, especially in transit planning, customer service, geospatial analysis and safety systems.

Gavin, Brandon and Jessica also discuss Bentley Systems receiving FedRAMP authorization for its federal infrastructure software platforms, highlighting cybersecurity and cloud modernization in transportation infrastructure. 

Kate Lowe - Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago

Kate Lowe studies transportation at the intersection of policy, funding, and mobility justice. Her work examines how varied stakeholders and transportation policies interact across different levels of government and how this impacts transportation investments and racial inequities. She also conducts qualitative research on lived experiences of mobility and accessibility for low-income populations and Black and Brown communities.   

Noah Arroyo - Graduate Assistant, University of Illinois Chicago

Noah Arroyo is a current Graduate Assistant, where he manages administrative functions for the UIC Urban Planning and Policy department within the college. He is also an intern with the Chicago Transit Authority, where he maintains partnerships with transportation officials, elected officials, Federal Transit Authority representatives, 13 block clubs, neighborhood stakeholders, businesses and four chambers of commerce for the Red Purple Modernization Government & Community Relations group.  

Maisie Westerfield - Master's Student, University of Illinois Chicago

Maisie Westerfield is a masters' student at the University of Illinois at Chicago studying urban planning and policy with a concentration in urban transportation. She has a bachelors degree in environmental management from Indiana University. She is interested in climate resilient transportation, climate activism in young generations and environmental justice. 

Episode Length: 38:44

Timestamps: 

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