On this episode of the DOT POD we are celebrating our 50th episode! And what better way to mark the occasion than to give you 50 on 50...Route 50, that is.

Anya and Josh and on the road, literally, as they record the episode while cruising down the 31 miles that make up New York State Route 50, going from Scotia to Gansevoort.

Joining them on the drive is Region 1's Valerie Deane who shares some history about the Capital Region route, as well as some highlights and a few hidden gems.

Changes are happening to the traffic lights you drive through every day!

On this episode of The DOT POD, we are talking about traffic technology that's being implemented right now to make our signals smarter and ready to talk to the vehicles of the future.

Josh and Anya, recording from the Great NY State Fair, are joined by Ryan Meagher from DOT's Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility.

They may look like one armed trailers, but Automated Flagger Assistance Devices are proving to be a game changer for worker protection in our New York State work zones.

On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya travel to the Great New York State Fair and sit down with Matt Petrie, the Director of DOT's Bureau of Employee Safety and Health.

Join them as they discuss the importance of work zone safety and the introduction of new technology, like the Automated Flaggers, that are helping to keep our workers safe.

On any given day in New York, animals are vulnerable to being struck by vehicles on our roadways...and these collisions aren't just dangerous for wildlife.

On this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya discuss how the New York State Department of Transportation is working to provide safe passage for wildlife with the safety of nature and humans in mind.

They are joined by two people who are helping the cause in Stephanie DeLano, Director of DOT's Environmental Science Bureau within the Office of Environment, and Chris Standley, Environmental Specialist with the Office of Environment.

To get an up close and personal look at one of these Wildlife Crossings, head to the 2025 Great New York State Fair where one will be on display in the Science and Industry building!

In this episode of The DOT POD we are heading into the halls of NYSDOT's Main Office where a group of dedicated employees ensure everything runs like clockwork.

We are talking about our facilities team. They are the hardworking caretakers of our mail room, crucial documents, surplus, and inventory. They take care of our lost items and help us organize our events.

In short, they do a TON of work behind the scenes in this episode they are given a spotlight and the appreciation they deserve.

Josh and Anya welcome in David Pierce, Director, Facilities Management Bureau, and Toni Fusco, Administrative Assistant under Facilities Management.

Work at NYSDOT can sometimes be a messy business. Think about maintaining worm-composting toilets at a state rest are - or transforming roadkill into renewal by cleaning and composting animal carcasses from our state highways.

Those are just a couple of the MANY challenging jobs our dedicated DOT employees tackle daily, and we'll find out more about them on this episode that looks at the dirtier side of DOT.

Josh and Anya are joined by Lou D'Astrii who oversees the Southern Tier Welcome Center in Kirkwood, NY and Russ Burckhard, Highway Maintenance Supervisor 1 based out of Voorheesville, NY for this special, Dirty Jobs Edition of the DOT POD.

This episode explores a critical part of emergency preparedness at the New York State Department of Transportation - our yearly staging area drills.

These drills aren't just routine exercises, they're basically huge rehearsals for real events, ranging from hurricanes and floods, to snowstorms and other emergencies.

Recently, Josh and Anya had the chance to observe a staging drill in Utica and learn first-hand how they are a crucial learning opportunity. Regional Director of Operations for Region 2, Mike Palowski, and Senior Transportation Analyst join the podcast to discuss.

Safety doesn’t just happen by accident; it takes carefulplanning. To keep New York’s roadway safe DOT has developed a Strategic Highway Safety Plan which is aimed at drastically cutting down on serious crashes and fatalities, with the ultimate goal, of course, being zero deaths.

In this episode, Josh and Anya explore the key factors thatmake us vulnerable to serious crashes, what DOT is doing to protect all roadway users, and the changes we may see in the near future.

Joining the podcast are Rob Limoges, Director of the Officeof Traffic Safety and Mobility, and Mary Harding, Director of the Highway Safety Bureau, to help break all of this down .

In this episode, we are shining a spotlight on rail safety - an essential aspect of our transportation system, that millions of people rely on for their daily commutes as well as in getting the goods we need.

But did you know that the New York State Department of Transportation plays a crucial role in keeping our rail system safe?

Guests Mike Labello and Brian Galvin walk us through the vital work DOT is doing through rail inspections to monitor New York's rail infrastructure and how these efforts protect not just passengers - but also the communities surrounding the rails.

We often hear of the inspiring stories of DOT workers who go above and beyond their duties, helping those in need; like aiding stranded drivers during major snowstorms or after accidents.

On this edition of The DOT POD, we're sharing the stories of DOT employees who come to the aid of animals in distress.

Josh and Anya are joined by DOT workers Brett Stoner, Ryan Wilson, and Kim Latour. From rescuing animals in need, to collecting donations for a local shelter, their stories will show a different side of DOT.