Mobility Innovators Podcast

Mobility Innovators Podcast

di Mobility Innovators
AmministrazioneTecnologia
Why Public Transit Must Reinvent Itself for the AI Era | Mark Seeger
Cities are growing faster than ever, but our transportation systems are struggling to keep up. Advances in AI, autonomy, and digital infrastructure are creating new opportunities to rethink how people move through cities, reduce congestion, and expand access to jobs, education, and social opportunities. The conversation highlights how innovation happens when technology, infrastructure, and human needs are considered together, ultimately creating more sustainable, connected, and opportunity-rich cities. Mark Seeger is CEO and Co-founder of Glydways. Glydways is a form of public transit that can move more people than rail, using less than half of the space, which costs 90% less to build and operate while providing a private and on-demand ride. Prior to founding Glydways, Mark had early careers at NASA and Apple; founded the biodegradable plastics company GreenIdea in Singapore (sold); the electric motorcycle company Mission Motorcycles and Mission Marine; as well built initiatives that focused on low-cost, high-efficiency air-conditioning for third-world countries with his company GeoCool (sold).
E48
2 giu 2026
1:28:50
Sentient Ticketing Explained: The AI Revolution in Public Transit | Dheeraj Bhardwaj
What if public transport systems could think, learn, and respond in real time? Artificial intelligence and real-time data are transforming the future of mobility and public transportation. Ticketing is one of the important component of public transport system. Many cities are moving from paper ticket to digital ticket. ticketing is no longer just about payments but is becoming the intelligence layer of modern transit systems. The concept of “sentient ticketing,” where AI-powered systems can dynamically respond to passenger demand, traffic conditions, events, and operational disruptions in real time. In this episode of @mobilityinnovators Podcast, Dr. Dheeraj Bhardwaj shares why ticketing is no longer just about payments — it’s becoming the intelligence layer of future mobility systems. We discuss sentient ticketing, AI-driven transit, on-demand buses, real-time pricing, mobility super apps, and why traditional transit systems must rethink their future. Dr. Dheeraj Bhardwaj is currently the vice-chair of door2door. Earlier, he was the Group CEO of City Group Company. Prior to City Group, he was the co-founder and CEO of Arnab Mobility, running a micro-mobility platform in the Middle east. He has wide experience in academia, corporate, consulting, and startups in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has recently incubated “Sentient Cities” an Open-Source platform helping Cities not just be connected but become aware, adaptive and responsive.
E47
15 mag 2026
57:23
How Vancouver is Transforming Public Transportation for the Future of Mobility | Kevin Quinn
Metro Vancouver is a city that has quietly built one of the most advanced and integrated public transport systems in North America—from automated SkyTrain to strong transit-oriented development. TransLink operates this regional transportation network, serving over 400 million passengers annually across buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and commuter rail. The region is now looking ahead to the future—rethinking how transit infrastructure supports growth, sustainability, and changing travel patterns. With its Transport 2050 vision, Metro Vancouver aims to shift from a car-influenced city to a transit-first, people-first region, where around 50% of all trips are made by public transit or active modes like walking and cycling. Kevin Quinn is the CEO of TransLink, the statutory authority responsible for the region’s transportation system. In his role, he oversees planning, operations, and delivery across transit services, as well as key infrastructure including cycling networks, bridges, and the Major Road Network. Under his leadership, TransLink has recovered to over 90% of pre-pandemic ridership, delivered its largest bus service expansion in years, and is advancing major investments in future mobility. Prior to joining TransLink, Kevin served as Administrator and CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), where he led one of the largest transit systems in the United States.
E46
10 apr 2026
1:12:24
The Future of Transit: Automation, Open Payments & Culture Change | Randy Clarke
Public transport systems are the lifeline of any city, connecting people, supporting economic growth, and shaping urban life. WMATA operates service in Washington DC Metropolitan area. Metrorail operates 128 miles of track and manage 98 stations. The agency also running a fleet of 1,500 buses. In this episode of the Mobility Innovators Podcast, we explore the remarkable turnaround of one of North America’s most complex transit systems and what it takes to rebuild trust in public transport after a crisis. Randy Clarke is the General Manager of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). He took the role when all transit agencies were facing major challenge coming out of the pandemic with record low ridership. WMATA operates service in Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Before joining Metro, Randy served more than four years as President and CEO of Capital Metro in Austin, Texas, where he secured - Project Connect, multi-billion dollar capital program, which is one of the country’s largest voter-approved transit referendums in US history. He also worked with APTA (American Public Transit Association) from 2016 to 2018 and with Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston in different role.
E45
24 mar 2026
48:59
Autonomous mobility will complement Public Transport | Debra A. Johnson
Public transport is the business of people moving people and is really the great societal equalizer. Mobility ensures that people can access to job and other opportunities. If the customer get a better service, they will come back and bring more people on the job. Thus, customer service plays an important role. Public Transport needs to transform to improve customer experience including adoption of digitalization, open loop payment, on-demand transit and integration with autonomous mobility. RTD Denver is investing heavily to improve the service quality and reliability. Guest: Debra A. Johnson is General Manager and CEO of RTD Denver and has been leading the organization since 2020. Prior to this, she served as Deputy CEO of Long Beach Transit from 2014 to 2019. Prior to that, she held executive positions at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). She worked in all corners of the country and has long experience in the sector. In 2019, she was named as one of 10 “Women Who Move the Nation.” RTD is the only multimodal transit agency in the state of Colorado, serving the Denver metropolitan area, which has a population of over 3 million people across 40 municipalities and 8 counties.
E44
22 dic 2025
1:02:22
Autonomous Mobility is Here and Accelerating | Sascha Meyer
Autonomous mobility is set to transform how we move in the coming years. With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicle (AV) technology is accelerating faster than ever. Leading innovators such as Waymo, MOIA, WeRide, Tesla, and Pony.ai are already operating commercial services in cities around the world. Each country is charting its own path — in the United States, private vehicles and ride-hailing companies are driving adoption, while in Europe and Asia, cities and public transport agencies are taking the lead. At the same time, regulatory frameworks are evolving differently across regions, shaping how and where AVs will thrive. In this episode, we explore what the future of autonomous mobility looks like — the opportunities, challenges, and the critical role of AI in redefining urban transportation. Sascha Meyer is the CEO of MOIA GmbH. Prior to his current role, he was instrumental in shaping the company's all-electric ride-pooling service and autonomous driving strategy—first as Head of Product starting in 2017, then as Chief Product Officer from 2019 onward. MOIA is running a fleet of 515 battery-electric vehicles in Hamburg. Before joining MOIA, he spent several years as a management consultant, advising international firms on the digital transformation of transport and logistics.
E43
9 nov 2025
1:09:25
Transform Public Transit Through Better Service | Nadine Lee
Public Transit is facing modal competition and it is important to leverage all modes to their highest and best use. It is important for public transit agencies to evolve and reinvest the service to compete with other modes of transport. Consumer behaviors are changing, especially post pandemic in the US. It is important to offer point to point service. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the public transit authority in a 700 square mile service area, covering 13 cities in the north Texas. The agency has a mandate to serve more than 2.7 million people in the Dallas regional area. Nadine Lee is the President and CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). She aims to improve the rider experience, enhance service reliability, and increase ridership in the car-centric Dallas region. With nearly 30 years of experience in the transit industry, she brings a wealth of expertise in public transportation management and infrastructure projects. Prior to joining DART, she held key leadership positions at Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), where she worked as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief Innovation Officer. One of her notable accomplishments at LA Metro was leading the development of the "Vision 2028" strategic plan aimed at improving mobility for Los Angeles County residents. Before her time at LA Metro, she played a crucial role in Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), where she managed projects like the Flatiron Flyer Bus Rapid Transit, which significantly boosted ridership.
E42
11 mag 2025
1:31:35
Public Transport agencies must adopt to evolving riders' behaviour | Adam Giambrone
Transformation is always challenging, and the public transport sector is no exception. Around the world, this industry is undergoing significant change as travel patterns evolve and expectations grow. The rise of autonomous mobility will further reshape travel habits and the broader mobility landscape. However, it is crucial that the core principles of public transport remain intact. To stay relevant, public transport agencies must adapt to shifting rider behaviors. Internal factors such as service reliability, comfort, and convenience, as well as external factors like urban planning and transit-oriented development, will play an important role in driving the adoption and success of public transportation in the future. Adam Giambrone spent 20 plus years working in North America, Africa and the Middle East. He has held senior roles in all three regions. Currently, he is Infrastructure and Transportation Project Management lead at HDR Middle East. Prior to this, he was the head of Land Mobility and Road Transportation at Neom, a new city in Saudi Arabia. He served as General Manager at Saudi Public Transit Company (SAPTCO) from 2018 to 2021. He also spent 7 years with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) including 5 years as the Commissioner and Chair of the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) from 2003 to 2010. He was an elected councilor.
E41
11 set 2024
1:32:37
Redefining Transit: Cultivating a Culture of Innovation at NYCT | Richard Davey
New York City Transit (NYCT) is the largest public transit agency in North America, carrying more than 2.5 billion passengers every year. NYCT is going through transformation and implanting new initiatives including predictive maintenance. The agency is implementing many new initiatives including new ticketing solution. The agency is planning to introduce electric buses and using AI to improve the maintenance of existing buses. The episode will highlight some of the key initiatives launched by NYCT and the new innovation culture within the agency. Richard Davey is President of New York City Transit and is responsible for managing the largest transit agency in North America. He joined in May 2022. Previously, he served as a Partner and Director at the Boston Consulting Group in their Public Sector and Industrial Goods practice areas. He also served as CEO of Boston 2024, the organization that sought to bring the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games to Boston. He is a transit enthusiast and was the Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation from September 2011 to October 2014 and previously the General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from March 2010 to September 2011.
E40
23 mag 2024
36:49
Driving Energy Transition: Role of Data Transparency in Reaching Net Zero | Danielle Walsh
Many cities and countries globally are setting ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions, with mobility and logistics playing a pivotal role in reaching these goals. Fleet operators are confronted with the significant challenge of planning for energy transition, necessitating substantial capital investments in the coming years. However, they must prioritize between various projects and adopt a data-driven approach. Data will also be crucial in ensuring compliance and accessing a rapidly expanding array of climate-based financing products. This will entail leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze and comprehend the data, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning for energy transition initiatives. Danielle Walsh is co-founder and CEO of Clearly, a startup based in the UK, which helps the global transportation sector to reach net zero emissions. Clearly is the company with the data and AI stack that enables corporations to actually achieve their net zero targets in the largest part of the economies - transport and anything related to that. It uses AI to gather, combine, and enhance data across the supply chain so companies know exactly where the most emissions are coming from in the fleet; easily assess optimal projects to reduce emissions, and automate the access of shared and cheaper financing. The company is already operating in 8 cities around the world, has more than 50,000 assets under contract, and has tracked over 100 million trips. Prior to founding her venture, she was a Director in TMT Investment Banking at HSBC and led Technology for Future Cities & New Initiatives. She is also an Angel Investor.
E39
17 mar 2024
1:22:42
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