Talking Michigan Transportation
The Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with transportation experts inside and outside MDOT and will touch on anything and everything related to mobility, including rail, transit and the development of connected and automated vehicles.
Episodes
268 episodes
Three years later, is the hands-free law reducing Michigan crashes?
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, an update from Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts firm that tracks data from drivers(participating volu...
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What we learned from a Michigan maritime policy panel
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with two key participants in a panel discussion convened to discuss the need for a Michigan
How MDOT is protecting people, animals and plants on Earth Day 2026
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Amanda Novak returns to talk about progress on a federal grant to implement a pilot program for analyzing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) in the hope of designing safer c...
Historic flooding takes a toll on roads and bridges across Michigan
As rains continue and in some areas of Michigan, rivers and tributaries continue to rise, crews from across state government and local agencies
A look at crash fatality numbers and an update on work zone safety cameras
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a follow-up conversation on numbers recently released by the National Highway Transportation Safety Adminis...
Reprise: After a pandemic spike in crashes, 2025 stats show positive trends
Annual numbers are out from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the rate of fatal crashes on our nation’s roads continued to trend in the right ...
Why falling ice leads to closing the Mackinac Bridge
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, questions and explanations about the increasing frequency of melting ice falling from the Mackinac Bridge cables, creating hazards for motorists and the need to close the bridge for many h...
What’s next for regional transit in southeast Michigan?
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Ben Stupka, executive director of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) of Southeast...
Michigan panel boosts funding to rebuild major highways
Michigan’s State Transportation Commission (STC) approved a fifth amending bonding resolution under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan Program, f...
New mobility comes at a cost
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, conversations about automaker efforts to bring down the cost of electric vehicles (EVs), the impact of the EV pullback on the South and trends in safety.Joann Muller, the transportation cor...
Reprise: Focusing on the work force as we enter a new road construction season
As road agencies across the state prepare for the 2026 road and bridge construction season, this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast is a reprise of an August 2025 episode that focused on jobs tied to road and bridge building....
Paying by the miles driven - where things stand
On this week’s episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about Michigan’s study and eventual pilot of a road user charge (RUC) system of funding roads and bridges and what is going on in other states and countries.
Reprise: The people behind a most iconic international handshake
By now, you may have seen a photo taken high above the Detroit River of two iron workers, one from Canada and one fro...
Exiting STC chairman reflects on his tenure
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mike Hayes, a former Midland lawmaker who is stepping down from the
MDOT’s new chief administrative officer takes on a road user charge project
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with the new chief administrative officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) about his role and his first big challenge, overseeing a
Polar vortex, winter storms test driver responsibility
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about the vital message to drive to the conditions, especia...
What to expect as Congress looks to renew transportation funding
Surface transportation reauthorization is the regular federal legislative process to renew and fund U.S. transportation programs for highways, transit, rail and saf...
An update on MDOT’s work with Michigan Central and rail service to Toronto
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Peter Anastor, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Rail, about where things stand for passenger rail service at
MDOT director touts 2025 accomplishments
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about key road, bridge and rail projects completed across the state.Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Bradley C. Wieferich joined the conversation...
Veteran MDOT leader reflects on a rich career in state government
Laura Mester, who has served as the chief administrative officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) since 2011, is retiring from state government in January. She joined the podcast to reflect on her career in state government, ...
Study: Flashing LED lights can reduce crashes on curves
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about a new study that confirms that flashing LED lights, used strategically, can improve safety on curves.The study is part of a larger project lookin...
Projects improve travel near Grand Rapids, Traverse City
In the second installment of podcasts focusing on significant road and bridge project completions by the Michigan Departmen...
MDOT, communities celebrate conclusion of big projects
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about celebrations of major road and bridge projects completed by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in communities across the state.This week, a focus o...
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