The Modern Mobility Podcast

Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp, Kirsten Mote, and Matt Reeves with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to develop better planning-level transportation cost estimates. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 34:

• How better planning level cost estimates help in the transportation planning process, including:

• Reduce time needed to develop cost estimates through a reliable and standardized methodology

• Review national best practices and current internal procedures

Links:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers a wealth of knowledge on best practices for processes, guidance, and additional resources for cost estimation of major projects. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/majorprojects/cost_estimating/

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Hunter Abel, AICP has seven years of experience in transportation planning with previous experience in developing cost estimation tools for state DOTs and transit service planning. Hunter is a Transportation Planner with Modern Mobility Partners and holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about the best practices planners need to know about USDOT grant applications. Listeners will learn 10 strategies to apply to the following components of grant writing in Episode 033:

• How to identify a grant program for which a project is best suited.

Links:

• USDOT’s Discretionary Grants Dashboard. https://www.transportation.gov/grants/dashboard

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Amber Berg, AICP, RSP1 has five years of experience as a transportation planner, specializing in active transportation, visual communication, and roadway safety. She has a master’s degree in Regional and Community Planning from Kansas State University.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to approach transportation decision-making with an equity mindset. Listeners will learn the answers to the following questions in Episode 32: 

• How does the Biden Administration define equity? 

• What is Justice40, and why should transportation planners care about it? 

• How are these equity initiatives included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law? 

• Has the BIL moved the needle on equity? 

• What else can be done to advance equity in transportation? 

Links: 

• The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (colloquially the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) allocated $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending, with $550 billion for new investments and programs. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/  

• The Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative is a commitment that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/  

• The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) is a useful tool for decision makers to use to identify projects in disadvantaged communities. https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en  

• USDOT’s Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer tool allows decisionmakers to identify projects in disadvantaged communities, with an emphasis on transportation burdened communities. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0920984aa80a4362b8778d779b090723/page/ETC-Explorer---Homepage/  

• Check out USDOT’s Equity webpage to see how the Federal government is prioritizing equity across policies and programs, with the aim of reducing transportation-related inequities nationwide. https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity  

Co-Hosts: 

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan.  Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University. 

• Kirsten Mote, AICP has over 14 years of experience in transportation planning and is certified by MIT Media Lab’s Beyond Smart Cities program.  Kirsten is an Associate Vice President and Director of Smart Mobility Planning with Modern Mobility Partners. Kirsten holds a M.S. degree in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Guest Speaker: 

• Yasamin Khorashahi has over two years of experience in planning and local government decision making, and over five years of experience researching equity issues in STEM. She has a B.S. in Public Policy and a Master of City and Regional Planning, both from Georgia Tech. Yasamin joined Modern Mobility Partners as a Transportation Planner in January of 2024. 

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization. 

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.   

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes. 

Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing transit services using a Transit Development Plan (TDP). Listeners will learn the following in Episode 31:

1. The importance of establishing the context of where a TDP is developed to make a plan that is customized for the study area

Links:

• Georgia’s current vision for regional transit development in the state: https://regionaltdp-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP, has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan, AICP, PTP. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Malavika Murali has recently begun her career in the transportation planning industry and has been a part of the Modern Mobility Partners team since 2022. Malavika holds dual M.S. degrees in City Planning and Geographic Information Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm. Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com.

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary:  Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about how the Corridor ID program is progressing the future of high-speed rail in the US. Listeners will learn the answers to the following questions in Episode 30:

• How the Corridor ID program started and why it is important?

Links:

• The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (colloquially the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) allocated $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending, with $550 billion for new investments and programs. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/20/2022-27559/notice-of-solicitation-of-corridor-proposals-and-funding-opportunity-for-the-corridor-identification

• FY22 Corridor Identification and Development Program Selections

https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/fy22-CID-program-selections

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Yu Lin is a Transportation Planner with Modern Mobility Partners with over 2 years of professional experience. He graduated from New York University with a M.S. degree in Transportation Engineering/Planning. His interests include Sustainable Transportation, Micro-mobility, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. 

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary:  Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp, Kirsten Mote, and Matt Reeves with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to utilize Artificial Intelligence in Transportation Planning. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 29:

• Non-technical use cases for AI in the planning process including:

• Background information and report drafting

• Existing conditions mapping

The show ends with a high-level discussion highlighting some of the limitations and caution for planners using Artificial Intelligence. 

Links:

• PSMJ A.I. Meets AEC provides a detailed review of what A.I. is and how it is currently used and its potential in the AEC industry. The guidebook provides a review intended for business executives to better prepare for A.I.

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Matt Reeves, AICP has 4 years of experience in transportation planning with previous experience in software development and database management. Matt is a Transportation Planner with Modern Mobility Partners and holds an M.S. degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary:  Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 028:

• How do fuel cell vehicles work using Hydrogen?

Links:

• Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity, water, and heat.

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/fuel-cells 

• Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are more energy-efficient than traditional internal combustion engines and offer ranges comparable to gasoline vehicles, often exceeding 300 miles on a single fill-up.

https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-fuel-cell-electric-cars-work 

• One of the major advantages of hydrogen FCVs over battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is the quick refueling time. Filling a hydrogen tank usually takes around 3-5 minutes, similar to refueling a gasoline car.

https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/07/f24/fcto_fcev_infographic_0.pdf 

• Emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles—such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter—are a major source of this pollution. Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles emit none of these harmful substances—only water (H2O) and warm air.

https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/hydrogen-benefits

• Several automakers, including Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, have developed hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Models like the Toyota Mirai, Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, and Hyundai NEXO are available in select markets with established hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/mirai

• Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are supported by various laws and incentives aimed at promoting clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These incentives include tax credits, grants, and rebates at federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, policies often support the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, research and development, and public-private partnerships to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen technology.

https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/laws/HY 

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Ran Xu has over five years of experience in transportation engineering and modeling. Ran holds PE, PTOE, and RSP1 licenses. Ran has a M.S. degree in Transportation Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary:  Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners can do to support the ongoing NEVI plan through siting electric charging stations, planning the sites, and designing infrastructure around the stations. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 027:

• Understand the goals of the NEVI plan, minimum requirements for project funding, and planners’ roles in implementing it

Links:

• Full text of NEVI standards and requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations, February 28, 2023 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03500/national-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-standards-and-requirements

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Ansley McKenzie is a GIS analyst with three years of experience and a transportation planner with one year of experience. She holds two master’s degrees, one in city planning and one in GIS, both from Georgia Tech.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary: Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners, talk about what planners should know about estimating transit ridership. Listeners will learn the following in Episode 26:

• How transit planners use ridership forecasts

Links:

• NextGen NHTS National OD Data - https://nhts.ornl.gov/od/

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speaker:

• Freyja Brandel-Tanis is a Transportation Planner and Engineer with Modern Mobility Partners. She holds M.S. degrees in City and Regional Planning and Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and was a 2022 Fulbright Grantee to Norway.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.

Episode Summary:  Listen to national experts and certified planners, Keli Kemp and Kirsten Mote, both with Modern Mobility Partners interview guest speakers Melissa Taylor and Julia Billings about the innovative strategies used in the Chattanooga MPO’s 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. Listeners will learn about the following topics in this Season 4 Bonus Episode:

• Identifying innovative strategies for public and stakeholder engagement

Links:

• Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia MPO 2050 Regional Transportation Plan document: https://www.chcrpa.org/project/2050-rtp/

Co-Hosts:

• Keli Kemp, AICP, PTP has 25 years of experience in transportation planning and consulting and co-founded Modern Mobility Partners in early 2018 with Jennifer Zhan. Keli holds a M.S. degree in Urban Planning from Texas A&M University.

Guest Speakers:

• Melissa Taylor is the Director of Transportation Planning and MPO Coordinator for Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency (RPA) & Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia MPO where she oversees transportation planning for the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the 19 jurisdictions of the MPO. She was the Project Manager on the agency or client side for the 2050 RTP.

Modern Mobility Partners is an Atlanta-based women and minority-owned transportation planning and traffic engineering consulting firm.  Service areas include smart mobility and transportation planning, demand modeling and traffic engineering, and data analytics and visualization.

If you are interested in learning more about Modern Mobility Partners, please visit www.modernmobilitypartners.com. 

To obtain AICP CM credits, search for “Modern Mobility Partners” in the https://planning.org AICP CM portal to find all episodes.