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Join host Paul Comfort as he travels to Denver, Colorado for the 2022 APTA Tech Conference.
First, we talk with Paul Skoutelas, CEO of APTA, about how technology is at the forefront of increasing ridership post-pandemic. APTA Tech focuses on that technology and brings together transit leaders to share innovative ideas they can deploy to their agencies.
Next, we chat with Bridgette Beato, Vice Chair of Women in Transportation and CEO of Lumenor Consulting. Bridgette discusses the role of small female-owned businesses in the transit industry and how bigger isn't always better. Small businesses are adaptable, and Bridgette's team can provide unique solutions that are intentional and solve critical issues.
A new segment with lightning round technology questions. You'll hear from:
* Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport
* Jimmy Morgan, McLaren Applied
* Bridgette Beato, CEO of Lumenor Consulting
* Gregory Elsborg, Chief Innovation Officer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit
* Gary Rosenfeld, CEO, Memphis Area Transit Authority
* Debra Johnson, CEO, Denver RTD
* Geoff Colbath, Manager of Product Research & Design, TransLoc
We hear Paul speak on the panel "Microtransit and Demand Response," addressing the role of on-demand microtransit and putting passengers first. Paul talks about the top trends in transit today, including zero-emission buses, equity and inclusion, getting passengers back on the bus, and recruiting drivers due to the ongoing operator shortage.
Paul chats with Steve Young, VP of Technology and Innovation at VIA Transit, about their new AI-powered customer service robot, Ava. Ava was developed by an all-female team and stands for "automated virtual assistant." She knows hundreds of answers to questions VIA's customers may ask and can be accessed on VIA's website and mobile app. Ava is currently available to chat in both English and Spanish!
Finally, Paul interviews Gary Rosenfeld, CEO of Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), on their grant awards for the coming year. $54 Million will help MATA to replace an aging bus maintenance facility, and $23 Million will provide electric buses for a new North-South Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Gary also discusses how MATA is inviting companies to pre-qualify their electric vehicles (EVs) to be used in Memphis by having them drive on a test course. This will provide MATA with the data they need to understand which EV is best suited for the environment in Memphis (range, how they may operate, etc.). 
