The Chaddick Institute’s podcast features episodes with timely analysis on transportation and urban development. Listeners receive fresh analysis on emerging trends and innovations, with an occasional dose of punditry, from prominent experts in these fields.
Talking Transportation Podcast
This podcast series features conversations between guest experts and Joseph Schwieterman, the DePaul professor who is regularly heard discussing transportation on NewsNation, NPR’s All Things Considered, and other programs. Talking Transportation brings you up to date on fascinating aspects of air, bus, and train travel and other methods of moving people and goods. Professor Schwieterman, president of the Transportation Research Forum, also shares insights about newly released research by prominent organizations rarely featured on podcasts.Podcast Episodes
Episode #8: E-Scooter Surprises + The Rise of Micromobility in Major Cities. May 24th, 2024. Duration: 30 minutes
We welcome LeAaron Foley, Senior Director of Government Relations at Lime, to the studio to discuss the latest happenings with e-scooters, e-bikes, and other “micro-mobility” options. Host Joe Schwieterman, a DePaul professor, and LeAaron explore the recent shift toward longer-distance trips, new technology to limit e-scooter speed for novices, growth in lower-income neighborhoods, and trends in governmental policymaking. Listen on SoundCloud or Spotify.
Show notes and Links: Streetsblog article on regular bike vs. e-bike ratio | Chicago Sun-Times article on Chicago cycling ridership
Episode #7: High Speed Rail Success Stories + Brightline Florida. December 12th, 2023. Duration: 30 minutes
Listen in as we talk with high-speed rail expert Rick Harnish about notable (and fast!) rail services that are transforming travel in Europe and Asia and review Brightline Florida, which Rick considers a prototype for US regional rail. Rick and host Joe Schwieterman explore key differences between the high-speed rail systems of France, Germany, and Spain, with brief “station stops" in China and Turkey. Harnish is the Executive Director of the High Speed Rail Alliances. Listen on SoundCloud or Spotify. Duration: 30 minutesShow Notes and Links:
Episode #6: Rethinking Commuter Rail & Public Transit's Ridership Recovery. October 26th, 2023. Duration: 30 minutes
Public transit expert Chris Kopp returns to discuss recent shifts and surprises in the sector's ridership recovery. Kopp and Joe explore successful strategies for commuter railroads to win back riders and the differing pace of the recovery across cities, with some nearly back to pre-pandemic traffic levels while others lag. Kopp is Associate Vice President and Transportation Practice Leader at HNTB. Click here to listen.
Show Notes and Links:
Episode #5: Transportation Titan: Chicago’s Lofty Role in Air, Bus, and Rail Travel. February 21, 2023. Duration: 29 minutes
When it comes to transportation, there is no city like Chicago. Check out this fast-moving conversation between noted aviation historian Christopher Lynch and Professor Joe Schwieterman exploring the remarkable legacies of Midway and O’Hare airports, Chicago Union Station, and the city’s lesser-known Greyhound Stations, past and present. Duration: 31 minutes.
Show Notes and Links:
Episode #4: Flying High: A Look at Airline Travel Approaching the Holidays. November 22, 2022. Duration: 24 minutes
Check out the fast-moving podcast between special guest Mary Schlangenstein, Bloomberg airline correspondent, and Professor Joe Schwieterman, exploring recent moves by U.S. airlines, how pandemic-weary airline CEOs are heeding the lessons learned over summer, when cancellations surged, and the surprising niches being carved by Breeze Airways, Avelo Airlines, and other startups. Mary and Joe also discuss the remarkable transformation of New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Show Notes and Links:
No frill flying sees peril of debt-land airlines | Delta CEO Bet |Southwest’s estimate
Avelo Airlines route map | Breeze Airways route map
Episode #3: One-Track Minds—How Railroad Investments Can Reduce the Growth of Truck Traffic. September 30, 2022. Duration: 26 Minutes
This fast-moving conversation between Professor Joe and Michael Sussman, CEO of Strategic Rail Finance and founder of OnTrackNorthAmerica, explores ways to bring more freight to underutilized railroad lines to reduce heavy-truck traffic and improve highway safety. You’ll enjoy our vicarious journey through Iowa, Nevada, the Northeast, and other locations on the national rail system (26 minutes).
Show Notes and Links:
Nevada -Sparks | Nevada- Innovation Park | Iowa Northern Railway | Strategic Rail Finance | OnTrackNorthAmerica
Episode #2: In the Fast Lane aboard FlixBus. September 6, 2022
Duration: 18 Minutes.
This episode features a conversation between Professor Joe and Pierre Gourdain, CEO of FlixBus USA. The discussion ranges from recent moves by FlixBus, the creation of Flix North American, which oversees Flix and Greyhound, and electric-bus rollouts.
Show Notes and Links:
Creation of Flix North America | Flix East Coast Electric Bus Demonstration | 2022 Outlook for Intercity Bus
Episode #1: Public Transit’s Ridership Recovery, A Glass Half Full? August 17, 2022. Duration: 25 minutes.
This episode features a conversation between Professor Joe and Christopher Kopp, Associate Vice President, Transportation Planning, Finance, and Economics Practice, at HNTB. Joe and Chris discuss reasons you should view the recovery of public transit ridership and service enhancement with a healthy degree of optimism.
Show notes and links:
McKinsey forecast for New York’s transit system |
American Public Transit dashboard
Webinar Recordings
Chaddick is pleased to share webinar video recordings with highlights from recent virtual programs and events.
February 19, 2020: On the Brink: 2021 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States This is the latest installment of Chaddick's widely anticipated annual review of this vital transportation sector. The study received national attention with coverage in Mass Transit, BusRide, and Metro. An audience of 70 attended our February 19, 2021 webinar featuring co-authors Brian Antolin, Joe Schwieterman, and Crystal Bell. David Hall, Managing Partner of FleetMotum served as moderator. Click here to see the webinar video.
October 7, 2020: Restoring Abandoned and Out-of-Service Railroad Routes for Passenger Service
Chaddick attracted its largest audience ever for a transportation webinar! An audience of 124 people learned about notable initiatives that reclaimed long abandoned or out-of-service railroad lines for passenger service. Joanne Parker and Matt Stevens of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District in San Rafael, CA outlined how an out-of-service ex-Southern Pacific route was restored for a commuter-rail service in northern California. Institute director Joe Schwieterman reviewed other prominent examples involving Lakewood, CO; Santa Monica, CA, Corinth, TX; and Scituate, MA. Click here to see our Back on Track working paper. Co-sponsored with Forgotten Chicago (68 minutes).
September 30, 2020:
Reclaiming Abandoned Rail Lines forFreight and Excursion Service A special autumn webinar co-sponsored by Forgotten Chicago. Patrick Steffes, cofounder of Forgotten Chicago, introduced the fun virtual event featuring a remarkable phenomenon: a movement to reclaim abandoned or long out-of-service railroad lines for freight or excursion railway service. Professor Joe Schwieterman reviewed “success stories” across the country. Michael Shea, President, Black River & Western Historic Trust, a heritage railway in New Jersey, joined us to present a fascinating case-study example.
July 29, 2020:Intercity Bus Podcast, with David Hall Intercity Bus Professional (20 minutes). Interviewer Brian Antolin discusses milestones and the changing market for intercity bus service with Mr. Hall.
June 8, 2020: Insights into Amazon Air: 2020's Transportation Juggernaut
by
Joe Schwieterman & Jacob Walls (26 minutes)
This webi
nar explores the remarkable expansion of Amazon Air, one of the most significant developments in U.S. air-cargo business in 2020. These topics were featured in a Chaddick Institute policy brief available for download here.